There is something downright thrifty and clever about turning a bag of frozen crinkle cut fries into a warm dessert, and that kind of kitchen ingenuity feels right at home in a Midwestern recipe box. This easy bake leans on pantry staples to create a sweet, caramelized treat with a tender center and crisp ridges on top, almost like a cross between a bread pudding and a cobbler. When you need a simple conversation-starting dessert made from what is already in the freezer and cupboard, this one surely earns its place.
Serve this dessert warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a spoonful of whipped cream, or a drizzle of extra syrup or caramel sauce if you have it on hand. It also pairs nicely with hot coffee after supper, or with cold milk for the youngsters, and a small dish of toasted nuts on the side gives a pleasant crunch if you want to dress it up a bit.
5-Ingredient Oven Baked French Fry Dessert
Servings: 6
Ingredients
1 (26 to 32 ounce) bag frozen raw crinkle cut french fries
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup melted butter
1/2 cup maple syrup or pancake syrup
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 375°F and lightly grease a 9x13-inch oven-safe glass baking dish.
2. Spread the frozen raw crinkle cut fries evenly in the prepared baking dish.
3. In a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar and cinnamon, then sprinkle the mixture evenly over the fries.
4. Drizzle the melted butter and syrup all over the top, making sure to coat as much of the surface as possible.
5. Bake uncovered for 35 to 45 minutes, until the fries are tender, the top is golden and caramelized, and the syrup is bubbling around the edges.
6. Let the dessert rest for 10 minutes before serving so the syrup thickens slightly. Spoon into bowls and serve warm.
Variations & Tips
Add nuts: A handful of chopped pecans or walnuts scattered over the top before baking gives this dessert a fine crunch and a little old-fashioned praline flavor.
Use apple pie spice: If you have apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice in the cupboard, swap it for the cinnamon for a deeper, cozier flavor that suits cool weather especially well.
Try a dessert sauce: A drizzle of caramel sauce after baking makes this dish taste even more like a fairground treat, and a pinch of flaky salt on top helps balance the sweetness.
Watch the bake closely: Since different brands and thicknesses of fries bake differently, start checking at the 35-minute mark. You want the fries tender inside and nicely browned on top, not dry.
Serve it fresh: This dessert is at its very best warm from the oven the day it is made, when the edges are sticky and the top still has that bit of crinkled texture.