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    Home » Recipes » How-To

    How to Make Croutons

    Published: Jun 26, 2019 · Modified: Jul 18, 2020 by Alyssa · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Learn how to make croutons with this simple tutorial! Bread and a few kitchen staples are all you need for this light and crunchy homemade croutons recipe. They stay crisp for days!

    Baked croutons on a metal baking sheet

    Summer’s the time of year when we go looking for reasons to forgo using the oven. Thankfully those reasons aren’t too hard to find with the number of no-bake breakfast and dessert recipes out there, let alone allllll the things we like to throw on the grill once the weather heats up.

    One recipe I have NO problem cranking the oven for over and over is this one. Homemade croutons! I make a big batch nearly every week and without fail, by the time the weekend rolls around all we’re left with is crumbs.

    Thankfully they’re no big deal to make and are seriously better than store-bought — and I don’t say that lightly. Convenience is so valuable in the kitchen, and there are plenty of good ready-made croutons out there. But there’s something special about turning your favorite crusty baguette into airy and crisp croutons. For one thing, it makes you want to eat more salad. 😉

    An overhead shot of a baguette loaf, salt and pepper grinders, and olive oil on a marble board

    What bread to use for croutons

    Lots of different types of bread work to make homemade croutons! My favorite type of bread to use for regular croutons is a baguette from the bakery section of the grocery store. If you shop at Publix, their Italian Five Grain Bread is exquisite and what you see in these photos. (This post isn’t sponsored…I just love love that bread).

    All the surface area of a baguette means most croutons will have at least one crust edge on them, which is always my favorite part. Yum. Also, an eight-ounce baguette like the one pictured is also about the right size to fit on one large rimmed sheet pan.

    Other breads will work for homemade croutons besides a bakery baguette, including:

    • Sourdough
    • Challah
    • Rye
    • Pumpernickel
    • Sliced bread (stale is best)
    • and even cornbread, which I detailed out in its own post: how to make cornbread croutons. It’s perfect for leftover cornbread.

    Bread cubes tossed with olive oil, salt, and pepper with a spatula in a mixing bowl

    Easy steps

    Making homemade croutons is simple, but there are two guidelines you want to be aware of:

    1. Oven temperature
    2. Amount of oil used

    Much like BBQ, I find cooking them low and slow is the way to go. That way the croutons have enough time to fully dry and become light and crisp before the outside browns too much. I bake my croutons at 325°F for 25-ish minutes or so.

    Next is the olive oil. Please don’t be stingy with it! Six tablespoons might look like a lot but you want every crouton to be coated as this also helps them crisp up nicely.

    Croutons pre-bake on a steel rimmed baking sheet

    Slice your bread into roughly equal pieces, then toss with olive oil and salt and pepper. Really you can season your croutons with whatever spices you like, like garlic, dried herbs, etc., but I usually keep it simple with just salt and pepper.

    Pour out the croutons on a large rimmed sheet pan (the one used here for an 8 oz baguette is approx. 13″ x 8″) and bake until golden brown and fully crisp, shaking them up once or twice during the cook time. Let them cool and you’re all set.

    Homemade croutons in a bowl next to a bowl of soup

    Storage tips

    Once cooled, store homemade croutons in an air-tight, sealable plastic bag or container. If using a bag, I recommend pressing as much air out of the bag as you can before you seal it up. They will stay crisp for several days to a week or so — if they last that long.

    Serving suggestions

    Clearly salads are a fabulous vehicle for enjoying croutons, but that’s not the only way you can use them.

    They make delicious toppers to soups, stews, and chilis. The bowl of soup you see peeking in the corner of the above photo is Instant Pot split pea soup and these were a great complement. And those cornbread ones I linked to above? They’re perrrfect for chili.

    They’re wonderful when crumbled as a mac and cheese or pasta bake topping. These would be amazing on this vodka sauce pasta bake. 

    Chef John’s chicken parm bake! My mom has been making this recipe for years and it’s pure comfort food. Zhush the ingredients as you like, and be sure to cook the chicken until 165°F in the middle of the thickest part. I find it usually takes a little more time to cook than stated.

    An overhead shot of homemade croutons in a salad with lettuce, tomatoes, and ranch salad dressing

    Recipe notes

    • Second/third day bread really shines in this homemade croutons recipe. Of course, fresh bread will work, too.
    • Add spices and seasonings as you like.
    • Leave a little space between croutons on the baking sheet to allow for each to crisp up rather than ‘steam’.
    • And on that note, be sure to use a rimmed baking sheet. You don’t want to lose any of them to the bottom of the oven when taking the sheet in and out.
    Baked croutons on a metal baking sheet

    How to Make Croutons

    Learn how to make croutons with this simple tutorial! Bread and a few kitchen staples are all you need for this light and crunchy homemade croutons recipe. They stay crisp for days!
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    Course: Toppings
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 7 minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes
    Total Time: 42 minutes
    Servings: 14 (estimated)
    Calories: 98kcal
    Author: Alyssa

    Ingredients

    • 8 oz baguette (half pound)
    • 6 tbsp olive oil
    • 1/4 tsp salt
    • 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
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    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 325°F. Slice an 8-oz baguette into approximately 1" cubes, then add the cubes to a large bowl.
    • Pour olive oil into the bowl and then add the salt and pepper. Toss to coat the bread evenly with the oil.
    • Pour out the cubes onto a large, rimmed, and ungreased baking sheet, taking care to arrange them in a single layer with a little bit of space between them.
    • Bake for 13-15 minutes, then take the sheet out of the oven. Flip each crouton over, then bake for another 13-15 minutes. See how they are at this point. If they're crisp throughout, remove them to cool to room temperature. If they're not fully crisp yet, keep baking them until they are.
    • Store croutons in an air-tight container or sealed plastic bag. They should remain crisp for several days.

    Notes

    I would not use more than one-quarter teaspoon of salt as it's easy to overdo it.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 14g | Calories: 98kcal | Carbohydrates: 9.1g | Protein: 1.9g | Fat: 6.3g | Saturated Fat: 0.9g | Sodium: 148mg | Potassium: 21mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 0.4g | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 0.5mg
    Tried this Recipe?Tag @mysequinedlife - I love to see what you're making!

    Nutritional information is provided as an estimate. As it can vary due to many factors (brands used, quantities, etc.), we cannot guarantee its accuracy.

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    Hi! I’m Alyssa and welcome to my food blog. Here you can find a variety of food and drink recipes, running the gamut from better-for-you main dishes to holiday fare, and from lighter bites to some serious desserts. All with the occasional cocktail recipe thrown in for good measure, too. ♥ Learn more →

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