You can sure make better croutons than what comes on your salads in the restaurants.

Depending on your mood, choose either savory croutons or sweet croutons. Both go great in your favorite salad (or in a soup).

What’s the difference between savory croutons and sweet croutons?

Savory croutons are made with olive oil and herbs. Sweet croutons are made with butter and usually from bread with fruit or nuts in it. We love dried fruit and nuts on our salads. The next best thing is croutons made with bread that has fruit, nuts, and a little cinnamon. Try Cranberry Nut Bread or California Raisin Bread.

To make savory croutons, start with the bread of your choice. Two of our favorites are Tuscany Tomato Basil Bread and Italian Herb and Cheese Bread.

Here are more breads that will make great croutons:

• Black Russian
• Jalapeno Cheese
• Smokin Hot Chipotle and Cheese
• New York Rye

To Make Savory Croutons

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

1. Using a bread knife, slice the bread into 1/2-inch thick slices and then cut the slices into one-inch squares.
2. For a small loaf of bread, mix 4 tablespoons of oil in a bowl with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon fresh ground pepper.
3. Add fresh or dried herbs. Basil, oregano, cilantro, thyme, celery leaves, or parsley work well.
4. Stir to dissolve the salt and then add the bread cubes tossing them lightly until coated with oil and herbs.
5. Spread the cubes on a baking sheet and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until the cubes start to brown. They should be crisp all the way through. The baking time will vary depending on the size of the croutons, how many are on the sheet, and how moist the bread is. It is important to drive the moisture from the croutons.

If you have leftover croutons, freeze them in a plastic bag. To use them, heat the frozen croutons on a baking sheet at 250 degrees until thawed and crisp again.

To Make Sweet Croutons.

Make sweet croutons like savory croutons but omit the salt, pepper, and herbs. Toss the bread in melted butter instead of olive oil. For sweet croutons, sprinkle the cubes with cinnamon before baking—if you choose.

Additional Resources

• How to Make a Bread Salad

• How to Make Great Garlic Toast in Less Than 15 Minutes

• A Beginner’s Guide to the Best Soups on the Planet

How to Bake. Learn the art and science of baking with our free “How to Bake” ebook. With 453 pages, you will learn the techniques the pros use. Just tell us where to send it.

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