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–+ servings

How to Make Easy Homemade Croutons with Garlic and Herbs

Crusty, crunchy, savory, garlic butter and herbed homemade croutons.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 14
Calories 162 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 medium size Crusty Bread Load, stale or dry is best about 4 cups cut or torn up into pieces
  • 3/4 stick unsalted Butter divided, 1/2 stick...then 1/4
  • 2 tsp coarse Sea Salt or 1 tsp of fine Sea Salt
  • 1 tsp ground fresh black pepper or more to taste
  • herbs and spices to taste
  • 3 gloves minced Garlic

Instructions
 

  • Step One: Cut an old bread loaf of bread into bite size cubes. A perforated bread knife makes this step easy.
  • Step Two: Melt 3/4 stick of butter, about 6 tablespoons, in an oven proof large skillet over medium heat.
  • Step Three: Chop fresh herbs and mince garlic. Sauté in the melted butter until just soft. Note: If using dried herbs and seasonings, add in step three. 
  • Step Four: Add bread cubes to the skillet with the herbs and melted butter.  Toss continually with a spatula until all the bread cubes are coated with the butter mixture. 
  • Step Five: Add 2 more tablespoons of butter, sprinkle or shake garlic powder, sea salt, ground black pepper, and the dried herbs if using dried over the buttered croutons. Toss again until butter is melted, and seasonings are evenly distributed all over the croutons and croutons start to turn golden brown. 
  • Step Six: Place the skillet in the oven. Bake at 250o-275o for at least 30 minutes. Stir in 15-minute intervals until the croutons are crunchy and golden brown. 

Notes

If you're using oil, toss the bread cubes and fresh herbs with the oil in a bowl. Let the cube and oil mixture sit for about 5-10 minutes. Toss again right before you toast on top of the stove in a skillet. Note: Make sure you use all of the oil leftover on the bottom of the bowl.
Bread type and size of the bread cube make a big difference in baking times and crunch level. I like bigger bread cubes when using an Artisian type bread. If you're using leftover sandwich bread, buns, or breadsticks the cooking time will be less. Instead of turning every 15 minutes, toss every 8 or 10 minutes.

Nutrition

Serving: 14gCalories: 162kcalCarbohydrates: 0.004gProtein: 0.1gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 13mgSodium: 333mgPotassium: 2mgSugar: 0.004gVitamin A: 151IUCalcium: 2mgIron: 0.004mg
Keyword buttery, caesar salad, croutons, crunchy, crusty, simple
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