Preheat the oven to 175 degrees Celsius.
Grease a muffin pan with some butter, cooking spray or olive oil.
Slice the potatoes thinly, preferably using a mandolin, and place in a bowl.
Add olive oil, sea salt and black pepper and combine well making sure all potato slices are covered with olive oil.
Build the potato roses by arranging the potato slices in the muffin tins, working from the outside in. Start with the larger slices, press 5 slices against the sides of the well, then repeat by overlapping slice after slice until you've filled the muffin tins.
Bake in the oven for about 20-25 minutes, until the roses are golden brown and soft.
Add the grated/shredded cheese (if using) and place back in the oven again and let it bake for another 5 minutes.