Forget store-bought and make your own bread croutons at home! This homemade croutons recipe is made in minutes and adds so much flavour to all your favourite soups and salads. With olive oil, butter, basil and garlic they’re totally delish!
Hey friends!
Sharing an easy recipe that everyone should have in their back pocket…homemade croutons!
Sure, the store-bought ones add a crunch factor to salads.
But homemade?
Lemme tell ya, friend…..so freaking good!
They’re crunchy and just a tad tender in the centre.
They’re a touch salty.
And wickedly buttery (also, my fave part).
If you’re like me, when you think of croutons, you automatically go to salads.
But, they’re also delicious as a soup topper.
Truthfully, before these buttery croutons even make it to soup or salad, they go straight from the pan into my piehole.
I can honestly eat ’em like potato chips. They make for the most delish snack.
How to Make Homemade Croutons
Firstly, grab your hunk of bread a cut off slices, about 1-inch thick.
Start slicing into cubes.
Add dried basil, salt, pepper and garlic powder and olive oil to some melted butter and whisk to combine.
Place bread cubes in a large bowl and drizzle over butter mixture (or you can spread cubes of bread directly onto the sheet pan and do it that way…one less dish to clean, lol).
Use your hands, if needed, to mix and ensure everything is well coated.
Bake until golden brown, turning half-way through (and rotating your pan).
Tip: Bake time of croutons can vary, depending on how large your cubes are, the type of bread used and how fresh/stale your bread is to start with. You want to bake the croutons until they’re golden brown and crispy, but still just slightly tender inside.
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Best Bread to Use
Use day old or stale-ish bread.
That’s the best type of bread for croutons.
If your bread is super fresh, no worries! You just may need to bake ’em a little longer.
A bread with flavour works great here too, like sourdough or even a pumpernickel. Don’t go for a basic white bread.
If you opt for a darker bread (like pumpernickel or rye), just keep an eye on as it bakes. Because it’s darker in colour, it’s a little difficult to tell exactly how baked the croutons are.
How Long Do They Last
Store completely cool croutons in a sealable bag or container in your pantry for 5 to 7 days.
More Helpful Tips
As mentioned above, use ‘day old’ bread.
Spread cubes of bread out onto a sheet pan in an even layer so they aren’t touching and crisp up nicely.
You could use all olive oil instead of butter, but I love the flavour that butter adds. And, I really enjoy to use clarified butter (that’s just a fancy way of saying removing those milk solids and water). You basically skim/discard the foam from the butter as it melts. This is a great guide on how-to clarify butter.
For smoky or spicy croutons, use some smoked paprika or cayenne pepper powder instead of basil.
Allow the croutons to fully cool before storing in a covered container or sealable bag. You don’t want ’em to sweat and loose their crispness.
Hope you love this homemade croutons recipe as much as we do!
Until next time, take care and chit chat again soon,
Dawn
Make these bread croutons? That’s awesome! Love it if you left a comment below. Many thanks!
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Homemade Croutons Recipe
Ingredients
- 5 to 6 cups bread , cut into cubes (about 8 ounces or 1/2 pound)
- 2 tablespoons melted butter or ghee
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder , depending on how garlicky you like things
- 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Melt butter (on the stove top or in the microwave) and combine with olive oil, dried basil, salt, pepper and garlic powder, whisking to incorporate everything.
- Place bread cubes in a large bowl and drizzle over butter mixture, tossing to coat. Alternatively, you can spread cubes of bread directly onto the sheet pan and drizzle butter mixture over, using your hands to toss everything.
- Make sure the cubes of bread are in an even layer on the sheet pan so they crisp up nicely. If you are using parmesan, you can sprinkle it over now.
- Bake about 15 to 17 minutes or so (giving a little stir halfway through cooking time and rotating pan halfway through too) or until golden, crunchy and just a tad tender inside (time will vary depending on how fresh your bread is). You don't want to bake them until they are completely crisp. You still want a little bit of tender bread inside. Plus, they will firm up a little more as they cool.Note: As the croutons are getting closer to done, watch them because they can burn quickly.
- Enjoy on salads, soups and as a snack!
