Easy Homemade Croutons that are Delicious!

March 19, 2023 steven

Croutons are just all around good stuff. And thankfully homemade croutons are super easy to make with whole-wheat sandwich bread and SO yummy.

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Talk about an extra special and unexpected addition to your dinner salad. My kids go nuts over these homemade croutons, and I honestly have to do what I can to stop them from just eating this crunchy goodness plain so we can actually enjoy them in our salad with dinner!

Easy Homemade Croutons that have been made with whole wheat sandwich bread

I love making homemade croutons because they help you save money by using up leftover bread or those end pieces that the kids won’t eat. They’re also a great way to revitalize homemade bread that’s a few days old.

Once you’re done, use these homemade croutons immediately with your favorite salad recipe.

Homemade Croutons With Fresh or Stale Bread

Usually homemade croutons are made with stale bread but this recipe can be used with soft bread too! Any moisture in the bread will naturally toast out as it bakes in the oven; perfect if you need croutons in a pinch.

The Best Bread to Use

To keep with our real food mission, we recommend making homemade croutons with whole wheat bread that’s made without refined sugar. Store bought is fine, but these croutons are especially delicious with leftover homemade bread.

If you prefer sourdough croutons, you could also use whole wheat sourdough bread instead. King Arthur flour has a great recipe, but I recommend substituting the canola oil with cold pressed extra-virgin olive oil or an unrefined oil of your choice.

Homemade Croutons FAQs

Will this recipe work with other bread varieties?

Although we recommend using 100% whole grains, this recipe will work with almost any sliced bread you have on hand.

Can I use stale (or partially stale) bread to make croutons?

Yes! Homemade croutons are a great way to use up bread that’s starting to get stale or a little bit hard. Reduce baking time accordingly, removing the bread crumbs once they crisp up. This will vary depending on the bread’s moisture content so you’ll just have to watch for doneness.

What is Italian seasoning?

Italian seasoning is a premade seasoning blend you can find at most grocery stores. To make your own, combine the following dried spices: 2 tablespoons of each basil, oregano, and parsley, 1 tablespoon of each rosemary, thyme, and red chilli flakes, and 1 teaspoon of garlic powder.

Can I use this recipe to make homemade breadcrumbs?

If you’re looking to make breadcrumbs instead of croutons check out our homemade breadcrumb recipe instead.

Seasoning Alternative: Caesar Croutons

If you typically use your homemade croutons in caesar salad then you might want to swap the Italian seasoning for a more traditional cesar crouton seasoning instead.

To make cesar salad croutons replace the Italian seasoning with 2 tablespoons of parmesan cheese, 1 teaspoon of dried parsley, ½ teaspoon of dried oregano, ½ teaspoon of garlic powder, and ¼ teaspoon of dried thyme.

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