Croutons are a delightful, crispy, and classic treat loaded with fresh flavors. Typically created using bread, Italian seasoning, olive oil, and basic seasonings, they are a traditional topping that enhances the taste of creamy salads, such as Caesar salad, soups like tomato soup, and chili, and even serves as a flavorful snack.
The recipe I've provided here offers straightforward step-by-step instructions for crafting Croutons. Additionally, I've included a comprehensive video that visually guides you through the cooking process, ensuring clarity and ease of preparation.
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What are Croutons?
Croutons are delightful crispy bites, that bring an added crunch and flavor to dishes. Crafted from simple ingredients like stale bread, olive oil, and seasonings, these small delights transform into bursts of taste. Homemade Croutons are one of the best toppings that add crunch to your favorite salads such as Caesar salad, soups, and other comfort foods.
The appeal of making Croutons at home lies in the unique experience. Unlike store-bought options, Homemade Croutons offer the freedom to personalize flavors, experiment with seasonings, and relish freshly baked.
Overall, Whether you're whipping up soups or enjoying your go-to salads, remember that crafting top-notch Croutons is a breeze in your own kitchen. This homemade touch offers a mix of flavors and textures that beat store-bought options any day.
Ingredients & Substitutions
The ingredients you will need for crafting these Homemade Croutons are simple and readily available at local grocery stores. Let's explore them below.
- Bread: Opt for bread choices like Italian, French, or any slightly stale pick. These selections create the perfect foundation for Croutons, offering a balance of texture that becomes wonderfully crisp as they bake
- Italian Seasoning: This flavor mix captures the essence of Mediterranean cuisine, with aromatic herbs such as basil, oregano, thyme, and rosemary. When added to your Croutons, it introduces a savory, herb-infused note that boosts the overall taste sensation
- Olive Oil: Known for its smooth and fruity profile, olive oil imparts a mild, pleasing flavor to your Croutons and helps achieve their sought-after crunchiness while baking. If you prefer, you can also use butter instead
- Basic Seasonings: Including black pepper adds a hint of warmth and depth, nicely complementing the other flavors in your Croutons. Personalizing these foundational seasonings lets you adjust the taste to your liking, making the Croutons a tempting addition to various dishes
For a detailed ingredients list, please check out the recipe card below.
How to Make Croutons at Home?
The recipe I've shared here is for Homemade Croutons: delectable, crispy, and bursting with flavor. These versatile gems serve as perfect toppings for salads, soups, and casseroles, providing an irresistible blend of texture and taste. Crafting them at home is a breeze, ensuring you'll never settle for store-bought again.
Below are the high-level instructions for this recipe, but for detailed step-by-step instructions with photos and a video, please see the recipe card below.
- Prep the Seasoning Oil: In a mixing bowl, combine the olive oil, Italian seasoning, and basic seasonings listed in the ingredients. Stir well to create a flavorful mixture. Set this aside for later use
- Cut the Bread: Take the Italian bread and cut it into small cubes, around ½ to 1 inch in size. Put these cubes into a large bowl
- Season the Bread: Following that, pour the seasoned oil mixture over the bread cubes. Gently mix the cubes, making sure they are coated evenly with the flavored oil
- Arrange: Place a piece of parchment paper on a baking tray. Put the coated bread cubes on the tray, spreading them out evenly
- Bake: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Once it's ready, put the tray with the bread cubes into the oven. Bake for around 10-15 minutes. Keep an eye on them to make sure they become crispy and golden. When they're done, take the tray out of the oven. Your Croutons are now crispy and ready to enjoy
- Use: You can use these Croutons in various ways. They're perfect as a topping for salads like Caesar Salad or as an addition to creamy soups like tomato or carrot soup. Get creative with how you enjoy them!
Note: This recipe yields approximately 8-9 cups of Croutons for Italian bread, which can serve up to 16 servings. These Croutons are intended to be used as a topping for salads or soups, with an estimated portion size of about ½ cup per serving.
Tips
- Bread Selection: Choose a sturdy and slightly stale bread, like French, Italian, or sourdough, as it holds up better during baking
- Consistent Cube Size: While cutting the bread into uniform cube sizes is ideal for even baking and texture, don't worry if some pieces end up a bit uneven. The charm of homemade Croutons lies in their rustic variety
- Seasoning Balance: Be mindful of seasoning quantities to avoid overpowering or underwhelming flavors. You can always add more after baking
- Even Coating: When mixing the bread with seasoned oil, ensure each cube is evenly coated for consistent flavor distribution
- Preheated Oven: Always preheat the oven before baking to ensure the Croutons cook evenly and become crispy
- Baking Tray Arrangement: Spread the bread cubes on the baking tray in a single layer, allowing proper airflow for even browning. If you have a large batch of bread pieces, consider using an additional baking tray to ensure all the Croutons bake evenly
- Watch Closely: Keep a close eye on the Croutons as they bake, as they can quickly go from golden to overly browned
- Cooling Time: Allow the Croutons to cool on the baking tray after baking. This helps them become extra crispy as they cool down
- Storage: Store cooled croutons in an airtight container to maintain their crunchiness. Use within a few weeks for optimal freshness
- Versatility: Experiment with different seasonings, herbs, and spices to create a variety of flavors that match your dishes
- Customize Size: Adjust the cube size to match the intended use, whether as a salad topping or for snacking
- Texture Preference: For a softer center and crispy exterior, bake for a shorter time; for all-around crispiness, bake a bit longer
Storage Suggestions
Store these Homemade Croutons in an airtight container to retain their crunchiness over time. For the best taste and texture, aim to use them within a few weeks to ensure they stay fresh and enjoyable.
Serving Suggestions
Croutons are versatile additions that can enhance various dishes. Here are some ideas on what to serve with them:
- Soups: Croutons are a classic choice to serve with soups. They add a delightful crunch and flavor to creamy soups like tomato, butternut squash, or broccoli cheddar
- Salads: They are excellent as a topping for salads. They can provide texture and a savory element to your fresh greens. Try them with Caesar salad, Greek salad, or any salad of your choice
- Chili: Sprinkle Croutons on top of a bowl of white chicken chili, vegetarian chili, turkey chili, or classic beef chili, for an interesting contrast of textures
- Stews: Similar to soups, stews benefit from the addition of Croutons. They can help soak up the flavorful broth and offer an enjoyable crunch
- Pasta Dishes: Certain pasta dishes can pair well with Croutons. Consider using them as a garnish for pasta salads, alfredo pasta, or even as a topping for baked pasta dishes
- Casseroles: They can be great as a topping for various casseroles to add a crispy element. They work well with dishes like a chicken casserole or vegetable gratin
- Dips: They can be served alongside dips like hummus, spinach dip, or cheese fondue
- Appetizers: Create appetizers using croutons as a base. You can top them with various spreads, cheeses, vegetables, or even seafood to make bite-sized treats
- Bruschetta: Transform Croutons into bruschetta by topping them with tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic, and olive oil. It's a simple yet flavorful appetizer
- Eggs: Use them to make a delicious breakfast or brunch dish. Crumble them over scrambled eggs or use them as a base for an egg and vegetable bake
Related Recipes
You can also find similar recipes below and more at appetizer recipes, Italian Italian recipes, and roasted and baked recipes.
Croutons Recipe Video
I have also shared a detailed video of this Homemade Croutons Recipe below that I hope will help you make a crunchy addition to your soups and salads. You can also find this recipe in a story format.
📖 Recipe
Croutons
Ingredients
- 16 oz Bread, Italian, French, or any type of bread that is available
- 4 tbsp Olive Oil
- ½ tsp Black Pepper, powder
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1½ tsp Italian Seasoning
- ½ tsp Salt
Instructions
To make Homemade Croutons
- In a bowl, combine olive oil, Italian seasoning, and the basic seasonings mentioned in the ingredient list. Mix well and set aside the mixture for later use
- Cut the bread into cubes, around ½ to 1 inch in size, and add them to the large bowl
- Pour the seasoned oil over the bread cubes and thoroughly coat them by gently mixing
- Arrange the coated bread pieces on a baking tray that's been lined with parchment paper
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius). Bake the bread cubes in the oven for approximately 10-15 minutes. Keep an eye on them and remove them when they become crunchy and golden
- Remove the crispy Croutons from the oven. Your homemade Croutons are now ready to enjoy or use in various recipes
To Serve
- Serve these Croutons in salads such as Caesar salad or as toppings for creamy soups like tomato soup or carrot soup (Note: This recipe yields approximately 8-9 cups of croutons, which can serve up to 16 servings. These croutons are intended to be used as a topping for salads or soups, with an estimated portion size of about ½ cup per serving. Please adjust the serving sizes based on your preferences and the specific dishes you're preparing)
Video
Notes
- Bread Selection: Choose a sturdy and slightly stale bread, like French, Italian, or sourdough, as it holds up better during baking
- Consistent Cube Size: While cutting the bread into uniform cube sizes is ideal for even baking and texture, don't worry if some pieces end up a bit uneven. The charm of homemade Croutons lies in their rustic variety
- Seasoning Balance: Be mindful of seasoning quantities to avoid overpowering or underwhelming flavors. You can always add more after baking
- Even Coating: When mixing the bread with seasoned oil, ensure each cube is evenly coated for consistent flavor distribution
- Preheated Oven: Always preheat the oven before baking to ensure the Croutons cook evenly and become crispy
- Baking Tray Arrangement: Spread the bread cubes on the baking tray in a single layer, allowing proper airflow for even browning. If you have a large batch of bread pieces, consider using an additional baking tray to ensure all the Croutons bake evenly
- Watch Closely: Keep a close eye on the Croutons as they bake, as they can quickly go from golden to overly browned
- Cooling Time: Allow the Croutons to cool on the baking tray after baking. This helps them become extra crispy as they cool down
- Storage: Store cooled croutons in an airtight container to maintain their crunchiness. Use within a few weeks for optimal freshness
- Versatility: Experiment with different seasonings, herbs, and spices to create a variety of flavors that match your dishes
- Customize Size: Adjust the cube size to match the intended use, whether as a salad topping or for snacking
- Texture Preference: For a softer center and crispy exterior, bake for a shorter time; for all-around crispiness, bake a bit longer
Nutrition
FAQ
Sturdy and slightly stale bread varieties like Italian, French, or sourdough are ideal choices for making flavorful and crispy croutons.
Yes, you can certainly use butter as an alternative to olive oil for the seasoning.
Croutons, while adding flavor and texture to dishes, are often high in calories and can contain added salt and fats. Choosing whole-grain options and using them in moderation can make them a better choice.
I hope you found the recipe enjoyable and I would appreciate hearing about your experience with it.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to leave a comment and I will do my best to respond promptly. Thank you for reading and happy cooking!
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