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    Home » Breads

    Homemade Croutons

    Published: Jun 18, 2022 · by Nico

    Jump to Recipe

    Homemade croutons are a simple way to add flavor and crunch to salads, soups, stews, and casseroles. Make them in 15 minutes in the oven or on the stove-top, from fresh or stale bread.

    And the best thing is that you can customize these easy croutons with your favorite herbs and spices.

    homemade croutons
    On this page:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Serving suggestions
    • Similar recipes
    • Storage
    • Tips
    • Questions
    • Recipe

    Check out our best vegetable sides recipe collection!

    Crunchy and aromatic, homemade croutons are the best and easiest way to add extra flavor and crunch to soups, salads, and stews.

    You can make a batch of croutons in just about 15 minutes from any kind of fresh or stale bread, and they'll last for more than a week.

    Here we'll show you how to make croutons in a pan and in the oven. The process is so simple that you can make this delicious zucchini soup to serve them with in the meantime.

    You can even make them in the air fryer, but for that, we have a separate air fryer croutons recipe.

    Try our homemade crouton recipe today to add texture to our easy zucchini soup, tofu salad, or roasted butternut squash soup.

    zucchini soup with croutons
    Croutons with zucchini soup.

    Ingredients

    ingredients for croutons
    Ingredients for croutons: bread, olive oil, dry rosemary, and salt.

    Bread

    We make croutons with French baguette. They turn out very crunchy, and not too hard, which is what we like. In general, French bread and Italian bread (like ciabatta or a rustic loaf) are our favorites.

    You can use any kind of bread, including gluten-free, sourdough, and whole wheat bread.

    The bread can be fresh or stale. Fresh bread is a little harder to cut into squares and takes a little longer in the oven. We find that 1 to 2 days old bread is best for making croutons.

    Olive oil

    An essential ingredient to make the bread tasty and crunchy, without getting too dry. We recommend using extra virgin olive oil because it's more flavorful and aromatic. We prefer it to melted butter because it's heart-healthy.

    You can use more or less oil based on your tastes. If you are on an oil-free diet, you can make homemade croutons without any oil at all. Of course, they won't be as tasty, but they still get super crunchy.

    Salt

    Add more or less based on your preference and diet. Seasalt and kosher salt are good options.

    Herbs and spices

    Herbs and spices are optional but we strongly recommend them. We make croutons with dried rosemary but you can use many other dried herbs and spices. It's up to your tastes.

    For instance, when it comes to herbs try Italian seasoning, dried oregano, dried thyme, dried mint, dried sage, or a mix of those.

    For spices, we recommend garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, freshly ground black pepper, paprika, and even smokey chipotle powder.

    oven baked croutons in a baking tray

    Instructions

    If your bread has a thick, hard crust you might want to remove it before making the croutons. The crust can get too hard and you might chip a tooth.

    removing thick hard crust from stale bread

    Using a serrated bread knife, cut the bread into slices, then into cubes. You can make smaller or larger bread cubes.

    Somewhere between ⅓-inch (0.8 cm) and ¾-inch cubes (2 cm) is best so your homemade croutons are bite-size.

    cubed bread

    Oven-baked croutons

    Preheat the oven to 400°F or 200°C. Transfer cubed bread onto the baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

    Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil. Sprinkle with salt, black pepper, and your favorite dried herb and or spices (we recommend garlic powder + rosemary).

    Toss the cubes with two spoons or with your hands, and arrange them on the baking sheet without overlapping.

    cubed bread on a baking sheet

    Bake at 400°F or 200°C for 7 minutes, flip the cubes and bake for another 7 minutes until golden and crunchy.

    Cook time might vary based on the bread type. However, 14 minutes in total should be enough for most breads.

    Also, larger cubes take longer to get crisp throughout.

    Note: the croutons will harden as they cool down, and the day after, they'll be even crunchier and harder.

    oven baked croutons

    Croutons in a pan

    To a large skillet add the olive oil, herbs, and spices (we use rosemary). Warm up the oil then add the cubed bread into the skillet and season with salt.

    cubed bread into the pan

    Fry on medium heat for about 12 minutes, turning the bread cubed every 2 to 3 minutes. If the pan gets too hot, lower the heat.

    You might need to add a little more oil halfway through cooking if your pan gets dry. In general, pan-frying requires more oil than oven-baking.

    pan fried croutons

    Serving suggestions

    Croutons can add an element of crunch and comfort to a variety of meals. Add a small handful of homemade croutons on top of:

    • Soups, such as tomato soup, mushroom soup, and zucchini soup.
    • Salads, for example with tofu salad, Italian salad, and tomato-cucumber salad.
    • Stews and casseroles, such as Tuscan bean soup, chickpea stew, and Italian bean stew.

    Note that when you add them on top of a dish, they will soak up the liquids in the dish very quickly, so we recommend adding them last minute just before serving.

    Or even better, let your family (or guests) at your table add them to their own dish!

    croutons on tomato soup

    Similar recipes

    If you liked these homemade croutons, you might also enjoy our other bready recipes:

    • Italian panzanella salad with stale bread
    • Air fryer croutons
    • Easy crostini
    • No-knead focaccia bread
    • Roasted zucchini with breadcrumb filling
    • Crunchy roasted potatoes with breading

    Storage

    Store homemade croutons in an airtight container like a mason jar or a zip-lock bag at room temperature (on a shelf or on the kitchen counter) for up to one to two weeks. If you live in a dry place they can keep crunchy for longer.

    We do not recommend storing homemade croutons in the refrigerator. The moist air in there will make them soggy faster.

    storing croutons in a mason jar

    Freeze croutons for up to 2 months. To do so, store them in a freezer-friendly plastic bag and freeze them.

    To thaw, take them out of the freezer and spread them onto a baking sheet or a large plate lined with kitchen paper to absorb extra moisture. They'll thaw in a couple of hours.

    To make them crunchy again, bake them in a preheated oven at 400°F or 200°C for about 5 minutes.

    Tips

    • 1 to 2 days old bread is easier to cut into bite-size cubes.
    • If your bread has a hard crust, slice it off before making the croutons.
    • Cut same-size cubes so that they'll all cook at the same time.
    • Let cool down completely before storing them in an airtight container. The steam generated from their residual heat will make them soggy.

    Questions

    What to do with leftover croutons?

    If you have leftover croutons you can easily turn them into tasty breadcrumbs to use in other recipes like our delicious roasted zucchini.

    To do so, add them to a food processor and pulse until they turn into breadcrumbs.
    roasted zucchini on a serving platter

    How do you keep homemade croutons crispy?

    1) Let them cool down completely at room temperature and on a single layer.
    2) Transfer them into an airtight container like a mason jar or Tupperware.
    3) Keep in a dry spot on your kitchen counter (far from steam).
    4) Do not put them in the refrigerator, they'll get soggy.

    How long can you keep homemade croutons?

    You can keep homemade croutons for up to two weeks if you store them properly, in a dry corner of your kitchen, and in an airtight container.

    If you keep them away from moisture it can take more than two weeks for homemade croutons to go bad.

    Recipe

    homemade croutons

    Homemade Croutons

    Author: Nico
    Homemade croutons are a simple way to add flavor and crunch to salads, soups, and casseroles. Make them in 15 minutes in the oven or on the stove-top, from fresh or stale bread.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share Recipe
    5 from 1 vote
    Prep Time 3 mins
    Cook Time 14 mins
    Total Time 17 mins
    Course Condiment
    Cuisine French, International
    Servings 12 people
    Calories 78 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 3 cups (½ pound) cubed bread
    • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil or more to taste
    • ¼ teaspoon salt or more to taste
    • 2 twists black pepper
    • ½ teaspoon dried herbs (rosemary, Italian seasoning, or other)
    • ¼ teaspoon spices (garlic powder, red pepper flakes, or other)

    Instructions
     

    • If your bread has a thick, hard crust, you might want to remove it before making the croutons. The crust can get too hard, and you might chip a tooth.
      removing thick hard crust from stale bread
    • Cut the bread into slices with a serrated bread knife first, then into cubes.
      Between ⅓-inch (0.8 cm) and ¾-inch cubes (2 cm) is best for bite-size croutons.
      cubed bread

    OVEN-BAKED CROUTONS

    • Preheat the oven to 400°F or 200°C. Transfer cubed bread onto the baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
      Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil. Sprinkle with salt, black pepper, and your favorite dried herb and or spices (we recommend garlic powder + rosemary).
      Toss the cubes with two spoons or with your hands, and arrange them on the baking sheet without overlapping.
      cubed bread on a baking sheet
    • Bake at 400°F or 200°C for 7 minutes, flip the cubes and bake for another 7 minutes until golden and crunchy.
      Cook time might vary based on the bread type. However, 14 minutes in total should be enough for most breads. Also, larger cubes take longer to get crisp throughout.
      Note: the croutons will harden as they cool down, and the day after, they'll be even crunchier and harder.
      Baked croutons

    CROUTONS IN A PAN

    • To a large skillet, add the olive oil, herbs, and spices (we use rosemary).
      Warm up the oil, add the cubed bread into the skillet, and season with salt and pepper.
      cubed bread into the pan
    • Fry on medium heat for about 12 minutes, turning the bread cubed every 2 to 3 minutes.
      If the pan gets too hot, lower the heat. If your pan dries, you might need to add more oil halfway through cooking. In general, pan-frying requires more fat than oven-baking.
      pan fried croutons

    USE OR STORE

    • Use on soups, salads, or casseroles.
      Zucchini soup with croutons
    • Let cool down at room temperature before storing them in an airtight container such as a mason jar or Tupperware. Keep on your kitchen counter for about one week.
      storing croutons in a mason jar

    Video Recipe

    Homemade Croutons | Add flavor and crunch to salads and soups

    Notes

    Nutrition information is for one portion out of twelve.
    To make croutons in an air fryer, check out our air-fryer croutons recipe.

    Nutritional Values

    Nutrition Facts
    Homemade Croutons
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 78 Calories from Fat 27
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 3g5%
    Saturated Fat 0.4g3%
    Trans Fat 0g
    Polyunsaturated Fat 0.4g
    Monounsaturated Fat 2g
    Cholesterol 0mg0%
    Potassium 27mg1%
    Carbohydrates 11g4%
    Dietary Fiber 1g4%
    Sugar 1g1%
    Protein 2g4%
    Vitamin A 3IU0%
    Vitamin B6 0.02mg1%
    Vitamin C 0.03mg0%
    Vitamin E 0.4mg3%
    Vitamin K 3µg3%
    Calcium 13mg1%
    Folate 26µg7%
    Iron 1mg6%
    Manganese 0.1mg5%
    Magnesium 7mg2%
    Zinc 0.2mg1%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Did you like this recipe?We are not much on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Leave us a comment below instead, it would mean the world to us 🙂

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    Nico and Louise founders of the Plant-Based School.

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