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If you have stale, old or leftover bread… I have the perfect recipe for you… homemade croutons! ♡

Homemade croutons are just about the easiest thing ever to make. You will seriously wonder why you haven’t made your own croutons before! You can make them as large or small, soft or crispy, plain or seasoned as you want. Not only are these amazing on a good old-fashioned salad, they’re also delicious for topping a fresh bowl of tomato soup or maybe French Onion Soup for this time of year.

My pickiest kid can attest that they are a million times better than anything you buy at the store. One of the best things is that they’re easily customizable with whatever seasonings you might be craving! They can also be made with any, yes I said any, kind of bread that you have on hand (including gluten-free). I have even used leftover bao buns, and they were delicious!

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HOMEMADE CROUTON INGREDIENTS:

To create homemade croutons, you require three primary ingredients:

Bread: Opt for any variety, but it is best to use bread that is at least a day or two old to achieve the desired texture.
Olive Oil: avocado oil or sunflower oil can also be used effectively. For those who prefer butter, I recommend using ghee which will provide the butter flavor without the water.
Seasonings: This is where you can get creative and have fun with it. You can keep it simple with just salt and pepper, or explore more complex flavors. My favorite is the classic Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and onion powder. For an additional touch, Parmesan cheese can be sprinkled on, with approximately 3 tablespoons being a typical amount.

SUBSTITUTIONS/SUGGESTIONS

Here are a couple of simple switches you can make.

OLIVE OIL: 1:1 ratio of avocado oil, sunflower oil. or ghee
GARLIC POWDER AND ONION POWDER: 1 ½ teaspoons of Gourmend Garlic Scape Powder and Gourmend Green Onion Powder (Use Code: JENNSMITH15 to 15% off at Gourmend)
FINE SEAT SALT: ½ teaspoon regular sea salt or table salt

COOKING WITH KIDS

DISCLOSURE: Please keep in mind that the following tips are general and are meant to be suggestive. I personally use these strategies with my own kids, who are all unique even within my own family of five. Therefore, please regard these as suggestions or ideas. If you feel that your child requires more or less assistance, then go with what you and your child are comfortable with. Ultimately, you know your child best.

measuring the ingredients
mixing the ingredients
tossing the croutons to cover them.
pouring and evening the croutons onto the pan
Putting the croutons away for storage

a bowl filled with olive oil and seasonings for croutons

croutons in a white bowl on a kitchen counter

cubed bread for croutons on a baking sheet

STORAGE DETAILS

Store cooled croutons in an air-tight container or food-safe bag for up to 1 week

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WAYS TO USE HOMEMADE CROUTONS:

Croutons are a great way to add flavor and crunch to your meal. Some of my favorite ways to use homemade croutons include:

Salads: One of my favorites is the Marinated Tomato and Mozzarella salad (think caprese without the balsamic)
Soups: Roasted Butternut Squash, tomato (recipe coming soon), French onion, or one of my personal favorites, Italian Ground Sausage soup (recipe coming soon)
Stuffings/Casseroles

Your feedback is important to me! Please let me know what you think of this homemade crouton recipe in the comments and rate this recipe using the star icons. Your input helps me improve future posts and the blog overall, and in the end, it all helps me to help YOU. Thank you!

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It’s always wonderful to see loved ones coming together over delicious food.

Homemade Croutons

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Learn how to make homemade croutons from scratch with this simple, customizable crouton recipe.

Total Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 12 oz 1x

Ingredients

Scale

1 loaf of bread (about 12 ounces)
1/2 cup olive oil (See NOTES 1 for substitutions)
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon garlic powder (See NOTES 2 for substitutions)
1 teaspoon onion powder (See NOTES 3 for substitutions)
3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt (See NOTES 4 for substitutions)
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

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Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a large baking sheet with a silicone mat (or parchment paper); set aside.
Cut the bread into ¾-inch cubes or tear it up into sizes of choice.
In a large mixing bowl, mix together the olive oil, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, fine sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper,
Add the bread pieces into the mixing bowl. Toss gently with two silicone spatulas or salad tossers until well combined.
Spread the oiled and seasoned bread pieces out in a single layer on the silicone lined baking sheet.
Bake until golden, turning once halfway through cooking to brown all sides of the croutons. Cooking time will depend on the thickness of the cubes, so watch to be sure that they do not burn. (Mine generally take somewhere between 15 and 20 minutes.)
Remove from the oven, and let cool completely. Use immediately, or store in an air-tight container for up to 1 week.