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Have you ever tried waiting for marshmallows to get stale?

It takes longer than watching water boil.

It takes longer than the time I usually need in-between laundry loads to rejuvenate my laundry-doing determination (2.5 weeks).

It takes longer than the frequency with which I shave my legs (no comment).  (Joanne.  You’re supposed to wait until AFTER you have a boyfriend to get so lax about such things.  TSK TSK.)

It takes longer than you (or I) can even imagine!

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Meaning I have no idea how long it takes.  Because I gave up a few weeks into the waiting game.  Told my roommate’s mom, who was visiting at the time, that she could go ahead and eat the entire damn baking pan of them if she wanted to cause I never wanted to see their ugly powdery faces again!

And never looked back.

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You see, almost as soon as I agreed to participate in the Alexia Foods “Reinvent a Classic” french fry creation competition, I thought it would be super cute to do a sweet potato pie dessert fry.  A fry replete with marshmallow, graham cracker, cinnamon/ginger/nutmeg deliciousness.

But how to get those marshmallows into the mix?  That was the question.

I had this genius idea (or so I thought at the time) to pour a whole bag of mini marshmallows onto a baking sheet and let them sit on my kitchen table for weeks.  And weeks.  And weeks.  With the hope that they would harden enough that I could throw them in a food processor and blast them to smithereens (finely ground powder).

You should know that in New York City humidity, marshmallows will never harden when you want them to.  Lesson learned.

Onto plan B.  Wait.  Do we have a plan B?

Well, we didn’t at first.  Until Sophie started moaning about how she couldn’t stop eating the vanilla meringues that her mom had brought her.

And the rest, my friends, is history.

Those meringues had exactly the consistency I was looking for the “never-staling” marshmallows to take on.  As well as a delicious vanilla flavor.  So into the food processor they went, along with graham crackers, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and a pinch of salt.

And there you have it.  Sweet potato pie seasoning.  Perfect for a sweet potato pie fry.

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I’ll be honest, I truly didn’t want these to win.  But at my taste testing party…it was kind of unanimous.

And when you get five MD/PhD students, three medical students, and a philosopher to agree on something.  You kind of just have to go with it.

These fries are the perfect dessert (or after school/after work/after running practice snack) because they are sweet without being too sweet.  Just indulgent enough to satisfy that dessert craving, but also a fairly healthy treat when all is said and done.

And if you’re like me, the kind of person who craves sweet potato pie (and Thanksgiving in general) at all hours of the day.  Every day.  Ever and anon.  Then these are the perfect way to get your fix without having to worry about how much your hips or your thighs or your skinny jeans are going to hate you the next day.

Utterly addictive, in the most delicious sense of the word.

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Sweet Potato Pie Fries
Serves 4-5, an Eats Well With Others Original


1 bag Alexia Sweet Potato Fries (or 2-3 sweet potatoes, cut into fry shapes)
6 vanilla meringues
6 graham cracker sheets
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt
1 tbsp olive oil
sea salt, for sprinkling

1. Preheat oven to 450.

2. Put the meringues, graham crackers, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt in a food processor.  Puree until the consistency is of a finely ground powder.

3. Toss the fries with some olive oil to coat.  Toss with the sweet potato pie seasoning mix.  Place on a greased baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes or until crisp and cooked through.  Sprinkle lightly with sea salt once removed from the oven, while still warm.

Serve with a sweet yogurt dip, ice cream, or even chocolate fondue!  Or, just enjoy them on their own!

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You are reading this post on Eats Well With Others at https://joanne-eatswellwithothers.com. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author and or owner of Eats Well With Others. All rights reserved by Joanne Bruno.
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106 Responses to Sweet Potato Pie Fries – My Alexia Foods "Reinvent a Classic" Final Submission!

  1. Wow – what a great idea. These look wonderful – I would definitely opt for the chocolate fondue, but then I am ever the one to guild the lily. Who would have thought it would be so difficult to harden up a few marshmallows?
    Sue xo

  2. Pam says:

    Oh my gosh!! You never stop amazing me!!! These are perfect!

  3. Elizabeth says:

    All of your creations sounded great, but seeing the full recipe for these, I’d totally eat them for breakfast right now.

  4. Yasmeen says:

    Absolutely positively love this idea. Fantastic work!

  5. Amazing! Such a wonderful idea! These got my vote in the poll! Good luck with the competition 🙂

  6. Viv says:

    yay glad these fries won (altho im craving for those thai curry noodle too).
    i can just tell that these fries are super addictive…great thinking on using the meringue…ive only seen hardened marshmallows once and that was when a packet has been sitting in my pantry for years?

  7. Sam says:

    Brilliant! I have a feeling these are somehow going to end up as part of our Thanksgiving dinner this year…seeing as the only requests I got last year were challah rolls and sweet potato fries.

  8. I must simply say Thank You! You just made my whole day with this recipe. I love the crunch, the sweetness and the perfect texture of a good sweet potato fry and I am in love with Alexia’s. i know yours has to be even better. Giving this a try this weekend

  9. Fabulous idea. Good luck in the contest.

  10. Johanna GGG says:

    they look perfect – but I didn’t see the sweet seasoning coming – fascinating! Are we going to see the other seasonings you trialled – did you have a favourite?

    As for shaving legs, I wouldn’t worry too much about this until you need to – there are guys out there who don’t want girls who shave their legs religiously – they are more interested in other things (such as can you cook up a great meal – tick)

  11. Yay, I was hoping this is what you would submit! They sound amazing, I wish I was there on Sunday to taste them!!

  12. Epicurea says:

    seriously, a sweet fry for dessert – this is genius indeed!! and i am with johanna ggg – which guy would prefer legs over this treat :-)??

  13. Looks awesome. I read that you had a trial/test night few days ago inviting volunteers to test this. If you are planning on having trials on a regular basis I would seriously consider moving to NY:)

  14. Candace says:

    I can tell already that these would be my favorites. Oh.my.goodness. Where do you come up with these ideas? Absolutely brilliant!

  15. sweetlife says:

    wow, now your talking sweet sweet fries, love this idea, pie flavors..yummy,

  16. Oh how funny! I totally have had marshmallows go stale but that might have been like 6 months in the cupboard. Good idea on the merangues! These sound awesome!

  17. Oh my word. These sounds fantastic! I wouldn’t have thought of a dessert fry either, but now I’m picturing them standing in some homemade vanilla ice cream. YUM!

  18. Corina says:

    These are so inventive. I would never ever have thought to do a dessert dish with sweet potato, but I’d love to try these.

  19. brandi says:

    holy crap, Joanne! Seriously – these sound incredible.

  20. OMG! looks heavenly Joanne!

  21. Barbara says:

    Good Lord! My mother’s old sweet potato casserole with marshmallows, updated! What a dream. I wish I lived near you. I want to taste soooo those badly.

    I saw some guy on TV the other day advertising that product that removes the air from plastic bags…to extend the life of produce and meats….he was using marshmallows. I thought: why would anyone think marshmallows? Mine NEVER get stale. You are so right.

  22. Awesome-sauce. My vote was for the wasabi-ginger, but after seeing these…yeah, I can see they would be a winner!! I need to give them a try, and maybe, just maybe, I could get some sweet potatoes into my kids!

  23. By the way, the marshmallows? They only get stale when you don’t want them to get stale.

  24. vanillasugar says:

    great idea! i would totally buy these

  25. Victoria says:

    Oh yum! Although I voted for a different flavor, I know that if I had tasted them all my selection may have been different. These look SUPER appetizing, and as a sweet potato lover, I am so on board. Good luck!

  26. Danielle says:

    Very creative!! Good Luck!

  27. Veronica says:

    Very creative–I never would have thought to use meringue cookies. I would have had a marshmallow dipping sauce but that’s so not as cool. I’m not surprised these were the favorite!

  28. Michelle says:

    Awesome, Joanne! Absolutely awesome!

  29. Nice! Adding the meringue was simply brilliant. Have I told you recently how much I love your recipes? When are you going to write a cookbook?

  30. girlichef says:

    Yum, those do look and sound really, REALLY awesome. Really. Awesome.

  31. Nelly says:

    These pictures made me drool. There’s a possibility that could have been aided by the fact that I’m filled to the brim with opiates right now, but the pictures definitely pushed me over the brink.

    Re. the marshmallows: could you try baking them in a super-low oven for like a day straight, same as you’d make meringues? Keep the door held open. The place will smell like dreams.

  32. A dream come true. You are one clever woman. Win!!!!!!!

  33. Hannah says:

    I have never seen such a creative idea for sweet potato fries- Honestly, I’m not just saying that! Wow, seriously, bravo.

  34. You genius, you. I love this. I know my sister has had trouble “ripening” her Peeps in humid weather (yes, she is one of “those” people) so I can imagine your frustration with the marshmallows. The end product looks delicious.

  35. That Girl says:

    Those vanilla meringues aren’t from Trader Joes are they? I can’t keep those in the house because I will eat them till I get sick.

  36. Shannon says:

    I am blown away, for reals. I can’t think of anything I’d rather put in my mouth right now.

  37. Those fries look incredible! The seasoning looks perfect…seriously 🙂

  38. This is a winner in my book!

    Best,
    Bonnie

  39. Megan says:

    Love this recipe! The fries sound amazing. I was just thinking… making meringues is similar to making marshmallows. I wonder if the marshmallows would have dried out in a low oven, the way meringues do.

  40. Wow, what a great idea! Good luck, Joanne!

  41. Lyndsey says:

    Oooo, well good luck! They look very special!

  42. Miriam says:

    Great job! I’m sure you’ll win! Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters

  43. Absolutely love the ground powder you mixed with sweet potato fries and wow, what a great texture.

  44. Shannon says:

    the meringues are genious. love these. and why wasn’t I invited to the party??

  45. You are certainly a genius! These fries look heavenly. So I want you to win!

  46. What a great idea about the meringues! I bet these are SO yummy!

  47. OK, you soooo have this contest in the bag. Literally that bag of fries with your name on it is so yours!! These sound amazing.
    I need to post my final creation, huh?!

  48. Cam says:

    genius! I love it. I’m such a fan of sweet potato fries… yum!

  49. TidyMom says:

    I LOVE it!! I was thinking of doing something similar…(a s’mores fry) but gave up because of the marshmallow

  50. Tickled Red says:

    Oh my goodness these are fabulous! I did a Praline Sweet Potato but they came out messy. I just love this idea!

  51. I’ve always wanted to try sweet potato pie. It isnt realyl done in Oz. I’ll start with these chips and work my way up 🙂

  52. Kelly says:

    What a great story! Love that the little meringues (so cute!!) were able to pinch hit for the ‘never-staling’ mallows. But if you ever want to harder marshmallows in the future, you need a dehydrator (marshmallows are essentially sugar, gelatin and water). You can buy a dehydrating machine at industrial kitchen stores and, likely, eBay 🙂

  53. Brilliant idea! I’d dip these into some sorta not-to-sweet dip, maybe cream cheese 😀

  54. Reeni says:

    Sometimes we think alike so much it’s scary! I love them! I’m sitting here thinking they would be great right now for dessert dipped in some yogurt.

  55. Raina says:

    Wow! Awesome creation! They sound fantastic…portable sweet potato pies…yum! Funny about the marshmallows:) Good luck!

  56. Natalie says:

    oh joanne—seriously, why are you so awesome? can i just admit i have a girl crush?! 🙂

  57. Kim says:

    I love the idea of a dessert french fry, especially one that combines all those yummy flavors. I wonder if you could make a marshmallow dipping sauce? Not that you would need one, but I just wonder if it would be too sticky or if it would work.

    Good luck!

  58. This is super innovative. Never would have thought of it.

  59. Love the idea of sweet potato pie fries, very creative. Nice to use those vanilla meringues.

  60. Lora says:

    The meringue addition is pure genius. Fantastic job!

  61. what a creative and delicious dessert, lovely pics too
    thanks for sharing
    Delphine.

  62. I love the idea of having sweet fries for a dessert! The meringue crust with the spices is a brilliant idea. Best of luck with the competition.

  63. Nicole, RD says:

    You’re flipping genius. These look awesome!

    And P.S. I hate laundry and shaving just as much as you, it sounds like 😉

  64. Angela says:

    They really do look fabulous. I love the idea of using the meringues in the crust. Thank goodness for your roommate’s mom for providing inspiration:)

  65. I missed so muc here but it feels soo so good to come back and catch up u know:-))
    Well ur Alexia food challenge sounds cool, jus about reading the prev post!
    Babe , what inspiration and creativity!
    U rock , always!
    I love the Cherry Cornmeal cake too , baked it a bit back and boy , it was absolutely gorgeous!

  66. Beth says:

    What a wonderful, original recipe! Good luck to you!

  67. What an innovative fries recipe! The meringues look gorgeous!

  68. OMG Joanne, you’ve really outdone yourself this time. This looks amazing!!!

    ?
    Camila Faria

  69. Nadji says:

    Une recette très originale. Bravo!!
    J’aime beaucoup.
    A très bientôt.

  70. These sweet fries look so appealing that I would chuck whatever diet I was in (not!) to eat these!

  71. I could jump through the screen and gobble all of those up. Right. Now.

  72. Patsyk says:

    I love the originality of a dessert french fry! I wanna be one of your taste testers!

  73. Peggy says:

    Who’s a genius? You are! This sounds incredible and definitely the one I voted for =)

  74. You know what I’m picturing? Sweet potatoes fries with some kind of spicy marshmallow dipping sauce. I love your meringue idea though. So original! It’s been so humid here lately, I don’t think anything would dry up. I just took my camera outside and the lens got all fogged up from the temp. change!

  75. Wonderful idea! I think you have a winner here, Joanne! My mouth is watering just looking at them.

  76. kankana says:

    Now see that is super creative ! And i don’t know how people couldn’t have gone crazy for that.

  77. Tadka Pasta says:

    Dainty and scrumptious! Love that powdered topping, its like cinnamon sugar gone wild.

  78. OMG…what a super duper makeover girlie..SUPERLIKE! These fries look perfect with that rub! YAY to the whole idea 🙂 All the best in the contest!

  79. Joanne, your idea is genius- simply genius! Love the seasonings! I wish you all the best! 🙂

    xx,
    Tammy

  80. Carolyn Jung says:

    I can never say “no” to sweet potato fries. If they are on a menu, I must order them. Your dessert version is wild and fun. I bet they’re addictive, too. 😉

  81. Chris says:

    She shoots, she scores! Great idea, Joanne, seriously. The concept itself was solid and you pulled off the execution very well.

  82. Fun fun fun idea Joanne! It’s all the great things you love about sweet potatoes made even sweeter. Someone somewhere has to sell powdered marshmallows…

  83. tigerfish says:

    Meringues sweet potato fries! Super creative!

  84. Pam says:

    I just bookmarked a recipe for cinnamon sweet potato fries… yum. These look wonderful Joanne.

  85. aki! says:

    THIS. Is so on my list.

  86. Kimberley says:

    Great idea and so creative! I love your dedication by way of *waiting for marshmallows to go stale.* Impressive.

  87. Deborah says:

    I was originally wanting the wasabi ones, but these – pure genius!!

  88. grace says:

    you’re my new favorite person, joanne. these are amazing, and it’s like they were tailor-made for me! bravo, and bravo.

  89. You have no idea what I wouldnt give to be able to try those fries. Im serious.
    Congrats again on your badazz exam scores! I knew you would rock ’em.

  90. LOOOVING THIS IDEA, JOANNE! I am all about Thanksgivingy things at any time of year, and I adore sweet potatoes. Did you invent these just for me?! The meringues were definitely a stroke of genius! And yes, this humidity is out of control. 103 FREAKING DEGREES TODAY, GIRL. NOT ACCEPTABLE. Have a good weekend! 🙂

  91. Winner winner sweet potato pie dinner… um dessert

    Seriously, I loves my sweet potato fries. WIll be hanging on to this recipe. Sounds like a fun party.

  92. Natalie says:

    this is some CRAZY SHIT!!!!! can’t believe how awesomely creative and delicious this is – good job my dear friend. you are a genius!

  93. I think I could possibly eat way too many of these. 🙂 I’m loving the sweet potato pie angle here!

  94. Such a great and unique idea–you have a definite contender with this one! 😉

  95. Marisa says:

    Seriously, this is nothing short of genius! I love your innovative ideas!

  96. Claudie says:

    Wow 🙂 those are quite the fries! Joanne, I think you manage to come up with unique recipes all the time!

  97. Kerstin says:

    What an awesome idea! I’m embarrassed to admit I JUST thew out a bag of stale marshmallows, yeah, I have no idea how long they were sitting around.

  98. Cara says:

    I’m glad it came down to this one! As much as I love my savories I think I’ll *always* pick dessert, when forced 🙂

  99. Tessa says:

    These look so good! I love it when sweet potato fries have a sweet “seasoning” on the outside.

  100. I never would have thought to crumble up meringues and add it to a seasoning like this! Brilliant.

  101. […] years ago…Sweet Potato Pie Fries, Chickpeas and Chana Dal Cooked Together in a Mint […]

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