Homemade Croutons Recipe
Crunchy, flavorful homemade croutons perfect for salads, soups, or snacking.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 15–20 mins
- Total Time: 20–25 mins
- Yield: About 4 cups 1x
- Category: Snack/Salad Topping
- Method: Baking (or Air‑fry)
- Cuisine: Universal
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups day‑old bread, cut into ½‑inch cubes (about 6 oz/170 g)
- 3 Tbsp olive oil or melted butter
- 1 tsp garlic powder (or 2 cloves garlic, minced)
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper (adjust to taste)
- 1 tsp dried herbs (optional: parsley, oregano, thyme)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 °F (190 °C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together olive oil (or melted butter), garlic powder (or minced garlic), salt, pepper, and dried herbs if using.
- Add bread cubes; toss gently until evenly coated.
- Spread cubes in a single layer on prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 10 minutes, then stir or shake the pan. Continue baking another 5–10 minutes until croutons are golden brown and crispy.
- Remove from oven and cool completely on baking sheet (they will crisp up more as they cool).
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
Notes
- Use slightly stale or day‑old bread for best texture—fresh bread can work too, just bake a little longer.
- Experiment with flavors: try Parmesan cheese, chili flakes, or rosemary.
- For flavored oil: infuse olive oil with a smashed garlic clove before tossing (discard clove before baking).
- Air‑fry option: cook at 350 °F for 5–7 minutes, shaking halfway.
- If croutons soften over time, re-crisp in a warm oven for a few minutes before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ¼ cup (approx 15 g)
- Calories: 70 kcal
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3.2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Find it online: https://ukfinda.com/homemade-croutons-recipe/