Are you sick of paying so much money for gluten free croutons at the grocery store? Why not try making your own! This recipe for homemade gluten free croutons is easy to follow and packed with flavor. All you need to make these croutons is some gluten free bread, butter, and a few common spices. If you do not have a gluten intolerance then you can also make these homemade croutons with regular bread.
In addition to being easy to make, these tasty homemade croutons are gluten free, vegetarian friendly, egg free, and nut free. They can easily be made dairy free and vegan friendly by substituting the butter with margarine or vegan butter.
How do you make croutons from scratch
How do you make croutons from scratch? Here is how to make homemade croutons.
- Cube the bread. The first step to making homemade gluten free croutons is to grab some bread and cut it into small bite-sized pieces. You should use a bread knife (this is the brand we recommend) with a serrated blade to cut the croutons. You can use virtually any kind of gluten free bread to make these croutons. Making croutons is a great way to use up old bread that is about to go bad!
- Mix the spices & butter. The next step in making homemade croutons is to mix together the butter and spices. You should microwave the butter for a short period of time so that it gets nice and soft. Do not microwave the butter long enough that it melts entirely. Chopping the butter into small cubes before you microwave it can help to ensure the butter comes out nice and soft, but not thoroughly melted.
- Coat the bread in spices & butter. After you soften the butter and mix it with spices, you should coat the croutons in butter. Do not be afraid to coat the croutons in a thick layer of butter – the more butter you add, the better they will taste!
- Bake the croutons. The final step is to bake your croutons on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Make sure to space the croutons out on the baking sheet. This will help them dry our faster. The exact temperature and length of time you need to cook your croutons will vary depending on the size of the croutons and the type of bread you are using.
How to make crispy homemade croutons
Are your homemade croutons not quite as crispy as you would like? Here are some tips to help you make homemade croutons that are extra crispy.
- Decrease the temperature in your oven. The most common problem people encounter when they are cooking croutons is that the outside of their bread starts to overcook before the inside of the bread becomes dry and crispy. If you experience this problem, you should reduce the temperature of your oven and increase the amount of time you cook your croutons for.
- Use day old bread. Bread tends to dry out as it ages. That is not a good thing if you want to eat bread, but it is a good thing if you want to make croutons with the bread! Bread that is slightly stale will dry out in the middle and become nice and crunchy.
- Cut the croutons smaller. The smaller the croutons are, the easier it will be for the water that is trapped in the middle of the croutons to make it to the surface and evaporate. If you are making large, chunky croutons and finding that they are still chewy in the middle, try cutting them into smaller pieces next time. This is particularly helpful if you are using a dense bread that does not have many air holes in it.
- Use a dehydrator. If you have a dehydrator then now is a great time to break it out! If you are finding that your croutons do not crisp up in the middle, cooking then in the dehydrator next time.
What spices go well on homemade croutons
- Garlic powder. Other than salt and pepper, garlic is probably the most common spice that is used on croutons. Adding some garlic and butter to homemade croutons will make them taste just like garlic bread – and who doesn’t love garlic bread?
- Rosemary. Rosemary is probably the second most common spice that is used on croutons after garlic powder. Rosemary tastes great both in conjunction with garlic powder and on its own.
- Italian seasoning. If you do not have many individual spices then you can use an Italian seasoning blend rather than using individual spices. Italian seasoning is generally made with basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, sage, garlic powder, and similar spices. All of these spices taste great on homemade croutons.
- Parmesan cheese. Parmesan cheese isn’t exactly a spice, but it does taste amazing on croutons! If you are going to put parmesan cheese on your croutons, it needs to be shredded into very small pieces. You can use a food processor (this is the one we use) to grind shredded parmesan cheese into a powder. If you are a vegetarian then you should make sure to use a brand of parmesan cheese that is vegetarian friendly.
How to store gluten free croutons
How do you store homemade gluten free croutons? Here is how to store homemade gluten free croutons.
- In an airtight bag. You should always store homemade croutons in an airtight bag. You should press as much of the air out of the bag as possible before closing it. This will help to keep the croutons dry and crispy.
- In the refrigerator for up to a few days. You should store croutons in the refrigerator if you plan to use them within a few days after making them. If you want to keep the croutons for longer then you should store them in the freezer.
- In the freezer for up to a few months. Homemade croutons will keep in the freezer for up to a few months. Bread freezes well in general, so you should never be afraid to put croutons in the freezer. You can take the croutons out of the freezer a few hours before you want to use them and let them thaw at room temperature before using them. If you do not want to wait for the croutons to thaw at room temperature, you can put the croutons in the oven at 350 degrees to warm them.
Gluten free croutons
These tasty gluten free croutons are gluten free, egg free, vegetarian friendly, and nut free.
Servings: 2 cups
Ingredients
- 4 slices gluten free bread
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 tsp dried rosemary
- 1/2 tsp dried basil
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Chop the butter into chunks then microwave it for around 20 seconds until it softens. The butter should be soft and malleable, but not melted. Mix the butter with all of the spices.
- Use a bread knife to cut the bread into small cubes,
- Coat the croutons with the butter and spices then place them on a baking sheet that is lined with parchment paper. Spread the croutons out so that there is space between adjacent croutons.
- Bake the croutons for 20 - 25 minutes at 350 degrees. We recommend checking on the croutons about 15 minutes in to make sure they are not starting to burn. While you are there - mix the croutons around a little so that the croutons on the outside of the baking sheet get moved in towards the center. The croutons should be lightly browned when they are done. If you are not sure whether they are done, you can take one crouton off the baking sheet and cut into it to see whether it has cooked through.
Notes
Troubleshooting croutons. Are you finding that your croutons are starting to burn on the outside before they cook through on the inside? Try lowering the temperature in your oven 25 degrees. If that doesn't not work - lower it by 25 more degrees next time.
Substitutions for gluten free croutons
- Gluten free bread. If you do not have a gluten intolerance then you can make these croutons with regular bread.
- Butter. If you want to make homemade gluten free croutons that are vegan and dairy free then you can substitute margarine or vegan butter for the butter.
- Dried basil & rosemary. If you do not have dried rosemary or basil, you can also use an Italian spice blend. Other spices that would go great on these homemade gluten free croutons include thyme, sage, and oregano.
Other recipes you will love
Are you looking for another easy recipe you can make with some gluten free bread, olive oil, and spices? Check out this recipe for homemade gluten free crostini.
Are you looking for an easy salad you can put these homemade gluten free croutons on? Check out this recipe for mixed berry salads with strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries.
