Kittencal's Garlic Croutons

Transform your salads, soups, and snacks with Kittencal's Garlic Croutons—a crispy, golden-brown delight made with simple ingredients and packed with bold flavor. These homemade croutons are crafted from day-old bread, which is tossed in a rich blend of olive oil, melted butter, and freshly minced garlic, seasoned with Italian herbs, salt, and pepper, and then baked to perfection. For an optional cheesy twist, sprinkle Parmesan over the warm croutons straight out of the oven! Ready in just 25 minutes, this quick and easy recipe delivers irresistibly crunchy toppings that elevate any dish. Perfect for meal prep, they’ll stay fresh in an airtight container for up to a week. Say goodbye to store-bought croutons and hello to homemade indulgence!

Nutriscore Rating: 64/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:15 mins

Total Time:25 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 6 cups stale or day-old bread
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.

Step 2

Cut the bread into bite-sized cubes, about 1 inch in size. Place them in a large mixing bowl.

Step 3

In a small saucepan, heat the olive oil and butter over medium heat until the butter is melted.

Step 4

Add the minced garlic to the saucepan and cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently to avoid burning the garlic.

Step 5

Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the dried Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper.

Step 6

Drizzle the garlic-oil mixture evenly over the bread cubes in the bowl. Toss the bread cubes with a spatula or your hands to coat them evenly.

Step 7

Spread the coated bread cubes in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.

Step 8

Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, then stir or flip the croutons to ensure even browning.

Step 9

Return to the oven and bake for another 5 minutes, or until the croutons are golden brown and crispy.

Step 10

If desired, sprinkle the warm croutons with grated Parmesan cheese for extra flavor.

Step 11

Allow the croutons to cool completely before storing in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1530.3g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	4452.2

Total Fat 115.0g	0%
Saturated Fat 32.4g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4.0g
Cholesterol 70mg	0%
Sodium 8408.5mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 709.1g	0%
Dietary Fiber 39.5g	0%
Total Sugars 72.1g
Protein 134.1g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 2210.2mg	0%
Iron 67.1mg	0%
Potassium 1710.7mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 23.5%

Protein: 12.2%

Carbs: 64.3%