Here’s a healthy and fun Halloween idea for both kids and adults. These Sweet Potato Jack O’-Lanterns are easy to make and taste great too. Serve them as a side dish or Halloween appetizer. This holiday food recipe is naturally vegan and gluten-free.

sweet potato shaped into jack o lanterns.

I love the way these Sweet Potato Jack o’-Lanterns come out. They’re a tiny bit spooky and a lot of fun. This recipe is proof that Halloween can be festive without all the sugar.

This healthy Halloween snack or side dish is made with just three simple ingredients: sweet potatoes, olive oil, and sea salt.

Sweet Potato Halloween Recipe

  • Sweet potato pumpkins are fun for kids and adults, and healthy too.
  • Roasted sweet potatoes go with anything! Use them as a healthy side dish for a festive lunch or dinner. The sweet potato slices cut into Jack-o-Lantern faces are a fun alternative to sweet potato fries.
  • If you want to make Halloween just a smidge healthier, serve these sweet potato pumpkins. Sweet potatoes are packed with necessary vitamins and fiber plus they’re filling.

Ingredients

ingredients for sweet potato jack o lanterns.

Sweet potatoes – Sweet potatoes come in a variety of colors so be sure to buy the orange fleshed variety for the best pumpkin face.

Olive oil – I use olive oil to brush on the sweet potatoes for roasting but you can use whatever you have on hand. You could use coconut oil or avocado oil, if you prefer. See my list of the safest cooking oils.

Sea salt – Don’t forget to season the jack o’-lanterns with sea salt.

Unseasoned food is generally bland and sea salt brings out the naturally sweet flavor of the sweet potatoes.

Recipe Steps

how to make jack o'-lantern sweet potatoes.

Step One

Preheat your oven and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.

Clean and dry your sweet potatoes then peel them with a vegetable peeler.

Cut off the ends of the sweet potato and then slice into 1/4-inch thick rounds. They should be fairly thin slices so they get nice and crispy.

Step Two

Use a paring knife to carefully cut jack o’-lantern faces into the rounds.

Be careful not to cut too close to the edge or it could rip.

Step Three

Lay the sweet potato rounds onto the baking sheet in a single layer.

Brush the bottoms and tops of the rounds with olive oil and sprinkle with salt.

Please see the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients and measurements.

Step Four

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes flipping once halfway through.

Bake until they’re golden brown on the edges but not burnt.

Remove the sweet potatoes from the oven and let them cool a few minutes on the baking tray before serving.

These are so much fun and could also be served with the addition of some sweet candied pecans on top.

I hope you agree that a sweet potato jack o’ lantern is a nice balance to lots of festive sweets.

jack o lantern face cut into a slice of sweet potato.

Recipe Tips

  • You can easily double or triple this recipe. Just be sure that the sweet potato rounds don’t overlap each other on the baking sheet to ensure even cooking.
  • You can make the sweet potato Jack o-‘Lanterns up to a day ahead of time. Reheat in the oven or air fryer before serving.
  • Be sure to use a cutting board to cut the faces on the sweet potatoes. It will keep them from slipping and won’t cut your counter or plate.
  • Be very careful as you cut the faces out so you don’t accidentally cut yourself.

Recipe FAQs

How do I make them pumpkin shaped?

If you want to make the sweet potato rounds into the shape of pumpkins you can use a small pumpkin cookie cutter. This will give you less space to cut out the face though. They also look cute just as pumpkins with no jack o’-lantern face.

Can I make these in an air fryer?

Yes, but you’ll probably have to cook them in several batches to keep the sweet potato rounds from overlapping in the air fryer basket. Bake them for about 15 minutes at 390 degrees F, or until they are browned and slightly crispy around the edges.

sweet potato jack o'-lantern.

More Healthy Fall Recipes You Might Like

I hope you make this recipe! If you do, please leave a comment and a starred review below.

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sweet potato jack o lanterns

Sweet Potato Jack O’-Lanterns

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Here’s a healthy and fun Halloween idea for both kids and adults. These Sweet Potato Jack O’-Lanterns are easy to make and taste great too. Vegan and gluten-free.

  • Total Time: 60 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 orange-fleshed sweet potatoes
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
  2. Scrub your sweet potatoes and pat them dry. Peel the potatoes using a vegetable peeler.
  3. Cut off the ends of each sweet potato and then carefully slice the sweet potatoes into rounds. Each round should be about ¼-inch thick. Discard the ends that you cut off.
  4. Use a paring knife to cut out the Jack o’-lantern face on each round. Cut triangles for the eyes and nose and a smile for the mouth. Be careful to not cut too close to the edge of the rounds or they might rip.
  5. Lay the cut sweet potato rounds on the baking sheet. Don’t let them overlap.
  6. Use a basting brush or just drizzle the olive oil over the tops of the sweet potato rounds. Use your hands to make sure the oil gets on most parts of the tops and bottoms of the sweet potato rounds. Sprinkle the salt over the tops.
  7. Bake the sweet potato rounds for 30-35 minutes, flipping them once during the cooking process. They will be done when they start to turn golden brown at the edges. Be careful to not let them burn.
  8. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the sweet potato rounds cool for a few minutes before serving.

Notes

  1. You can easily double or triple this recipe. Just be sure to that the sweet potato rounds don’t overlap each other on the baking sheet to ensure even cooking.
  2. You can make the sweet potato Jack o-‘Lanterns up to a day ahead of time. Reheat in the oven or air fryer before serving.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 116
  • Sugar: 2.7 g
  • Sodium: 326.4 mg
  • Fat: 7 g
  • Saturated Fat: 1 g
  • Carbohydrates: 13.1 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 1 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg

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About the Author: Carrie Forrest has a master’s degree in public health with a specialty in nutrition. She is a top wellness and food blogger with nearly 10 million annual visitors to her site. Carrie has an incredible story of recovery from chronic illness and is passionate about helping other women transform their health. Send Carrie a message through her contact form.