These sweet potato smiley fries are a healthier alternative to a classic! They’re gluten-free, AIP, and made with wholesome ingredients.

Have you ever had smiley fries?! They’re not really “fries” but more so mashed potato combined with flour, formed into a smiley face, and deep-fried. They have the texture of a french fry, and they’re so much fun to eat as a kid.

These smiley fries are perfect for the young and young at heart that have food intolerances! They’re made with sweet potato instead of white potato, and are gluten-free and grain-free.

The Ingredients for Sweet Potato Smiley Fries

• Japanese sweet potato. I highly recommend sticking with Japanese sweet potato if possible as it’s starchier and less sweet. You can likely use other varieties of sweet potato though it will most likely change the flavor and color.
• Arrowroot Starch.
• Coconut Flour.
• Avocado Oil.
• Salt.

The tools for making the fries

• Small cookie cutter. This is optional, but if you want uniform circles, you can use a small circular cookie cutter to cut the fries.
• A small spoon. For the smile!
• Straw or another small circular tool. For the eyes!

How to make Sweet Potato Smiley Fries

• Combine the sweet potato, arrowroot starch, coconut flour, avocado oil, and salt. Stir to combine until fully incorporated.

• Form the dough into a small ball and make the smiley face. Take a small piece of dough and roll it into a small ball. Press into a flattened circle on the baking sheet. To make the smiley face, use a tool like a straw (I used a metal straw) to form two shallow eyes, and a spoon to make a smile. Repeat with all of the sweet potato mixtures. You should have about 20-23 fries.

• Bake the fries. Spray the top of the fries with avocado or coconut oil and transfer to the oven. Bake for 15 minutes and remove from the oven, carefully flipping the fries face down. Bake for another 5-8 minutes or until baked through.

• Remove from the oven and allow the fries to cool before enjoying with a dip of your choice.

Tips & Tricks

• Use Japanese Sweet Potato.  Though other sweet potato varieties will work, Japanese sweet potato is more starchy and less sweet, similar to white potato.
• Allow the fries to cool before enjoying. Straight out of the oven, these fries can get gummy so you want to allow them to cool for a better texture.

What can you serve these smiley fries with?

• A dip of your choice like ketchup, mustard, etc!
• A main dish like a burger.
• A main dish like a grilled protein and a side salad.

You’ll also love…

• Paleo Zucchini Fries
• Baked Veggie Nuggets
• Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Sweet Potato Smiley Fries {Gluten-free, AIP}

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• Author: Michelle
• Yield: 4 servings 1x

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Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

• 16 oz Japanese sweet potato, cooked and mashed
• 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp arrowroot starch
• 2 tbsp coconut flour
• 1 tbsp avocado oil (plus extra for topping)
• 1 tsp salt

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 F and line a baking sheet with lightly greased parchment paper.
2. Combine the sweet potato, arrowroot starch, coconut flour, avocado oil, and salt. Stir to combine until fully incorporated. The mixture should be easy to roll and handle.
3. Take a small piece of dough and roll it into a small ball. Press into a flattened circle on the baking sheet. To make the smiley face, use a tool like a straw (I used a metal straw) to form two shallow eyes, and a spoon to make a smile. Repeat with all of the sweet potato mixtures. You should have about 20-23 fries.
4. Spray the top of the fries with avocado or coconut oil and transfer to the oven. Bake for 15 minutes and remove from the oven, carefully flipping the fries face down. Bake for another 5-8 minutes or until baked through.
5. Remove from the oven and allow the fries to cool before enjoying with a dip of your choice.

Notes

All nutrition facts are estimated and will vary.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1
• Calories: 206
• Fat: 4.1g
• Carbohydrates: 40.2g
• Fiber: 5.5g
• Protein: 3.1g