Easy Homemade Croutons

Easy Homemade CroutonsI first heard the word “croutons” and actually tried it when I moved to the US from Philippines some time ago.

A week after I got here, my husband and I were invited over for dinner at one of his friend’s house. The host prepared a delicious American meal which included a Caesar salad. Of all the foods that were served, I was drawn to the salad the most. I got curious how yummy it was and so interesting how a green salad could have some cubed toasted bread in it!

From where I came from, we never make salad that way and also never made croutons. For my fellow Filipinos who have no idea what “croutons” are, they’re basically just re-baked bread cut into cubes, lightly brushed with cooking oil or melted butter, and seasoned with some spices. They’re great for salads, soup toppings, and just perfect for snacking (my favorite!).

This is a quick and easy croutons recipe. I make this at least once a week with our leftover bread mainly for the kids to snack on. It’s a great way to put any stale bread to good use without throwing it away. It’s home-made so it’s guaranteed to taste much better than store-bought and also much healthier.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Bake Time: 10 minutes

Yields: 6 cups croutons (approx.)

Ingredients:Easy Homemade Croutons 02
½ loaf stale bread (10 oz)
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
½ teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Tools/Materials You’ll Need:
Bread Knife
Cutting board
Baking sheet (16” x 11”)
Basting brush
Small mixing bowl

Procedure:
1. Preheat oven to 375ºF.

2. Slice bread into desired thickness. I usually slice it about ¾ inch thick and cut it further into cubes.Easy Homemade Croutons 03
3. Arrange on a single layer on a baking sheet.Easy Homemade Croutons 05
4. In a small mixing bowl, combine the rest of the ingredients.Easy Homemade Croutons 04
5. Use a basting brush to coat mixture onto croutons evenly.Easy Homemade Croutons 06
6. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes until golden brown and toasted.Easy Homemade Croutons 07 Easy Homemade Croutons 08
7. Allow to cool and serve. Store leftovers in an airtight container to retain freshness and crunchiness.Easy Homemade Croutons 09

Easy Homemade Croutons
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Author:
Recipe type: Bread
Cuisine: American
Serves: 6 cups
Ingredients
  • ½ loaf stale bread (10 oz)
  • ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375ºF.
  2. Slice bread into desired thickness. I usually slice it about ¾ inch thick and cut it further into cubes.
  3. In a small mixing bowl, combine the rest of the ingredients.
  4. Use a basting brush to coat mixture onto croutons evenly.
  5. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes until golden brown and toasted.
  6. Allow to cool and serve. Store leftovers in an airtight container to retain freshness and crunchiness.