Homemade croutons are a simple and delicious way to use up end pieces of bread, or bread that is a few days old. It’s simple, quick, and lasts in the pantry for a few weeks. Often times, I save the ends of loaf bread in the freezer until I have enough to bake up a batch of croutons. Any bread can be used to make croutons. It is nice to have a variety of breads for different flavors, for example, sourdough, rye, wheat, and pumpernickel. With just a few cups of bread, a few seasonings, a bit of butter and 25 minutes, you can create fresh homemade croutons. One of the easiest, homemade recipes there is!
These homemade croutons are made from homemade bread. Above all, they are all natural, containing no preservatives or industrial oils. Not only do these croutons taste fantastic, but the crunchiness also has a positive psychological effect on our bodies. The Psychology Behind Our Love for Crunchy Foods
A few facts about croutons
National crouton day is celebrated on May 13th, having first commemorated in 2015.
Croutons have a history dating back to French cuisine over four centuries ago. The word “crouton” is derived from the French word, “croûte”, which means “crust”.
Croutons can be crushed and made into breadcrumbs. The breadcrumbs are useful in various recipes such as Swedish Meatballs.
Homemade croutons are a cost-effective way to use leftover bread and reduce waste. It is essentially about a tenth of the cost of buying a bag of croutons at the grocery store!
What to use Croutons with:
Croutons are great crunchy topping on salads or soups. They are a perfect addition in French Onion Soup or Roasted Tomato Basil Soup
Baking and Storage
Croutons take less than 30 minutes to prepare. They can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks and can also be frozen for up to 3 months.
Homemade Croutons
Equipment
- sheet pan
- mixing bowl
- small bowl
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp Butter
- 1 tsp Sea salt
- pinch Ground black pepper
- 1 tsp Garlic powder
- 1 tsp Onion powder
- 3 cups Bread, cut in cubes
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Prepare sheet pan with parchment paper lining.
- Melt butter in the microwave for 30 seconds or until completely melted.
- Place bread cubes in a large mixing bowl. Pour butter over bread and toss to coat all the pieces.
- In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- sprinkle seasonings on to the bread cubes, tossing every so often to get all the seasoning distributed evenly.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until bread cubes begin to brown.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool before using.
- Can be stored at room temperature for 2 weeks.
Nutrition
