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Croutons are crunchy and delicious for all types of dishes such as Caesar salads, soups, stews, and so much more. Make your very favorite homemade croutons from bread in your own kitchen with this simple, crispy DIY recipe.
Golden, perfectly-toasted croutons are tasty for all types of occasions and meals. We love croutons because they’re rich in flavor, crunchy, and easy to customize with whatever types of seasonings you have on hand. Plus they’re just soo good.
This homemade croutons recipe is very straightforward and uses only four ingredients! So, if you’ve been on the fence about making your own croutons and haven’t known where to start–we’ve got you covered.
If you love the little crunchy squares of delicacies, then learn how to make croutons at home! This recipe is so easy, perfect for the entire family, and ready in about 15 minutes. Did we mention only 4 ingredients?
Why These Croutons Are The Best
You’re not going to want to go back to store-bought croutons ever again. There is just no comparison when it comes to these homemade croutons!
- Easy and quick: Just grab a loaf of bread, slice it, cube it, then toss the cubes with the remainder of the ingredients. Bake in the oven, then wait! It’s as simple as that!
- Delicious: The rich olive oil soaks into the bread and creates delicious savory layers that pair well with the sea salt and black pepper.
- Better than store-bought: You’ll want homemade croutons every single time after trying them. Say goodbye to the pre-packaged croutons!
Ingredients
These are all of the simple ingredients you need for this recipe! Our tip is to go ahead and prep your ingredients before getting started on the steps.
Bread– One-half loaf of bread that is sliced and cut into cubes. Any bread of choice.
Olive oil– Rich aromatic olive oil to give the bread flavor. You can substitute it with avocado oil.
Salt– Sea salt is used to season the bread. You can use more or less.
Pepper– Freshly cracked black pepper gives the homemade croutons a little zest. Omit if you do not like black pepper.
How to Make Croutons in the Oven
Once you learn how to make croutons, you’ll never want to try them any other way again.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
First, grab your loaf of bread. If the bread is not sliced, then proceed to slice it with a serrated knife. Cut the bread slices into cubes and place them on a baking sheet.
Next, drizzle the bread cubes with ¼ cup of olive oil until all of the cubes are covered. Sprinkle the bread cubes with ½ a teaspoon of sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper.
Place the baking sheet and croutons in the oven for 15 minutes until golden brown and crispy. Be sure to flip the bread cubes halfway through the cooking time.
Enjoy croutons paired with any dish that calls for them. These croutons are light, crispy, and so delicious!
Notes and Tips
Be sure to follow these tips for the best results! It’s important to keep these things in mind:
- Store the leftover croutons in an airtight container at room temperature for up to four days.
- For a little bit of spice, add ground cayenne pepper. For extra flavor, add a little bit of garlic powder.
- Keep an eye on the croutons as they cook so they do not burn. All ovens are different!
- Use any kind of bread. We like to use sourdough, French bread, baguettes, homemade, etc…
Frequently Asked Questions
You can store the croutons for up to four days in an airtight container, but keep in mind that the croutons won’t taste their best after the first two days. You can briefly toast them in the oven to restore their crispiness.
Place the croutons into a sealed bag and smash them with a hard object until all of the croutons are broken into tiny pieces.
Place the croutons in an oven preheated to 300 degrees Fahrenheit and toast for 3-5 minutes until crunchy.
Yes, you can freeze croutons! Just place the toasted croutons in an airtight bag and freeze them for a couple of months. When ready to serve, remove the frozen croutons from the bag and toast in the oven.
Other Recipes You Will Enjoy
- Chicken Kale Caesar Salad
- Baked Macaroni and Cheese
- Homemade Jalapeño Skillet Cornbread
- Chicken Vegetable Soup
- Easy Homemade Dinner Rolls
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How to Make Homemade Croutons
Equipment
- 1 baking sheet
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
Ingredients
- 1 loaf bread, sliced, cut into cubes
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper , freshly cracked
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Slice the loaf of bread into cubes. Cut the bread slices into cubes and place them on a baking sheet.
- Drizzle bread cubes with olive oil until all of the cubes are covered. Sprinkle the bread cubes with sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper.
- Place the baking sheet and croutons in the oven for 15 minutes until golden brown and crispy. Flip the bread cubes halfway through the cooking time.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Store the leftover croutons in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days.
- For a little bit of spice, add ground cayenne pepper. For extra flavor, add a little bit of garlic powder.
- Keep an eye on the croutons as they cook so they do not burn. All ovens are different!
- Use any kind of bread. We like to use sourdough, French bread, baguettes, homemade, etc…
- Serving size is per cup: so if using 1/4 cup, it will be about 146 calories
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
