I Tried Snoop Dogg’s "Favorite" Hennessy Mashed Potatoes

My family and I recently had a massive debate about what it takes to make the best pot of mashed potatoes. Is it roasting a head (or two) of garlic? Should they be cheesy? Do you keep the lumps in or smooth it out entirely? Despite our endless debate, it seems we were all actually wrong. After trying Snoop Dogg’s mashed potato recipe, there’s one particular ingredient that makes for the best mashed potatoes that I’ve ever tasted: Cognac.

Let me start off by saying that I am not the biggest mashed potato fan. In fact, when Thanksgiving rolls around each year, I make sure that there’s another potato option on the table because I sure won’t be reaching for that bowl of mashed potatoes. So when I had the opportunity to try Snoop Dogg’s mashed potato recipe — which is made with Hennessy — I was intrigued. Was the little bit of alcohol going to be the thing that officially converts me to a mashed potato person?

As it turns out, it was.

Get the recipe: Snoop Dogg’s Mashed Potatoes

How to Make Snoop Dogg’s Mashed Potatoes

Start off by peeling and chopping 4 pounds of russet potatoes. Fill a large stock pot halfway with water, and add a generous amount of salt, then bring it to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-high and add in your chopped potatoes. Cook the potatoes for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. The potatoes should be soft and easy to mush with a fork when they are done.

Once the potatoes are cooked, strain them. In that pot, add 1/2 cup of Cognac (or brandy) and cook for 3 to 5 minutes to allow for the alcohol to cook off. Add in 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter, and whisk in until the butter is completely melted.

Next, whisk in 2 cups of heavy cream and 1/2 cup of mayonnaise. Once everything is combined, cook the milky-Cognac mixture for 5 minutes, whisking occasionally. The liquid should be slightly thicker by the time you’re finished.

Add the cooked potatoes back into the pot with the liquid, then sprinkle in 2 and 1/2 teaspoons of kosher salt and 1 and 1/2 teaspoons of ground black pepper. Mash the potatoes using a potato masher. It may seem soupy for a little bit, but just trust me — keep going. It will eventually get smooth enough to have that mashed potato consistency you know and love.

My Honest Review

I’m not exaggerating when I say this recipe has turned me into a mashed potato convert. Not only is it surprisingly simple to make, but the flavor is pretty incredible. That added flavor from the Cognac really makes it stand out, more so than any roasted garlic mashed potato recipe I’ve ever had.

I also really loved that everything came together in one pot. When putting together a massive dinner menu for a holiday like Thanksgiving, you need all the space you can get to cook all of your different dishes. Having the mashed potatoes easily made in one pot and two utensils (a spoon and a potato masher) is the kind of efficiency I look for when it comes to a recipe.

Lastly, I enjoyed the slight tanginess these mashed potatoes had thanks to the mayonnaise in this recipe. I actually never heard of using mayo in a mashed potato recipe until now (maybe because I typically don’t make them?), but now that I have, I don’t think I could ever imagine making mashed potatoes without it. And while this recipe did not call for any cheese, it was still packed with flavor thanks to the heavy cream and butter. I truly believe this is the only mashed potato recipe you need for Thanksgiving.

So the question is, will I be able to convince my family to make this recipe for the holidays this year? I guess our never-ending debate is back on…

Three Tips for Making Snoop Dogg’s Mashed Potatoes

• Like the lumps? Don’t mash as much. If you’re a fan of a lumpy mashed potato, then don’t mash your potatoes as hard to leave some of the lumps. Just make sure to mash them up enough so you get that thick mashed potato consistency instead of a liquid-y consistency.

• Top with more butter. Because who could ever say no to more butter? I actually melted 1/2 tablespoon of butter to swirl onto the top. Obviously this gives the mashed potatoes that “wow” factor when putting it on your table as well.

• Feel free to add herbs: While this recipe doesn’t call for any other seasoning or spices besides salt and pepper, you could also play around with a combination of herbs within the potatoes. I imagine herbs such as sage, thyme, or rosemary could work well for this mashed potato recipe — all the typical herbs likely used in the rest of your Thanksgiving meal!

Get the recipe: Snoop Dogg’s Mashed Potatoes