Description
A flavorful topping for salads and soups, homemade croutons are also a delicious crispy-crunchy savory snack all on their own. A wonderful way to use up extra bread!
Ingredients
- 12-ounce (340g) loaf of crusty bread
- 1/3 cup (80ml) extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 Tablespoons (43g) unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning blend
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- optional: 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
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Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (191°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- Tear or slice bread into small bite-size pieces and place them in a large bowl. You should have around 6 to 8 cups of bread cubes, give or take.
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, whisk together olive oil, butter, Italian seasoning, parsley, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until the butter is melted and everything is combined, about 3–5 minutes. Pour over the bread cubes, add the optional parmesan cheese, and stir/toss until all the pieces of bread are coated. Spread the seasoned bread cubes in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 10 minutes, remove from the oven and stir, then return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 8 minutes. Remove from the oven and set the baking sheet on a cooling rack. Let the croutons cool on the baking sheet for 30 minutes; they will continue to crisp up as they cool.
- Store leftover croutons lightly covered at room temperature for up to 1 day; after that, store covered tightly for up to 10 days.
Notes
- Special Tools (affiliate links): Glass Mixing Bowls | Saucepan or Small Skillet (if you’re looking for a quality skillet, I own and love this one | Whisk | Baking Sheet | Silicone Baking Mats or Parchment Paper | Cooling Rack
- Best Bread to Use: For best results, I strongly recommend using a crusty, sturdy bread for making croutons, such as artisan bread (1 loaf from that recipe is around 12 ounces), French or Italian loaf, baguette, sourdough, or ciabatta. Avoid using soft or flimsy bread.
- Can I Use Only Olive Oil? Yes, feel free to skip the butter. Instead, use 1/2 cup (120ml) of olive oil.
- Italian Seasoning: If you don’t have Italian seasoning, you can use any combination of Italian spices that you like such as dried basil, rosemary, oregano, etc.
