Bring the smiles back to mealtime with these homemade Smiley Face Fries! This baked 3-ingredient recipe requires no oil and is gluten-free, vegan, and allergy-free! Copycat McCain Smiles are a nostalgic delight for adults and endless fun for kids and picky eaters! Enjoy these delicious, healthy potato smiley fries as a creative and easy side dish the whole family will love!
If you didn't grow up eating your fair share McCain's frozen potato Smiles, I'm sorry to break it to you but, you missed out! Here at Strength and Sunshine, we love our potatoes in all shapes, sizes, and colors! A humble food, but one with endless possibilities, there's no reason we can't make these nostalgic mashed potato fries at home!
What Are Smiley Fries?
Commercially known as Smiles, and produced by McCain Foods, these mashed potato-shaped smiley face fries are a nostalgic childhood side dish! With a soft mashed potato inside and crispy outside, these frozen mashed potato fries have been a quick and easy comfort food for parents to serve picky eaters for decades; you'll even find them served in school cafeterias. While they're not discontinued, it may be time to discontinue buying them and start making them from scratch at home!
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I've never met a child who didn't like french fries, nor have I met a child who didn't like friendly faces on their food! Tater tots and veggie tots are fun too, but there is something about that classic fry crispy, creamy texture that always wins them over.
Why You'll Love These Homemade Smiley Fries
Ditch the deep-frying and make these happy fries baked, oil-free, and purely potato, then you'll have something healthy and convenient mom can get behind! While they're gluten-free and vegan, this recipe ditches the soy oil found in the store-bought variety to make them 100% allergy-friendly! This healthy homemade recipe is:
- Gluten-Free
- Vegan & Vegetarian
- Allergy-free (Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Egg-Free, Nut-Free, Peanut-Free, Wheat-Free, Sesame-Free, Nightshade-Free, Fish-Free, Shellfish-Free, Coconut-Free, Grain-Free, Corn-Free)
- Grain-Free & Paleo
- Quick, Easy, 3 Simple Ingredients
- Kid-Friendly
- Healthy, Oil-Free, Sugar-Free
- Make-Ahead, Freezer-Friendly & Meal Prep Staple
- Perfect Family-Friendly Side Dish for Dinner or Lunch
Ingredients To Make Homemade Smiles
These potato smiley face fries are only 3 ingredients (plus water!) They're essentially, plain mashed potatoes formed in circles (with faces) and baked to perfection!
- Potato Flakes: Instant Potato Flakes make this recipe beyond quick and easy! No need to peel and boil your own potatoes and deal with mashing them! Just add hot water to these dehydrated potato flakes and you're on your way to the perfect mashed potato dough!
- Starch: Potato Starch (or Arrowroot), either starch works! I like to keep it all potato, so I use potato starch, but this helps bind the dough together so you can make the smile shape and they don't fall apart.
- Egg Replacer: Ener-G Egg Replacer is what the original recipe from 2018 called for. However, you can skip the powdered egg replacer and use 1 extra teaspoon of starch and 1 teaspoon of baking powder instead.
- Seasonings: I recommend adding salt. You can keep them completely plain if you are serving them to toddlers or babies, but some salt, a pinch of pepper, and maybe some garlic and onion powder do wonders!
How To Make Smiley Fries
- In a large mixing bowl, combine and stir together the dry potato flakes, starch, egg replacer, and optional spices.
- Pour in hot water and mix well to combine and form a stiff potato dough.
- Roll the dough out on a flat surface between two Silpats or parchment paper dusted with extra starch, and roll it to about ¼ inch thickness.
- Use the rim of a small drinking glass or circular pastry cutter to cut out about 18 circles (you'll need to re-roll the dough as needed).
- For each potato face, use the rim of a spoon to make the curved smile and the tip of a straw or chopstick to make the two eyes.
- Bake the prepared smiley face fries in a 400°F preheated oven for 10 minutes, flip, and bake another 10 minutes.
- Remove and serve right away or cool on a wire rack to batch freeze.
Can You Freeze Smiley Fries For Later?
These smile fries are perfect to make ahead of time, meal prepping a large batch, to mimic the frozen ones you'd buy in the store. Bake a batch as instructed, but allow them to cool completely on a wire rack like you would with a batch of cookies to prevent sogginess. Once they've cooled completely, freeze them flat on a baking sheet until solid, before adding them to a freezer-safe storage bag or airtight container. For best quality, use them within 6-8 months.
How To Reheat Smiley Face Fries
You can reheat the frozen smile fries in the oven or toaster oven at 400°F for about 6-8 minutes, flipping halfway through, until warm and crisp. If you are reheating refrigerated leftover fries, you can pop them in the oven for about 4-5 minutes until crisp again. If you're short on time, the microwave always works in a pinch but they will lose their outer crispiness!
How Long To Air Fry Smiley Fries
You can make frozen smiles in the air fryer by preheating your air fryer to 400° and air fryer the frozen fries for 5-8 minutes, on each side. The amount of time depends on the size of your air fryer and how packed in the smiles are! Give them room to breathe so the moisture from the frozen fries doesn't end up steaming them.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Make sure to flour the surface with starch so the smiles don't stick.
- If you have leftover SMOOTH mashed potatoes, you can use them instead of potato flakes. You may need more starch to soak up any butter or milk you used in the mash. Don't skip the egg replacer if you use homemade mashed potatoes. You can also use plain peeling, boiled, and mashed potatoes.
- Using Sweet Potatoes: I haven't tried this myself, but if you use mashed sweet potato, you may need more starch as sweet potatoes are moister than russet.
- Don't roll the potato dough too thin. They need to be thick enough that they hold their shape, but not too thick that they don't bake all the way through and become crispy.
What To Serve Smile Fries With
Keep these plain jane for a simple afterschool snack, serve them up with dips, or pair them as a side with your favorite kid-friendly dinner entrees!
Dipping Ideas:
- Easy Homemade Ketchup
- Nightshade-Free Ketchup
- Easy Homemade BBQ Sauce
- Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce
- Homemade Vegan Mayo
Kid-Friendly Entrees:
- Chickpea Nuggets
- Air Fryer Falafel
- Gluten-Free Chicken Nuggets
- Slow Cooker Applesauce Chicken
- High-Protein Vegan Meatballs
Smiley Face Fries (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
Bring the smiles back to mealtime with these homemade Smiley Face Fries! This baked 3-ingredient recipe requires no oil and is gluten-free, vegan, and allergy-free! Copycat McCain Smiles are a nostalgic delight for adults and endless fun for kids and picky eaters! Enjoy these delicious, healthy potato smiley fries as a creative and easy side dish the whole family will love!
- Prep Time: 5 Minutes
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Total Time: 20 mins
- Yield: 18 1x
- Category: Side
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 3 Cups Instant Potato Flakes
- 1 TB Potato Starch (or Arrowroot)
- 2 Tsp Ener-G Egg Replacer
- 1 ½ Cups Hot Water
Optional Spices (to taste):
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the potato flakes, starch, egg replacer, and optional spices, and stir together.
- Pour the hot water into the bowl and mix well to combine and form a stiff and smooth potato dough.
- Roll the dough out on a flat surface between two Silpats or parchment paper dusted with extra starch. Roll out the mashed potato dough to about ¼ inch thickness.
- Use the rim of a small drinking glass to cut out about 18 circles (you'll need to re-roll the dough as needed. The number of circles will vary by the size of the glass you use.).
- For each potato face, use the rounded edge of a spoon to make the smile and the tip of a straw or chopstick to make the two eyes.
- Bake the prepared potato smiley face fries on a lined baking sheet in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, flip, and bake for another 10 minutes until golden brown and crisp.
- Remove the fries from the oven and serve right away or transfer them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely before freezing.
Notes
- Freezing: Bake a batch as instructed, but allow them to cool completely on a wire rack to prevent sogginess. Once they've cooled completely, freeze them flat on a baking sheet until solid, before adding them to a freezer-safe storage bag or airtight container. For best quality, use them within 6-8 months.
- Reheating: You can reheat the frozen smile fries in the oven or toaster oven at 400°F for about 6-8 minutes, flipping halfway through, until warm and crisp. If you are reheating refrigerated leftover fries, you can pop them in the oven for about 4-5 minutes until crisp again. If you're short on time, the microwave always works in a pinch.
- Air Frying: You can make frozen smiles in the air fryer by preheating your air fryer to 400° and air fryer the frozen fries for 5-8 minutes, on each side. Give them room to breathe so the moisture from the frozen fries doesn't end up steaming them.
- You can use 1 teaspoon of baking powder and 1 teaspoon of extra starch if you choose to not use the egg replacer.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6 Fries
Childhood reimagined! Plan on making big batches to keep that freezer stocked with these potato smiles! It will be love at first bite for the kids and cozy comfort food nostalgia for you!
So tell me:
+ What's your favorite fry shape? I love the smiles, but waffle fries will all reign #1 in the French fry world.
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Alissa Apel
Those are so cute! I want one. I bet all kids would love them too!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yes, of course!
Sues
Oh my gosh, I haven't thought of smiley face fries in literally 20 years and JUST saw them in the grocery store an hour ago. I was reminiscing big time and now I see this awesome homemade version. I love it!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Sounds like you need to make some STAT!
Brandon Hudson
These look really delicious! I've always loved french fries and will try this recipe out! Thanks!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Well of course. Potatoes are one of the greatest foods.
judee@glutenfree A-Z Blog
What a great project to do with kids- easy and fun and then we get to eat them too. Thanks for the recipe and great photos
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It would be fun to have the kids help!
Andrea Bolder
These are too cute. As my kids get older they seem to be getting more picky. Can't wait to try these.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Everyone will love these!
Annie
Those are the cutest fries I've ever seen! They make me so happy 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, they will always bring out the smiles! 😉
Kirsty Hall
I wonder if these might get my little to eat potatoes - they all hate them! I am going to give it a whirl.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
That's crazy! I've never heard of a child who didn't like fries!
Jenny Yang
I am definitely going to make these! Growing up, these were my absolute faves!
xx Jen
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
They were always fun to have on the plate!
Nico @ yumsome
I definitely never had smiley potatoes when I was a child... because there were no special children's foods in those days. Kids were expected to eat what adults ate! My granddad grew most of our veggies, so I wasn't deprived in any way, especially as my gran's chips (fries to all those across the pond) were the best ever. Probably because she fried them in lard! Ha ha ha!
These do look super-cute!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yea, well, we have fun American foods here for kids.
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious
I feel deprived because I have never heard of potato smiley faces before. Where have they been all my life? Maybe a regional thing? Anyway, I am soooo making these.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It's okay, you can make them now 🙂
Trupti Kharche
Thats an excellent recipe with minimum ingredients and love that its baked too. They look absolutely super cute.
Thanks for sharing.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Easy, simply, and so much healthier!
Megan @ MegUnprocessed
Super cute!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks for your thoughtful comment!
Cristina - Memories of the Pacific
They are adorable! And I bet they are yummy too 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
When are potatoes not?
Brittney
I definitely didn't grow up with these, I mist have been living under a rock! They sound delicious and are so cute!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Omg! Well you need to make up for lost years then!
Sarah | texasweettea
Ahh these are so adorable! I don't have kids yet, but I think these are a great way to help them eat more veggies!
xo,
Sarah
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Why do you need kids to make these?
Emily
Such a great recipe! And such cute little fries!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Cute food is fun food!
Linda
Oh how fun! My son will love these!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks!
shan
These look so yummy and they are definitely fun!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Fun foods are the best!
Erin Gill
So cute! My granddaughters will love these!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I bet they will!
Samantha Sali
Where do you come up with all of these great allergy-friendly recipes?! Cause I'm an allergy suffer who has spent years trying to find recipes.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Lol, where are you looking?
Scratch that, just keep coming to Strength and Sunshine for all your recipe needs 😉
Samantha
I love the smiley face idea with these. My daughter might actually try them like that!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I know she will! That's why they were invented 🙂
Lara
These look so good! And so cute! 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
Erin Haugerud
These look awesome! I'm so going to make these for the kiddos!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Great to hear!
Kristin Cook
Those are so stinkin' cute! Love it! And anything with "fries" in the name has to be yummy, right?!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, that is so right!
Jennifer
What a clever idea! I know my family would absolutely love these!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Everyone sure will!
Danielle @ A Sprinkle of Joy
So cute!! Pretty sure my girls would love these!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Nothing not to love!
Sharon
These are sooo cute! I've never had a smiley potato face in my life. I don't even know if they sell them here in the UK. I've definitely been missing out!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Probably not, haha, but now you can have them!
Kate
These are just adorable! So perfect for a kid's party...or just to eat by myself. Ha! 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I am all about eating them myself 😉
Amanda Martin
How cute! I bet it is easy for kids to make a "happy plate" haha
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Happiness all around!
Emily @ Pizza & Pull-Ups
How adorable are these! This would be lots of fun to make with the kids.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Or by yourself 😉 Haha!
Sheila
This is so cute. I am making a smiley themed party and never thought of making these potato treats. I am so happy to see this. Thank you so much for the inspiration. I know this is going to be a big hit.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
These would be a great addition!
Jordan @ Healthy Fat & Fit
Super cute!! My three year old will love them!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
They sure will!
Rachel (Little Chef Big Appetite)
Yum! These look so fun to eat and make!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
You bet they are!
Andrea
I love these they are sooo cute and I love that you used potato flakes. I wonder if I could use egg or does it have to be that egg replacer? Or could I use flax eggs or chia eggs.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
No.
Megan
These are so fun. The kids would gobble them up not even knowing they are "better" for them.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
All kids will love them!