Description
Delicious and crispy homemade croutons made from day-old bread, seasoned with garlic, onion, Italian herbs, and optionally Parmesan cheese. Perfect for adding crunch and flavor to salads, soups, and more.
Ingredients
Scale
Croutons
- 4 cups day-old bread, cut into ¾-inch cubes (such as French, sourdough, or Italian)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil or melted butter
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Optional: 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the croutons evenly and to a perfect crisp.
- Prepare Bread Cubes: Place the bread cubes in a large mixing bowl. Drizzle with olive oil or melted butter and toss to coat the bread cubes evenly, ensuring a rich flavor and even browning.
- Season Bread: Sprinkle the garlic powder, onion powder, dried Italian seasoning, salt, and optional grated Parmesan cheese over the bread cubes. Toss again thoroughly to distribute all the seasonings evenly.
- Arrange for Baking: Spread the seasoned bread cubes in a single layer on a baking sheet. This allows the heat to circulate and crisp each piece properly.
- Bake Croutons: Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, tossing halfway through the baking time to ensure even browning. The croutons should become golden brown and crispy.
- Cool: Remove from the oven and let the croutons cool completely on the baking sheet to maintain their crisp texture before storing or serving.
Notes
- Use stale or day-old bread for the best texture and crunch.
- Store cooled croutons in an airtight container for up to 1 week to keep them fresh.
- For extra crunch, leave croutons in the turned-off oven for 5 minutes after baking to dry them out further.
