How To Make Homemade Croutons

Take you salad or soup to the next level with this easy to make homemade croutons. In just 15 minutes and 6 ingredients you have the best tasting crunchy croutons ready.

Why This Recipe Works?

• 15 minutes is all you need to make a batch of these delicious croutons, with just 6 ingredients from your pantry.
• Of course it’s easy and convenient to pick a bag of readymade croutons from the store. But why buy from store when it’s easy and fast to make it at home.
• And let’s not forget, homemade version will taste so much fresher and tastier than store bought ones.
• It gives you the freedom to choose your own seasoning and flavors. Garlic lovers? Add more of it. Don’t care of garlic?(what?) Simply skip it and make your version with salt-pepper-olive oil.
• This recipe is great way to use partial loaf of bread that are too stale to use in sandwich. Put that leftover loaf of bread to best use by making your own croutons. Sour dough bread or French bread loafs are best to use for this recipe.
• Making croutons at home will say you money.
• Ever thought store bought croutons are so hard and dry?! Make it at home. You’ll get beautifully crunchy on the outer and slight bread like bite in the middle croutons. It’s so much better.
• It’s easy to double or triple the batch. And you’ll need it, these fly pretty fast.
• These croutons are a must on tomato basil soup. I never have it without the croutons. Also let’s not forget the Caesar’s salad. You can’t serve Caesar’s salad without croutons.

Ingredients Needed

Below photo shows ingredients needed to make your own croutons at home.

Bread – sour dough bread or French bread loaf are best. Normal bread slices can be used, but it won’t be thicker croutons.

Olive oil – use quality olive oil (or extra virgin olive oil). Your croutons will tastes as good as your ingredients that is used.

Garlic Granules – I love garlic granules compared to fine garlic powder. It has stronger flavor and it’s texture makes it taste better. You can use garlic powder (fine) too.

Italian Seasoning – to enhance the flavor and taste.

Salt & Pepper – season according to taste. Use freshly ground pepper for best result.

Optional Suggestions – feel free to add few tablespoon of finely grated parmesan cheese.

How To Make Homemade Croutons?

1. Using sharp serrated knife slice bread into ¾ inches slices. I prefer to remove the outer crust, that’s me. You can keep the crust if you don’t mind.
2. If you prefer to remove the crust, trim off the crusty edges.
3. Slice bread into ¾ inch size cubes. Transfer the sliced bread cubes into a wide bowl.
4. Add rest of the ingredients – olive oil, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper to taste.
5. Gently toss it to coat each bread cubes with the seasoning.
6. Grease the baking tray with oil. Spread bread cubes on the tray and arrange in single layer.
7. Bake in pre-heated oven at 350 degree Fahrenheit for about 8 to 12 minutes or until it turns golden brown, flipping it occasionally.
8. Remove from oven, transfer to wired rack or another tray to cool down completely.
9. Once cooled, store in air tight container at room temperature for two weeks. You can freeze it for longer storage.

Ways To Use Croutons?

Croutons are great choice for crunchy topping options. It’s best served with–

Salads – as salad toppers. Especially in Caesar’s salad.

Soups – I always top my tomato basil soup with croutons.

Casseroles/Stuffings – croutons are very famous in casserole stuffing recipe during the holidays.

Best Bread To Use For Making Croutons?

Heartier breads like sour dough bread or French bread are best choices.  Especially the ones that have gone stale that cannot be put to use to make sandwiches. It’s best to use those.

Using sturdy bread, gives you thicker croutons. Also the texture of the bread helps in making croutons that can crisp up beautifully giving that essential crunch to it.

If you don’t have sour dough bread or French bread, you can use any other types of bread like ciabatta, French rolls, or any other good bread that you may have in your pantry (not the sliced breads).

Note I don’t recommend pre sliced breads, as it has different texture and you won’t get thicker croutons.

How To Store Homemade Croutons?

Once cooled store homemade croutons in clean dry air tight containers. If store correctly it’ll last for 2 weeks. For longer storage you can freeze it.

Place croutons in zip lock bags and freeze it. It will last for 2 months.

To use frozen croutons, simply bake frozen croutons at 350 degree Fahrenheit until thawed and turn crisp back again.

More Flavoring Options

If you like to enhance or change the flavors in homemade croutons recipe, you can do so.

Considering add these –

Butter – instead of olive oil use melted butter for richer taste.

Finely grated Parmesan cheese – add’s rich cheesy flavor to croutons.

Cayenne Pepper – for extra kick of heat. Can use chili powder or paprika as well.

Fresh herbs – substitute dried herbs with fresh herbs. Herbs like sage, rosemary, marjoram can be used.

Nutritional Yeast – it tastes great.

LOOKING FOR MORE DELICIOUS SALAD TOPPINGS? TRY:

Parmesan Crisps

Candied Walnuts

Creamy Cilantro Sauce

EPIC Peanut Sauce

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