Homemade Smiley Potatoes

Smiley potatoes on a white plate with ketchup on the side.

With a crispy exterior and soft, pillowy interior, these Homemade Smiley Potatoes are sure to bring you back to the days of your childhood school cafeteria! Make them in under an hour with just 7 simple ingredients. Then, dip them in all your favorite sauces!

Course Breakfast, Lunch, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine American

Diet Diabetic, Kosher, Low Calorie, Low Fat, Low Lactose, Low Salt, Vegan, Vegetarian

Prep Time 25

Cook Time 35

Total Time 1

Servings servings

Calories 120kcal

Author Alana Lieberman

Cost $15

Equipment

Ingredients

4 russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces
½ cup plain breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons cornstarch
¾ teaspoon garlic powder
¾ teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Cooking spray or oil for brushing

Instructions

Add potatoes to a large pot. Fill the pot with water until the water covers the potatoes. Set on the stove over medium heat. Boil potatoes until fork tender, about 15 to 20 minutes.
While the potatoes cook, preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
Drain the potatoes. Add potatoes to a potato ricer and press over a large mixing bowl. (You can also mash the potatoes with a potato masher if you don’t have a ricer.)
Add breadcrumbs, cornstarch, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt to the potatoes. Mix until it forms a dough.
Roll the dough until it’s ½ to ¾-inch thick. Cut out circles with a 2½-inch round cookie cutter. Re-roll the scraps and continue cutting out circles with the remaining dough. (I was able to cut out about 48 circles) Transfer circles to the prepared baking sheets, leaving a little space between each one.
Use a drinking straw to poke 2 holes in each circle for the eyes. Then, use a spoon to create a mouth in each circle.
Spray each smiley potato with cooking spray, or use a brush to brush oil over each one.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until lightly golden on all sides. Dip in your favorite sauces, like ketchup, BBQ sauce, or honey mustard.

Notes

Drain the potatoes well. Excess water will make the dough too sticky, causing the smileys to lose their shape while they bake.
Roll the dough slowly and carefully to avoid cracking. Apply light pressure.
Make sure the dough is at least a ½-inch thick when rolling. Thicker dough will allow for a lighter, fluffier interior, while the outside remains crispy.
Use a narrow spoon for a happier smile shape

Nutrition