How To Make Homemade Croutons

**Warning:** after reading this post and trying out this recipe, you will likely never go back to buying store-bought croutons again.  In fact, you will probably find it hard to believe you ever spent money on store-bought croutons in the first place.

Inevitably, if I have guests over and I make a salad, I get the 'proverbial eye-rolling' when they notice my tasty homemade croutons and ask if I made them.  I then, of course, get on my soap box about how easy it is to make homemade croutons, though it usually falls on deaf ears.  "Sure, Lacey, they are so easy to make" they say as they secretly (actually, it's pretty much outwardly) hate me for making my own croutons.  But, people, it's so easy....it really is.  Please don't hate me.  Please....?

Not only does making homemade croutons allow you to utilize the ends of the loaves of bread you weren't going to eat anyway, but it also allows you to make delicious, fresh croutons to add to your salads and soups.  You will never again experience that disappointing moment when you suddenly realize you forgot to buy croutons at the store and that the salad is now ruined.  Sound familiar?

Ingredient Notes

To make croutons, all you need is some bread, oil and seasoning.  What bread, oil and seasoning (and any combination) you choose will determine how your croutons taste. 

Bread: My personal favorite is to use a day-old french bread.  I also save the ends of the regular sliced loaves of bread until I have a decent amount (about 4-6 slices and/or heels is plenty).  Otherwise, you can use as many pieces of bread as you'd like.  If the bread is too hard to cut but is still good, just pop it in the microwave, wrapped in a damp cloth,  for about 20 seconds to loosen it up.

Olive Oil: Extra Virgin Olive Oil works best, with its high smoking point and rich flavor. You can also use avocado oil.

Seasonings: The seasoning will make a big impact on the croutons, so choose wisely. You can make the seasoning match the type of salad or be more universal. I always at least use sea salt and black pepper, but you can also add in parmesan cheese, basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, dried herbs , or garlic powder.

How To Make Homemade Croutons

You won't believe how easy it is to make your own homemade croutons. Here are the simple steps:

1. Prep the oven. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Dice the bread. Using a bread knife, cut the bread into ½ inch by ½ inch cubes.
3. Mix with oil and seasonings. In a large bowl, toss bread cubes with enough olive oil to lightly coat. Add sea salt, freshly ground black pepper to taste and any seasonings you prefer.
4. Spread out on baking sheet. Once cubes are evenly and lightly coated, pour bread onto a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil (for easy clean-up).
5. Bake the croutons. Bake the homemade croutons in the oven for 20-30 minutes until the bread is golden and very crunchy. Toss cubes several times during baking.

Pro Tip: If you prefer larger or smaller croutons, make your cuts accordingly—just be sure to make your cuts as similarly as possible to help them bake evenly.

How To Make Homemade Croutons On The Stove

If you don't have the time to bake the croutons in the oven, you can also fry them in a skillet on medium-high heat for approximately 10 minutes until really golden brown.  This method will leave your croutons a bit more chewy than if you baked them...which is equally as tasty, but don't store as well.

Best Bread For Homemade Croutons

My favorite bread for making homemade croutons is French bread. That being said, other great options would be the following:

• sourdough
• rye
• pumpernickel
• baguette

I've never tried ciabatta or challah bread, but I'd bet they'd be great, too.

Pro Tip: The best croutons will come from older, stiffer bread. Making homemade croutons is the perfect way to use bread that is getting old.

How To Store

Homemade croutons can be stored in a plastic or glass meal prep container for up to two weeks, unrefrigerated. See my favorite meal prep containers.

Ways To Use Homemade Croutons:

While the rest of my family will eat these babies just by themselves, I prefer to add them to other meals to enhance the flavor and texture. Here are some of my favorite ways to use homemade croutons:

• Salads: I like these croutons on any kind of salad, especially my Caesar salad or my apple and gorgonzola salad.
• Soups: Hot tomato soup or a hearty soup, like my sweet potato soup.
• Stuffing: I make these to use in my Thanksgiving stuffing every year.
• Breadcrumbs: If you need breadcrumbs, just use a rolling pin or food processor to break these homemade croutons up into your preferred size.