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Easy Homemade Bread Croutons Recipe

Homemade Bread Croutons are great on salads, in soup, or as a snack. It’s a great way to use up bread that would otherwise go to waste.

Homemade Bread CroutonsI’ve been asked several times what I do with all of the leftover bread that I bake. It’s simple, I make Homemade Bread Croutons.

Homemade Bread CroutonsWe put homemade bread croutons on salads, in soup or John (and my little neighbor kids) like eating them as a snack. They are so quick and easy, and the spices can be changed to your liking. You can sprinkle them with a healthy dose of parmesan cheese. I usually season them with an Italian spice blend or Herbs de Provence French herb blend. I also like that you can make them as large as you want and when you bite into them they’re not hard as a rock and taste like sawdust like some of the croutons you buy (not that I’ve ever eaten sawdust).

Homemade Bread CroutonsThere are weeks that we just don’t go through an entire loaf of bread. I will usually wrap up the bread and throw it in my freezer. When we are having salads or something else that we want a pile of croutons for, I will take the bread out of the freezer and just cut it into cubes. You don’t even have to let your bread thaw.

Don’t have time to make it now? Pin it for later!

Homemade Bread Croutons

Homemade Croutons

Author: Hostess At Heart
Homemade Croutons are great on salads, in soup or just as a snack. They are a delicious way to use up bread that could go to waste.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Bread
Cuisine American
Keyword: Homemade Croutons
Servings: 12

Ingredients
  

  • Bread cubed in desired size
  • Olive oil
  • Spices
  • Salt
  • Parmesan cheese optional

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Drizzle olive oil on a rimmed baking sheet.
  • Place cubed bread in a large bowl. Lightly drizzle with olive oil and liberally add spices and sprinkle with salt. I will generally use an Italian herb blend or Herbs de Provence. Stir and repeat olive oil drizzle, herbs and salt.
  • Spread bread cubes out on a prepared baking sheet.
  • Bake for 13 to 15 minutes or until bread is browned and no longer soft.
  • Cool and store in an airtight container for up to one week at room temperature.

Nutritional Disclaimer

This recipe was calculated using the exact brands and measurements I used to make this recipe. If you are following a strict diet please note changing anything will cause the nutritional info to change. My calculations are intended as a guide only.

Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

Another benefit of making your own croutons is that you choose the ingredients so you can assure that they are vegan, vegetarian, organic or fit into your food choices. Especially if you bake your own bread!

Of course, leftover bread can always be saved for stuffing or dressing. I hope you will check out some of my bread recipes. My Harvest Grains bread is a good choice and makes delicious croutons too.

You’re going to want to whip up a batch of these recipes!

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Easy Tomato Florentine Soup is your childhood tomato soup all grown up.

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Recipe Rating




Favorite Green Salad with Sweet Poppyseed Dressing | Hostess At Heart

Wednesday 5th of July 2017

[…] with a handful of lettuce so I try and show a bit of restraint.  I also serve this salad with homemade croutons, seeds, nuts, and craisins.  I have a regular party going on in my salad […]

Liz

Friday 20th of May 2016

I used to keep a big jar of these on the kitchen counter, they are so delicious and were a favorite snack of my family and my son's friends. They would walk in the door and head straight for the jar, emerging with a handful as if they were popcorn. I love the crunch they add to salads and soups as well.

Julie Menghini

Sunday 22nd of May 2016

That would have been a great idea putting them in a jar Liz. I know my kids would have kept that jar empty as well. John does a good job of it as well. Better than chips I say.

Suchitra

Thursday 19th of May 2016

What an useful post Julie! Thanks for sharing.

Julie Menghini

Thursday 19th of May 2016

Thank you Su! I appreciate you stopping by!

Chicken Pear Salad with Goat Cheese | Hostess At Heart

Thursday 19th of May 2016

[…] Homemade croutons […]

Shari

Monday 16th of May 2016

Homemade croutons sound wonderful, Julie! I must be such a huge difference between homemade and store bought. I can't even imagine how good they must be with homemade bread! Thanks so much for this!

Julie Menghini

Monday 16th of May 2016

Thank you Shari! They are yummy and a few automatically disappear before I can get them stored away.

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