Sweet Potato Fries
Sweet and Spicy Sweet Potato Fries make for a delicious and simple snack! An easy trick guarantees that they are crispy, so you can focus on eating them!
When I was younger, Disney was a big thing in my family. Summer holidays meant trips either back to Jamaica (I didn’t grow up here) or trips to Disney, and as a Disney fanatic, this was a very big deal to me. I can remember being young with my brother meeting Aladdin and Chip & Dale for the first time, and being unable to contain my excitement, while also meeting Jafar and coming close to running out of there because why would I want to associate with this bad guy??
In case you’re wondering, yes, Toy Story has caused me to STILL believe that stuffed animals are real. And at 23 years old, I am still very much of that belief. Just kidding.
Kinda.
I think Disney not only reflected all my favourite characters, princesses (Ariel is basically the coolest princess ever in my eyes), and crazy fun summer and Christmas vacations, but an opportunity for happiness, hope and a bit of magic, things are still essential in my life today. I still have my hopes, my dreams, my Prince Charming and my happiness.
Mr. Jessiker Bakes and I went to Disney for our first anniversary (PRINCE Charming!) and to say I had a blast would be an understatement. Even if it’s just for a week, or a weekend, it’s a chance to break out of the normal order of life and have a lot of magic in your life. And perhaps these things are not an excuse for me belting Frozen songs at the top of my voice, but I would love to pretend it is. I mean, isn’t that a part of my dreams, dreaming and hoping that one day my singing voice won’t be mistaken for someone croaking?
Anyway, time to tie this trip down memory lane to these sweet potato fries. Sweet potato fries have a lot of magic in them, allowing you to enjoy everyone’s favourite side order in a different way, both with the potato used and the method of baking them, and without any loss of taste or flavour.
When I say these fries are loaded with flavour, I mean it. You can add any seasonings that you want to these naturally delicious and sweet fries and they would compliment it perfectly. I’ve also found the trick to making these beauties crisp. There’s no going back now.
Cornstarch. Now, here me out. Instead of soggy fries, or fries dried up beyond belief for leaving them in longer in an attempt of them crisping up, you get perfect, crisp-but-soft-on-the-inside and evenly cooked sweet potato fries. I could not stop eating these, and perhaps ate half of someone’s share because they are that addictive. The crunch factor alone will mean you won’t be able to get your hands off of these.
Didn’t I tell you everyday life is filled with a bit of Disney magic?
If you enjoyed these sweet potato fries, you’ll also enjoy these Sweet Potato Chips!
If you like these chips, you may also enjoy these Warm Cinnamon Apple Chips.
Or these Kale Chips, Three Different Ways!
Check out all my side dish recipes!
Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries
Ingredients
- 2 large sweet potatoes, washed, scrubbed, and dried (I used an American sweet potato)
- 2-3 tablespoons coconut oil, melted or any other oil
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch or arrowroot powder, for extra crunch, mix with ½ tsp baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Optional: Cinnamon, add after baking for a touch of sweetness
- Optional Ingredient Variation: For a twist, you can swap American sweet potatoes with Jamaican or Japanese sweet potatoes (yellow/white flesh). These varieties yield a starchier, firmer texture, making them naturally crispier!
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425°F (218°C). If you have a convection (fan) setting, use it for crispier fries. Place your baking sheet (or sheets) in the oven while it preheats. This helps the fries start crisping as soon as they hit the pan.
- Cut the sweet potato into even fries (not too thin to avoid burning), about ¼ inch thick by 3 inches long.
- In a large bowl, toss the fries with cornstarch (or arrowroot mixture) until evenly coated. Add the coconut oil and toss again to coat evenly. In a small dish, combine the salt, pepper, and garlic powder (save the cinnamon for later). Add the seasoning mix to the fries and toss until well coated.
- Carefully remove the hot baking sheet(s) from the oven and arrange the fries in a single layer, ensuring they don’t touch or overlap. Bake for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through (around the 15-minute mark) to ensure even browning. If the fries aren’t crisp enough, turn on the broiler for the last 1-2 minutes. Watch closely around the 20 minute mark to avoid burning!
- Let the fries rest for 3-5 minutes on the baking sheet to crisp up further. If desired, sprinkle a pinch of cinnamon over the fries for a hint of sweetness. Serve hot with your favorite dips—like vegan mayo or ketchup—and enjoy!
Notes
These varieties are starchier and naturally crisp up better in the oven. You can skip the cornstarch step if using them, but follow the same cooking method for delicious, golden fries every time!
Disclaimer: Although jessicainthekitchen.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Jessicainthekitchen.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.
I love Disney too! My husband and I spent a couple days there on our honeymoon a few years ago and had a blast, you really can forget about all your worries and troubles while you are there. These fries look phenomenal! I’m a huge fries lover and the spice combination on these looks delicious! Never thought to use cornstarch, great tip!
Oh that’s so cool, it’s really a great anniversary spot :). Thanks Danae!!
I loved all the Disney movies as a kid too! These fries look delicious. What a great secret about the cornstarch – you can see how crispy these are!! Yum!
Thanks Cate! Same here naturally 🙂
As a sweet potato addict, I am totally down with some “fries”. I love the tip about cornstarch…will try. Thanks – these really look awesome!
Thanks Monica!
Love the trick you have here Jessica!! Cannot wait to try it! Plus I LOOOOOVE the gif! Great job girl!
Thanks Sophia!!
I’ve only recently learned to love sweet potatoes and now I can’t seem to get enough. Trying to get my hubby to love them too.
I hope he does, it’s a whole new world. Welcome to it! 🙂
Love the gif! I was Disney obsessed when I was a kid too! Chip and Dale were my favorite characters! And sweet potato fries are one of my absolute favorite snacks Just pass me the entire batch, please!
Awesome! I was a Chip and Dale addict. Thanks Ashley! *passes batch*
I love fries and these are so thin, I can only dream how crispy they must be! Yummy!
Thanks Ami! They really are!
Whoo, crispy fries! Funnily enough, I am very much a limp fries kind of gal (weird, right?), but I have so many friends who would just love these. Thanks for sharing them, Jess 🙂
Haha yes Ala you are weird, but still cool. Thanks so much 🙂
Yum!!! These look fantastic, and your pictures are simply stunning! Love everything about this. And I’m a total Disney fanatic! So I loved your trip down memory lane 🙂
Thanks so much Serene! Disney is so wonderful 🙂
They look so elegant and thin…beautiful, Jessica. Great job!
ela h.
Thanks Ela!