Easy Baked Homemade Croutons
Turn sturdy bread into golden, garlicky baked croutons for adding savory bite to salads, soups, and snacky handfuls.
Prep 10 min · Cook 15 min · Total 30 min · Makes about 4 cups
Ingredients
- 4 slices sturdy bread
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 tsp Italian seasoning blend
- 1/8 tsp garlic powder
- 1/8 tsp salt
Directions
- Heat the oven to 400ºF. Slice the bread into 1/2-inch cubes; you’re looking for about 4 loosely filled cups.
- Add the bread cubes to a large bowl and pour the olive oil over them. With a spatula or your hands, carefully turn the bread until the oil is distributed.
- In a small bowl, stir together the Italian seasoning blend, garlic powder, and salt. Scatter that seasoning mix over the bread, then toss gently again so the cubes are seasoned all over.
- Arrange the bread in a single layer on a baking sheet. Put the sheet in the oven and bake for about 10 minutes*, taking a peek at the bread’s color every 5 minutes. Stir the croutons, then bake another 2-3 minutes if they need more time to become deeply golden. Cool them briefly before serving.