Staring down a loaf of stale bread? Now there’s no need to toss it! Learn how to make homemade croutons with any variety of bread. Whether you’re looking to elevate your soups, salads or snacks, you’ll find easy instructions, creative flavor variations and tips for perfecting your croutons.
Table of Contents
Why Make Homemade Croutons?
Homemade croutons are not just tastier but also customizable. You control the flavor, crunch and size. Plus, it’s a great way to use up stale or leftover bread, reducing food waste and saving money.
Choosing Your Bread
There are two main considerations when making croutons from scratch:
- Type of Bread: Any variety of bread can be turned into croutons. Think beyond the usual baguette or sourdough. Rye, whole wheat or even croissants can add unique flavors and textures. You can even make croutons with pizza dough!
- Staleness: Slightly stale or dry bread works best. Fresh bread can be used, but it may not get as crispy as day-old or older bread.
3 Simple Ingredients
You’ll need three basic ingredients to make homemade croutons:
- Bread: See above.
- Olive oil: For a classic touch, though melted butter works well, too.
- Seasonings: The options are endless! See below for a few of my favorite combinations.
How to Make Croutons
- Cut bread into 1-inch cubes. It doesn’t really matter what size cubes of bread are, just as long as they’re uniformly sized so they cook evenly. If the bread is fresh, let it sit out for an hour or so to dry out slightly.
- Toss with olive oil and seasonings. Arrange the bread cubes on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with your choice of seasonings, including salt and pepper. Toss to coat evenly.
- Spread into a single layer. A single layer allows the heat to circulate around each cube, giving you a perfectly crispy texture all around.
- Bake until crispy. Bake at 400°F for 10-12 minutes, tossing halfway through, until golden brown and as crispy as you like.
- Serve immediately or see below for my tips on storing!
Flavor Variations
Homemade croutons are endlessly customizable when it comes to seasonings, spices, herbs, and even grated cheeses you can toss with the bread. Here are a few of my favorite combos
- Garlic and Herb Croutons: Add 1 teaspoon each of garlic powder, dried oregano and dried basil.
- Parmesan and Italian Seasoning Croutons: Toss with ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese and 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning.
- Spicy Croutons: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce.
Now that you’ve mastered making homemade croutons, it’s time to unleash their crispy, golden magic on your meals! These tasty bread cubes aren’t just for tossing atop salads—though they do add a delightful crunch. Whether you’re looking to elevate your soup game or simply enjoy them as a snack, homemade croutons are your secret weapon. Dive into these creative and tasty ways to use your homemade croutons and make every bite count!
Salads
Croutons bring a satisfying crunch to any salad. Try them in:
Soups
Perfect for adding texture and flavor to your favorite soups. Try them in:
Snacks
Enjoy croutons on their own for a quick and tasty snack. Serve them with:
- Green Goddess Avocado Hummus
- Cheesy Roasted Cauliflower Dip
- Warm and Cheesy Onion Dip
- Cheese Platter – Use as an accompaniment for cheese and charcuterie.
To keep your homemade croutons crispy, allow them to cool completely before storing. Place them in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag and keep them at room temperature in a dry place; they’ll stay fresh for up to a week. For longer storage, freeze them in an airtight freezer bag or container for up to 3 months.
If croutons lose their crunch, simply re-crisp them by baking at 350°F for 5-10 minutes. Let them cool before storing them again.
Pro Tip: Store croutons away from moisture and humidity to prevent them from becoming soft. Make sure your storage container is completely dry before adding the croutons.
Recommended Kitchen Tools
- Nonstick baking sheet – A sturdy baking sheet is essential for evenly toasting your croutons.
- Serrated bread knife and cutting board
Ingredients
- 1 French baguette, cut into 1-inch cubes (See Kelly's Notes)
- 3 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste (See Kelly's Notes)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Arrange the bread cubes on a rimmed baking sheet then drizzle the bread with the oil and sprinkle it with salt and pepper. Toss together the croutons until they are evenly coated then spread them into a single layer on the baking sheet.
- Bake the croutons until they are golden brown and crispy, 10 to 12 minutes, tossing them halfway through.
- Remove the croutons from the oven and let them cool completely. Use immediately or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Kelly’s Notes
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Any variety of bread can be turned into croutons, from brioche to croissants to sourdough boulé. If you prefer a more rustic look for your croutons, tear rather than cut the bread into roughly 1-inch pieces.
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Croutons are endlessly customizable when it comes to what seasonings, spices, herbs and even grated cheeses you can toss with the bread.
- Storage: Allow them to cool completely before storing. Place them in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag and keep them at room temperature in a dry place; they’ll stay fresh for up to a week. For longer storage, freeze them in an airtight freezer bag or container for up to 3 months. If croutons lose their crunch, simply re-crisp them by baking at 350°F for 5-10 minutes. Let them cool before storing them again. Store croutons away from moisture and humidity to prevent them from becoming soft. Make sure your storage container is completely dry before adding the croutons.
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Hi Kelly,
Your recipes look exciting and will definitely spend time in the kitchen trying some. The croutons I always thought they were done fried in a pan?? In the oven seems more healthy I guess…
Cheers
Love this and so easy! I would use a little sweet chili sauce to spice mine up.
Delicious!