Fondant potatoes look fancy, but they're actually easy and tasty to make! This French way of cooking turns potatoes into something really special - soft, creamy, and full of flavor. Even your family will be amazed by how good these potatoes taste. Get ready to make a side dish everyone will love!
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Pommes de Terre Fondantes
Take your potato side to a whole new level with these buttery, crusty, elegant-looking fondant potatoes (aka pommes fondant or pommes de Terre fondantes) for holiday meals, special occasions, or simply because they are so darn good!
You wouldn't think that a potato could taste absolutely like potato, and then some. The stock flavor slowly cooks into the center as the fondant potatoes are roasted in the oven, heightening the perfection of these simple potatoes.
Everyone (friends and family alike) is thoroughly hooked on my fondant potatoes! As those of you who read the website probably know, my husband and I tend to binge-watch Gordon Ramsay shows. We love to make copycats or variations of his recipes together!
This is one of those foods that was commonly made in the Hell's Kitchen television series, and therefore, we decided to try it using a few different methods.
My round-cut (so amazing!) version is our favorite, but for simplicity, I also make fondant potatoes by using russet potatoes cut in half lengthwise.
🥘 Ingredients
I use just a few base ingredients with this recipe, and these are all staple ingredients in my kitchen. Some of your favorite fresh herbs and cloves of garlic are wonderful additions for flavor variety!
- Russet Potatoes - 4 russet potatoes. This potato variety will cook up the best with this method. They will yield a super tender, fluffy potato texture on the inside while delightfully crisp on the outside.
- Olive Oil - 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) for searing the potatoes.
- Chicken Stock - 2 cups of chicken stock, or you can also use vegetable broth.
- Butter - 2 tablespoons of butter. Salted butter is best, and good European butter adds even more richness.
- Salt & Pepper - Just a touch for seasoning while cooking. You can add more to taste when serving.
- Chives (optional) - ½ a tablespoon of fresh chives are a wonderful addition to your fondant potatoes!
- Garlic (optional) - 4 garlic cloves in the pan juices add that unique garlic flavor.
- Parsley (optional) - ½ a tablespoon of bright green to garnish your cooked potatoes with when serving.
*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*
🔪 How To Make Fondant Potatoes
My fondant potatoes are stunning when I take the time to cut them into these beautiful barrel-shaped cylinders, which is surprisingly easy when using a round metal biscuit cutter (*see note).
If you don't have a biscuit cutter, you can carefully use a sharp knife. You will also need a medium-sized bowl, an oven-safe skillet, and a spatula or tongs to flip the potatoes.
This will make about 4-6 servings, depending on how many rounds you cut each potato into. I cut 2 rounds from each potato, but you could do 3 if you prefer them a little shorter.
Prepare the Russet Potatoes
- Rinse and halve. Rinse and cut 4 large russet potatoes into halves, then cut the rounded ends off.
- Shape. Cut your potatoes into barrel-shaped cylinders using a metal biscuit cutter (or carefully shape them using a knife).
- Soak. Return the cut potato rounds to a bowl of cold water. Allow the potatoes to soak in cold water for about 5 minutes.
- Dry and season. Pat the potato rounds dry, then season with salt and pepper.
Make Your Fondant Potatoes
- Preheat. Set your oven to 425°F (218°C) and bring your cast iron skillet (or another heavy-bottomed oven-safe skillet) with 2 tablespoons of olive oil to medium heat on the stovetop.
- Sear both sides. Place the cut potato rounds in your heated pan and cook until golden brown, about 4-5 minutes. Flip and cook the second side until golden brown. Add 2 tablespoons of butter and melt in the skillet, spooning over the first browned side of the potatoes. Add ½ a tablespoon of chives (and optional 4 garlic cloves) if desired.
- Add the broth. Pour 2 cups of chicken (or vegetable) stock into the skillet with the potato rounds, and then transfer the skillet to your preheated oven.
- Cook until tender. Cook the fondant potatoes for about 30 minutes, or until the 'white' portion of the middle has become more white and the potatoes are tender inside.
- Serve. Garnish with chopped parsley (or fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme) and serve with 2-3 tablespoons of the remaining chicken stock.
Fondant potatoes are a tasty potato side dish to serve with any roast, but I usually reserve them for special occasions and holiday meals. They're so yummy that I should indulge in them much more often! Enjoy!
💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes
- You don't have to cut your potatoes as shown here. My method was done to have a lot of height on my fondant potatoes, resulting in many cut-away potatoes that went unused. Instead of using half of each potato for each round, a large potato could be cut into thirds, yielding 3 slightly shorter but wider rounds. However, the height of the rounds, as shown here, adds fantastic texture with the crispy top and bottom and the super creamy inside portion of the potato.
- If too much stock has evaporated during cooking, add more as needed. You will want only a couple of tablespoons of leftover stock to serve with the fondant potatoes.
- If too much stock is left over when the potatoes are done cooking, remove the fondant potatoes to a plate and return the pan with stock to the oven to allow more stock to evaporate.
🥡 Storing
Store any leftover fondant potatoes in an airtight storage container. They will store wonderfully in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
The interior won't be quite as fluffy and creamy, but the taste is still amazing.
I don't suggest freezing fondant potatoes as the consistency just turns to mush once thawed and reheated.
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❓ Recipe FAQs
You can partially prepare the potatoes in advance if you need to cut down on prep time. Fry the potatoes on both sides, add the butter and optional garlic or chives, and baste the potatoes as they sear. Let them cool, then cover and refrigerate them for up to 24 hours. When you need them, pop them in the oven with the stock and finish as directed.
I usually plan on serving a potato per person, which makes 2-3 rounds depending on how you cut them. If you like leftovers, you can always make more!
I find russet potatoes work best for this cooking method. The outside crisps up nicely while the inside becomes buttery and soft. That's not to say you couldn't try this recipe with other potatoes!
🥔 More Potato Side Dishes
- Bacon Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes - These creamy mashed potatoes have a little something extra that makes them even more delicious!
- Ranch Roasted Potatoes - Fluffy potato wedges with a crispy outside and plenty of ranch seasoning.
- Roasted Potatoes and Onions - An easy potato side dish that pairs well with just about any main course!
- Duck Fat Fried Potatoes - Duck fat gives these pan-fried potatoes an extra rich and buttery flavor.
- Cheesy Bacon Ranch Potatoes - Melted cheese, savory bacon, potatoes, and ranch, a match made in heaven!
- Mashed Potatoes without Milk - These mashed potatoes are just as creamy and irresistible, but without using milk!
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📖 Recipe Card
Fondant Potatoes
Ingredients
- 4 large russet potatoes
- ¼ teaspoon each, salt & pepper (to taste)
- 2 tablespoon olive oil (extra virgin)
- 2 tablespoon butter (salted)
- 4 cloves garlic (optional)
- 2 cups chicken stock (or vegetable stock, use half a 32-ounce carton)
- ½ tablespoon fresh or dried chives (chopped)
- ½ tablespoon fresh parsley (chopped, optional garnish)
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
Preparing The Potatoes
- Before beginning, please see my recipe notes for a quick suggestion on the preparation of your russet potatoes.
- To cut your potatoes, rinse potatoes and fill a medium bowl with cold water. Cut potatoes into your barrel shaped rounds (I used a round metal biscuit cutter and trimmed as needed to smooth out all sides) and place into the bowl of water.
- Once all of the potato rounds are cut, allow the potatoes to soak in the bowl of water for about 5 minutes to remove the starch. Rinse again in cold water and pat the rounds dry. Then season with salt & pepper (I used white pepper) before transferring into your heated pan.
Classic Creamy Fondant Potatoes
- Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and bring your cast iron skillet (or other heavy bottomed oven safe skillet) with extra virgin olive oil to medium heat on the stove top.
- Place cut potato rounds in your heated pan, and cook until golden brown, about 4-5 minutes. Flip and cook the second side until also golden brown. Add butter and melt in the skillet, spooning over the first browned side of the potatoes. Add chives (and optional garlic cloves).
- Pour the chicken (or vegetable) stock into the skillet with the potato rounds and transfer skillet to your preheated oven.
- Cook the fondant potatoes for about 30 minutes, or until the 'white' portion of the middle has become more white and the potatoes are tender inside. *If too much stock has evaporated during cooking, add more as needed. You will want only a couple of tablespoons of the stock left over to serve with the fondant potatoes. **If there is too much stock left over when the potatoes are done cooking, remove the fondant potatoes to a plate and return the pan with stock to the oven to allow more stock to evaporate off.
- Garnish with chopped parsley (or fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme) and serve with 2-3 tablespoons of the remaining chicken stock.
Notes
- I'm going to preface my preparation of your russet potatoes with this note: You don't have to cut your potatoes as shown here. My method was done to have a lot of height on my fondant potatoes which resulted in a lot of cut-away potato that went unused. Instead of using half of each potato for each round, a large potato could be cut into thirds and yield 3 slightly shorter but wider rounds. However, the height of the rounds as shown here adds amazing texture with the crispy top and bottom and the super creamy inside portion of the potato.
- If too much stock has evaporated during cooking, add more as needed. You will want only a couple of tablespoons of the stock left over to serve with the fondant potatoes.
- If there is too much stock left over when the potatoes are done cooking, remove the fondant potatoes to a plate and return the pan with stock to the oven to allow more stock to evaporate off.
- To Store: Store any leftover fondant potatoes in an airtight storage container. They will store wonderfully in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- To Freeze: I do not recommend freezing fondant potatoes as the thawed and reheated potatoes will have a mushy, undesirable texture.
Linda says
Does this HAVE to be done in a cast-iron skillet??
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
It doesn't HAVE to be a cast iron skillet, although they are best for getting a good color on the surfaces of the cut potatoes. Just be sure to use a skillet or pan that is safe at high temperatures in the oven. Thanks for asking!
Christina Chambers says
This looks heavenly!!! I'm wondering if the potatoes should be peeled or not; I couldn't find any reference in the recipe or article. Also, I would really love to see some photos or video of how to cut the potatoes. I'm trying to envision using a biscuit cutter on raw potato, but I don't get it.
Looking forward to trying this after I understand it better 🙂
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
Hello Christina, yes, these fondant potatoes are peeled. It is in the 'How to make' section in the post. The potatoes can simply be peeled then cut into barrels to cook. I went overboard with the trimming but I like a very tidy fondant potato. 🙂
John Semon says
Angela, thanks for the recipe for fondant potatoes. I wish to prepare the day ahead by cutting the potatoes and stopping before sauteing and baking. Is that possible?
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
That's a great question! And the answer is yes, you can most definitely make the fondant potatoes in advance! However, I would suggest following the recipe through step 2 (cut, soak, and saute) then allow your potatoes to cool to room temperature and refrigerate overnight. Once ready to prepare, allow the potatoes to warm to room temperature, add the stock, and continue as directed in step 3 and beyond to finish.
The fondant potatoes won't have the same crispness on the top and bottom but will have that tender consistency and rich flavor.
*The issue with not cooking them at least through the saute is that the potatoes would need to be soaked to prevent browning, in which case they would take on too much moisture for a great sear.
Thanks for asking and let me know if you have any other questions!