In this Instructable, I will show you how to make sweet potato fries. This easy baked sweet potato fries recipe is perfect if you want something healthier than classic homemade French fries. If you like sweet potato, you will love these! They are slightly crisp on the outside and soft and yummy on the inside. All you need are a handful of easy-to-find ingredients, if I can do it, you can do it! Let's get baking.

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Follow the easy steps below or watch the video tutorial or do both!

Step 1: Ingredients and Tools

Ingredients:

2 to 3 sweet potatoes
2 to 3 tbsp of olive oil (28 to 42 ml)
1 tsp of salt (5g)
1/4 tsp of ground black pepper (1g)
1/2 tsp of garlic powder (3g)
2 to 3 Tbsp cornstarch (24g)
Optional ingredients also include paprika and chili powder, for a bit of a kick.

Tools:

Bowls
Peeler
Knife
Cutting board
Sheet pan
Parchment paper or silicone baking mat
Paper towel or clean kitchen towel

Step 2: Peel, Cut, Soak

Begin by washing and drying the outside of the sweet potato. Then peel it. Next, cut it into fry shapes. Try and keep them around the same size, which will help them bake more evenly.

I usually cut it directly in half lengthwise, then turn it over on the flat size and cut long strips, then, if they are still too wide, cut them again lengthwise. You can cut them however you like.

Place them in a large bowl with cold water and some salt. The salty cold water will help to bring out the starch which in turn will help them get a little crispier.

Let them soak in the water for 30 to 45 minutes.

Step 3: Dry and Season

Preheat the oven to 400 F/205 C.

Once the sweet potato pieces have soaked, drain the water from the bowl, you can just pour the bowl of potato strips into a colander if you like.

Then dry them on a paper towel or a clean kitchen towel. Place the dried strips of sweet potato in a medium bowl or zip lock bag.

In a small bowl combine the spices, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and any additional spices like a bit of paprika or chili powder, for some kick.

Drizzle the olive oil over the potatoes, and then sprinkle the spices on, and dump the cornstarch over them as well. The cornstarch will help them to get a little crispier as well.

Step 4: Shake and Bake

Put a lid on the bowl and shake the bowl to get the fries coated. Or if you put them in a zip lock bag you can shake that. Either way works great!

After seasoning the sweet potato strips, place them on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. You may need two sheet pans depending on how many you are making.

Then place the pans in the oven one on the upper-middle rack and then the other on the middle rack. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, and then rotate and switch the pans on the racks. This will help the sweet potato fries bake as evenly as possible.

Bake for another 12 to 15 minutes until golden brown and slightly crispy. The thinner you cut them and the longer you bake them, the crispier they will get. However, if you have more pointy potato ends, those are prone to burning easily. But I actually don't mind them that way, haha.

Let them cool for a moment and then they are ready to serve.