How To Make Homemade Croutons

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

It is a great way to use up bread. When I have part of a loaf leftover, I like to turn it in croutons. It is a very tasty way to avoid food waste.

You can extend the life of bread without freezing it. There is nothing wrong with saving bread in the freezer to use for something else later. But every so often I will do a freezer clean and realize I have all this random bread that I should have used months ago before it developed freezer burn. I would have been better off making croutons.

Once you get the hang of it, you can improvise. Use this recipe as a starting point. For instance, you may have a smaller quantity of bread, so just make a smaller batch. Or come up with your own mix of spices to flavor it.

These are vegan croutons. Instead of melted butter or a combination of butter and oil, I stick to just olive oil.

Best Bread for Croutons

I prefer bread that has an even balance of crust to the interior. Ciabatta and baguettes are my favorites because nearly every crouton ends up with some crust on it. In general, you should use a more rustic or country style loaf that has some structure to it. Skip sliced sandwich bread because it’s too soft and your croutons won’t have good crunch.

Tips for Preparing the Bread

Instead of cutting the bread into uniform cubes with a knife, I tear it. The pieces are jagged and uneven. I love the variety. Some will brown more than others depending on their size and the heat inside the oven.

When you rip the bread apart, do your best not to squash the crumb. It is ok if the bread is a little dry and stale, but make sure it’s not so hard that it’s impossible to split it into individual pieces.

The Ingredients

You don’t need much for this homemade crouton recipe:

• Bread: As mentioned, use a more artisan, rustic loaf. I like to call these crusty breads. Sourdough bread is wonderful because of its signature tang. Or try a multigrain.
• Oil: Always use extra-virgin olive oil for its quality and flavor.
• Dried seasonings: I use a mix of oregano, thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, kosher salt and black pepper. Some combination of these is often found in Italian seasoning blends.

How To Make Homemade Croutons

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

1. Tear the bread into pieces. They should be about 1-inch to 2-inches.

2. Whisk together the olive oil and dried spices including oregano, thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, kosher salt and black pepper.

3. Put the bread on a baking sheet and pour the oil mixture over it. Use your hands to toss it, so each piece absorbs the oil. Spread the bread in single layer on the pan. I do this on the pan to save myself from washing a large bowl.

4. Bake the croutons until they are deep golden brown and crisp. Start with 10 minutes on one side and then flip them over and continue cooking for an additional 7-10 minutes.

Uses for Croutons

Salads are the most obvious way to eat croutons, but they can also top pureed veggie soups like Roasted Tomato Soup or soups with lots of beans or lentils. Try them on Rosemary Tomato White Bean Soup or Pasta e Fagioli.

You can turn them into breadcrumbs too. Just put the croutons in a bag and crush them with the bottom of a heavy pot or skillet. If you want them to be finer, then use a food processor.