Easy Homemade Croutons
Make these easy croutons and you'll never go back to the store bought kind.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 cups Bread About 1 Loaf
- 1/4 cup Olive Oil
- 1/4 cup Butter
- 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- pinch Cayenne Pepper Optional
Instructions
- Preheat Your Oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- Cut the Bread: Start by taking a loaf of your favorite bread (French, sourdough, or even a sturdy sandwich bread works well). Using a sharp, serrated knife, slice the bread into 1-inch thick slices. Then, cut each slice into 1-inch wide strips. Finally, turn the strips and cut them again into 1-inch cubes. You should have about 6 cups of bread cubes.6 cups Bread
- Prepare the Seasoning Mixture: In a large mixing bowl, combine the olive oil, melted butter, Italian seasoning, black pepper, salt, garlic powder, and a pinch of cayenne pepper. Whisk together until the mixture is well combined.1/4 cup Olive Oil, 1/4 cup Butter, 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning, 1 teaspoon Black Pepper, 1/2 teaspoon Salt, 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder, pinch Cayenne Pepper
- Coat the Bread Cubes: Add the cubed bread to the bowl with the seasoning mixture. Gently toss the bread cubes until they are evenly coated with the mixture. Make sure each piece is well-covered for maximum flavor.
- Spread on Baking Sheet: Once the bread cubes are coated, spread them out in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. This ensures they bake evenly and get nice and crispy.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the croutons are golden brown and crispy. Stir the croutons halfway through baking to ensure even cooking.
- Cool and Store: Once baked, remove the croutons from the oven and let them cool completely on the baking sheet. Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
Notes
The spice blend for these croutons can easily be adapted depending on the recipe you plan to pair up with these croutons.
For a southwest casserole, I would use 1/2 tsp cumin and 1/2 tsp chili powder instead of the Italian seasoning.
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