Easy Homemade Croutons
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy. Buttery, crispy, and wildly snackable—these homemade croutons take any soup or salad to the next level. Store-bought croutons work in a pinch, but homemade ones are on a whole different level—extra crunchy, toasty, and full of fresh flavor. This is my favorite way to give stale bread a second life, and the results are super versatile. Toss them into salads, sprinkle over soups, or just snack on them warm from the oven. Best of all, when you make them yourself, you can season them however you like so they go with whatever you’re serving. “Yum – where have these been all my life?? These are so easy and SO good (and a wonderful use for semi-stale bread)!” what you’ll need to make this homemade crouton Recipe French Or Italian Bread: Day-old bread works best because it soaks up the butter and crisps up nicely. If you’re using a fresh loaf of bread, dry out the cubes by spreading them on a tray and letting them sit uncovered for an hour. Butter: Coats the bread with rich, buttery flavor and helps the croutons bake up golden and crisp. Fresh Herbs, Salt & Pepper: A mix of parsley, thyme, chives, sage, and/or rosemary adds a burst of fresh, herby flavor—use whatever you’ve got on hand. Don’t forget a good pinch of salt and a few grinds of black pepper to bring it all together. Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements French Or Italian Bread: Day-old bread works best because it soaks up the butter and crisps up nicely. If you’re using a fresh loaf of bread, dry out the cubes by spreading them on a tray and letting them sit uncovered for an hour. Butter: Coats the bread with rich, buttery flavor and helps the croutons bake up golden and crisp. Fresh Herbs, Salt & Pepper: A mix of parsley, thyme, chives, sage, and/or rosemary adds a burst of fresh, herby flavor—use whatever you’ve got on hand. Don’t forget a good pinch of salt and a few grinds of black pepper to bring it all together. Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements Step-by-Step Instructions for Making Homemade Croutons Step 1: Season the bread cubes. Scatter the bread cubes on a large baking sheet lined with heavy-duty foil for easy cleanup. Drizzle the melted butter and sprinkle the herbs directly over the bread cubes. Toss everything right on the baking sheet, then season with salt and black pepper. Arrange them in a single layer so they toast evenly. Step 2: Bake, cool, and store. Bake for 13 to 15 minutes, tossing once, until the croutons are golden and crisp. Let them cool, then store in an airtight container at room temp for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months (make sure they’re completely cool before storing so they stay crunchy). To re-crisp a bit before using, just pop them in a 350°F oven for about 5 minutes. Other Homemade Staples You May Like RecipeComments (9)Add Comment Recipe Comments (9) Add Comment Ingredients 2 cups cubed French or Italian bread, preferably day old 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 2 teaspoons finely chopped mixed fresh herbs, such as parsley, thyme, chives, sage, and/or rosemary Salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 cups cubed French or Italian bread, preferably day old 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 2 teaspoons finely chopped mixed fresh herbs, such as parsley, thyme, chives, sage, and/or rosemary Salt and freshly ground black pepper Instructions Preheat the oven to 375°F and set an oven rack in the middle position. Scatter the bread cubes on a 13 x 18-inch baking sheet (for easier cleanup, line it with heavy-duty aluminum foil). Directly on the baking sheet, toss the bread cubes with the melted butter and herbs. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Bake for 13 to 15 minutes, tossing once, until the bread cubes are golden brown and crisp. Let cool and store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months. Preheat the oven to 375°F and set an oven rack in the middle position. Scatter the bread cubes on a 13 x 18-inch baking sheet (for easier cleanup, line it with heavy-duty aluminum foil). Directly on the baking sheet, toss the bread cubes with the melted butter and herbs. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Bake for 13 to 15 minutes, tossing once, until the bread cubes are golden brown and crisp. Let cool and store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months. Nutrition Information Powered by Per serving (6 servings) Calories: 80 g Fat: 4 g Saturated fat: 3 g Carbohydrates: 9 g Sugar: 1 g Fiber: 0 g Protein: 2 g Sodium: 101 mg Cholesterol: 10 mg Per serving (6 servings) Calories: 80 g Fat: 4 g Saturated fat: 3 g Carbohydrates: 9 g Sugar: 1 g Fiber: 0 g Protein: 2 g Sodium: 101 mg Cholesterol: 10 mg This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. See more recipes: Bread RecipesDairy-FreeFreezer-FriendlyHow To & ResourcesMake-AheadVegetarianFrench Bread Recipes Dairy-Free Freezer-Friendly How To & Resources Make-Ahead Vegetarian French