Tired of bland, store-bought croutons that taste like cardboard? Elevate your salads and soups with homemade croutons that are bursting with flavor and delightfully crispy. Inspired by classic home cooking wisdom and reminiscent of the resourceful spirit of the Pioneer Woman, this guide will show you how to make croutons that are a thousand times better than anything you can buy. In under 20 minutes, you can create a batch of golden, crunchy croutons that will transform your everyday meals into something truly special.
Golden brown homemade croutons on a baking sheet, showcasing their crispy texture and inviting color.
Store-bought croutons often miss the mark. Their primary goal is shelf stability, which unfortunately comes at the expense of taste and texture. To achieve a long shelf life, they are stripped of all moisture, resulting in a dry, crumbly product that lacks any real character. For those who appreciate fresh, vibrant flavors in their salads and soups, these commercially produced croutons simply don’t cut it.
But homemade croutons are a game-changer. They are incredibly easy to prepare and offer a fantastic way to use up leftover bread, minimizing food waste and maximizing deliciousness. Just like the resourceful cooking championed by the Pioneer Woman, making your own croutons is both practical and rewarding. Beyond salads, these crispy bread bites are equally wonderful atop creamy soups, adding a delightful textural contrast and burst of flavor. Imagine them enhancing a rich tomato bisque, turning a simple bowl into a culinary experience.
Essential Tips for Exceptional Homemade Croutons
To achieve crouton perfection, keep these simple yet effective tips in mind:
Start with Day-Old Bread: While fresh bread will certainly work, slightly stale, day-old bread is ideal. As the Pioneer Woman knows, resourcefulness is key, and using bread that’s a day or two old prevents waste and actually leads to a superior crouton texture. The drier nature of day-old bread results in croutons that are less spongy and achieve a more satisfying crispiness.
Flavor Your Fat: The type of fat you use is crucial for both texture and taste. Butter imparts a rich, classic flavor that’s hard to beat. Olive oil is another excellent choice, offering a lighter, Mediterranean-inspired taste. For a truly decadent twist, consider using flavorful animal fats like duck fat, tallow, or even lard – a nod to traditional cooking methods favored by figures like the Pioneer Woman. Duck fat croutons are an extraordinary treat, adding a depth of flavor that’s simply irresistible.
Cut or Tear? Consider Texture: Experiment to discover your preferred crouton texture. Cutting bread into uniform cubes provides a classic, consistent crunch. Tearing the bread into irregular pieces, on the other hand, yields a more rustic, craggy texture with varying levels of crispiness. Neither method is superior; it’s purely a matter of personal preference and the style you wish to achieve. Why not try both and decide which style resonates most with your inner Pioneer Woman’s culinary spirit?
Homemade croutons are wonderfully versatile, allowing for endless customization. Let’s explore the best bread choices and seasoning options to personalize your crouton creations.
Choosing the Right Bread for Your Croutons
The type of bread you select significantly influences the final flavor and texture of your homemade croutons.
Highly Recommended Breads: Sourdough bread stands out as a top choice, delivering a delightful tang and robust texture. Ciabatta, pugliese, paesano, French bread, and any high-quality bakery loaf are also excellent options. Whole wheat varieties offer a nuttier, more complex flavor if you prefer a departure from typical white bread. These hearty breads, much like the wholesome ingredients favored in Pioneer Woman recipes, create substantial and flavorful croutons.
Breads to Avoid: Baguette, with its predominantly crusty texture, can result in croutons that are overly hard. Conversely, white sandwich bread is generally too soft and lacks the structure needed to create satisfyingly crisp croutons. Opt for breads with a good balance of crust and crumb, similar to the hearty loaves often associated with traditional home baking.
Step-by-Step Guide to Homemade Crouton Mastery
Let’s walk through the simple steps to create perfect homemade croutons:
Begin by preparing your bread. Cubing the bread into approximately 1-inch pieces is a quick and efficient method, resulting in uniformly sized croutons.
Close-up of bread being cubed, illustrating the preferred size and uniform cutting technique for homemade croutons.
While uniform cubes offer a classic look, tearing the bread into smaller, irregular pieces creates a more rustic aesthetic and a slightly different texture, reminiscent of the more homespun approach you might find in Pioneer Woman-style cooking. Torn bread tends to have more crunchy edges and a less uniform bite.
Using slightly stale bread, a day or two old, is beneficial as it’s already begun to dry out. However, fresh bread will also work beautifully if that’s what you have on hand.
Place the bread cubes or pieces into a large bowl and generously toss with your chosen seasonings.
For croutons intended for a Caesar Salad, consider a classic combination of freshly grated Parmesan Reggiano cheese, garlic powder, freshly ground black pepper, and kosher salt. This blend creates a savory, cheesy flavor profile that complements the creamy dressing and crisp romaine lettuce perfectly.
Bread cubes in a bowl being tossed with seasonings, showcasing the step of flavoring the croutons before baking.
Don’t hesitate to experiment with different seasonings to match your croutons to various dishes. Italian seasoning, dried herbs like thyme or rosemary, or even a touch of smoked paprika can add exciting flavor dimensions. Dried herbs generally work better than fresh herbs in croutons, as they distribute flavor more evenly during baking.
If you’re incorporating cheese, stick with hard, aged varieties like Parmesan or Asiago. These cheeses melt beautifully and crisp up in the oven, adding a delightful savory crunch.
Thoroughly toss the bread and seasonings to ensure even distribution. Next, drizzle your chosen fat – olive oil, melted butter, or a flavorful animal fat – over the seasoned bread.
Olive oil is a versatile and healthy option for everyday croutons. Melted butter imparts a richer flavor and helps create extra-crispy edges. For a truly indulgent treat, explore duck fat or tallow, adding a depth of flavor that elevates your croutons to gourmet status – a technique that would surely impress even the Pioneer Woman herself!
Spread the seasoned and oiled bread cubes in a single layer on a baking sheet, ensuring they are not overcrowded. Giving them space allows for proper browning and crisping.
Bake in a preheated oven for 10-15 minutes, or until the croutons are lightly golden brown and beautifully crisp on the outside.
Keep a close eye on the croutons during baking, as they can go from golden to burnt quickly. Remember, they will crisp up further as they cool. Aim for a light golden brown color – they should be crunchy on the outside but still retain a touch of moisture in the center, offering a pleasant chewiness and hearty texture. Tasting one crouton straight from the oven is the best way to gauge their doneness.
Freshly baked homemade croutons on a sheet pan, displaying their golden color and crispy texture after baking.
Creative Ways to Enjoy Your Homemade Croutons
While Caesar salad is a classic pairing, homemade croutons are incredibly versatile and can enhance a wide array of dishes.
Salad Superstars: Elevate any salad, from a simple green salad to a hearty Cobb or a vibrant Kale Caesar, with the addition of your freshly made croutons. Their crispy texture and burst of flavor will transform ordinary salads into extraordinary culinary experiences.
Soup’s Best Friend: Croutons are a delightful addition to creamy soups. Sprinkle them over Butternut Squash Soup, Broccoli Cheddar Soup, or even Lasagna Soup for a satisfying textural contrast and added flavor dimension. They add a touch of elegance and heartiness to any soup course.
Snack Attack: And let’s be honest, warm homemade croutons straight off the baking sheet are simply irresistible. Enjoy them as a savory snack – a testament to their deliciousness and the simple pleasures of home cooking.
Recipe Tips and Frequently Asked Questions
Storing Leftover Croutons: Allow croutons to cool completely before storing them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. For longer storage, freezing is recommended.
Freezing Croutons: Yes, homemade croutons freeze exceptionally well. Ensure they are completely cooled, then store them in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Reheating Croutons: To reheat refrigerated croutons, bake them in a 300°F (150°C) oven for approximately 5 minutes. For frozen croutons, bake at 300°F (150°C) for 8-10 minutes. Reheating will restore their crispiness, making them ready to enjoy.
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Homemade Croutons Recipe
Yields: 8 servings (enough for 8 people/salads)
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Homemade croutons using fresh bread are infinitely better than store-bought, and they’re unbelievably easy to make!
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Ingredients
- 6 cups cubed sourdough bread (preferably day-old)
- ¼ cup lightly packed grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil*
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a large bowl, combine bread cubes, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Toss to mix.
- Drizzle olive oil over the bread mixture and toss to coat evenly.
- Spread bread cubes in a single layer on a half sheet pan, ensuring space for browning.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes**, or until lightly golden brown and crisp on the outside, yet slightly moist inside.
- Let croutons cool on the baking sheet and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
*You can substitute melted butter or any other flavorful fat you prefer. Use approximately 1 tablespoon of fat per cup of bread.
**Baking time may vary depending on the staleness of your bread and oven variations. Monitor color and crispness, tasting one to ensure doneness.
Storing Leftovers: Cool completely, then store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerated for up to 7 days. For extended storage, freezing is recommended.
Freezing: Allow croutons to cool completely, then store in an airtight container for up to 2 months.
Reheating: To reheat from refrigeration, bake at 300°F (150°C) for about 5 minutes. To reheat from frozen, bake at 300°F (150°C) for 8-10 minutes.
This recipe is slightly adapted from my recipe on The Pioneer Woman’s blog.
Nutrition
Calories: 166kcal, Carbohydrates: 12g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 2mg, Sodium: 230mg, Potassium: 26mg, Vitamin A: 25IU, Calcium: 46mg, Iron: 0.8mg
Nutritional information is an estimate using a food database and is intended for informational purposes only.
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Author: Fifteen Spatulas
Posted in: All Recent Posts, Dairy-free, Salads 1 comment
