The "I'LL NEVER BUY CROUTONS IN A BOX AGAIN" croutons
You'll never buy croutons in a box again now that you have this easy recipe. These are so much better.
Ingredients
- 1 French bread or baguette day old is perfect
- ¼ to ½ cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 big garlic clove minced or crushed
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Cayenne pepper, to taste optional
- Salt & Pepper
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 400°F degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment.
- Slice your French bread into slices about 1 ½ inch wide. Prepare one or two slices per person plus extra for snacking. Trust me on this. These croutons are irresistible and disappear before the soup or salad ever happens.
- Slice the bread again to make about 1 ½ inch sized cubes. You can adjust the size if you want. Be that way.
- Heat ¼ cup olive oil and the butter in a sauté pan. You may need to add more as you go depending on how many croutons you’re making
- Add the garlic and sauté to flavor the oil.
- Test to see if oil and butter are hot enough by dropping one crouton. You want it to sizzle. If it doesn’t sizzle then you’re sucking up oil with a bread sponge. Don’t do that. That's not what we're doing here. Let it heat up some more.
- If it sizzles, sauté the test crouton to a nice golden brown and eat it. That part might not be necessary but why not? Then add the rest of the bread in small batches, rather quickly.
- Toss to coat all the croutons lightly with the garlic infused oil and place on a baking sheet.
- When all your croutons are lightly coated, place them in the oven for 5 to 7 minutes or until crisp and golden brown. You want them crisp and toasted on the outside but tender in the inside. And preferably not burned. If they’re burning take them out. Follow me for more baking tips.
- While the croutons are hot, add salt and pepper and Italian seasoning to taste.
- Serve those you didn’t eat while you were cooking with the soup or salad. Any leftovers (as if) are wonderful on another salad or soup. You might have to make some more.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!