Have some leftover bread that's starting to get a bit stale? Transform it into homemade croutons! Here's how to make them.
How to Make Homemade Croutons
Croutons are one of those things that are SO simple to make and tastes SO much better than anything you can purchase, that they are pretty much always worth it. Simply slice up some bread - good quality, substantial loaves are best. Toss the cubes with some olive oil and spices, spread out on a cookie sheet and bake.
That's it. Homemade croutons are the best way to use up leftover bread and so good you might find yourself eating salad more often just so you can top it with a few croutons.
Yield: 2 cups
How to Make Homemade Croutons
Follow this simple method to make homemade croutons.
Prep Time
8 minutes
Cook Time
20 minutes
Total Time
28 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 cups bread cubes (about 6 ounces/ 170 grams)
- about ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and Pepper
- Red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C) and line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper.
- Cut bread into whatever size cubes you like and place them in a large bowl.
- Drizzle a bit of olive oil over the cubes and toss with your hands. Continue adding olive oil, bit by bit, until all the bread crumbs are nicely coated with oil.
- Spread the croutons on the baking sheet and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and a very small amount of red pepper flakes or cayenne, if desired.
- Bake for 10-20 minutes; bake time depends on how large your croutons are and how crispy you like them. I like mine very crispy and so I let them bake until they are a deep golden brown. If you prefer croutons with a slightly soft center, bake them until they are a light golden brown. To test doneness, simply take one out of the oven and try it.
- Store croutons in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
- Use this basic recipe to make as many, or as few, croutons as you like - just add the olive oil bit by bit as you toss the bread cubes with your hands until all of the bread cubes are coated with oil.
- Experiment with different flavors by sprinkling different dried herbs over the croutons along with salt, pepper, and red pepper or cayenne. Thyme, oregano, basil, onion powder, turmeric, chili powder, rosemary... the options are endless.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
¼ cupAmount Per Serving: Calories: 118Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 260mgCarbohydrates: 11gFiber: 0gSugar: 1gProtein: 2g
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