1-First Step: Prep and mise en place Start by preheating your oven to 400°F and lining a baking sheet with parchment paper. Peel the carrots and cut them into uniform fry shapes so they cook evenly. For best results, slice each carrot into halves or thirds lengthwise and then cut into thicker-than-julienne sticks about 3-4 inches long. Uniform thickness prevents some pieces from burning while others stay undercooked.

2-Second Step: Mix the coating In a large bowl, combine 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and salt and pepper to taste. The cornstarch is the secret weapon here; it soaks up surface moisture and crisps during baking, helping you get the texture of fried fries without the oil bath.

3-Third Step: Toss and arrange Add the carrot fries to the bowl and toss until each piece is evenly coated with the oil-parmesan mixture. Use your hands or tongs to make sure every fry is covered. Arrange the coated carrot fries in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet with a little space between pieces. Overlapping leads to steaming, which reduces crispness. If your sheet gets crowded, use a second baking sheet.

4-Fourth Step: Bake Bake for 25-30 minutes at 400°F, flipping the fries halfway through cooking. Around 20 minutes check for browning and start watching closely in the final minutes to avoid burning. The fries should be golden brown and crisp on the outside and tender inside.

5-Fifth Step: Finish and serve When the fries come out of the oven, transfer them briefly to a wire rack to avoid sogginess from trapped steam. Garnish with fresh parsley and extra parmesan if desired. Serve hot with suggested dipping sauces like ketchup, ranch, spicy mayo, or pesto.

6-Air fryer option and adjustments If using an air fryer, reduce the temperature by about 25% and the time by roughly 20 percent from the oven instructions. That typically means air frying at around 300-325°F for 12-18 minutes, shaking or flipping halfway through. The air fryer will often produce an even crispier result with less oil.