Bread croutons are the soul of soups. During my childhood whenever we used to go out to any restaurant to eat I would always order tomato soup not because I liked tomato soup a lot but just to enjoy the taste of those crunchy bread croutons. 😋 But, unfortunately they would serve a very limited number of pieces with every bowl and I always wondered if I could get more or if we can make these at home. So, I decided to give it a try and it turned out quite well. Then onwards, whenever I make soup, croutons are a must. I also use these in the salad like the one which we get at the Subway outlets. So, here I am sharing the recipe to make the bread croutons at home with the leftover bread to enjoy with soups and salads. I will be sharing the soup & salad recipes soon.😊

🍴 Time to Prep        5 minutes

⏰Time to cook         20 minutes

🍛 Servings              2 cups

👩 Author                 Ruchika

🍲 Cuisine                N/A

♨ Course                 Appetizers/Soup

Ingredients:

• 4-6 slices of bread  (cut into small cubes)
• 4-6 tablespoons of olive oil or butter
• 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning (optional depending on choice)
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1/2 tablespoon black pepper(optional)
• Salt to taste

Note:

• We can take any leftover bread of our choice white or brown.
• Baking time depends on the thickness of the bread cubes. It usually takes 15-20 to cook completely.
• Keep an eye on it while baking to avoid burning or being over cooked.
• Olive oil or butter can be used alternatively depending on your choice.
• Garlic powder or italian seasoning also can be skipped based on your taste. Only salt can be used to keep it simple.
• You can even skip the black pepper if you don’t want it spicy. 
• It can be stored in an air-tight container and can be used upto a week. 

Recipe:

1. Cut the bread slices into small cubes and put in a mixing bowl.

2. Sprinkle olive oil or butter, garlic powder, italian seasoning, black pepper powder & salt evenly on to the bread cubes. Toss well to coat the bread cubes evenly with the spices.

3. Spread the tossed bread cubes on a baking sheet or a foil and arrange in a baking tray. Keep enough space between the cubes to allow them to bake properly. 

4. Pre-heat the oven at 375 F or 190 C and put the baking tray into it. Bake until golden brown. Flip the bread cubes after 10 minutes and bake again for 10 more minutes to cook evenly from all the sides. Baking time depends on the thickness of the cubes. Keep an eye on it to avoid burning. Take out from the oven and cool completely. Enjoy with your soups or salads. It can be stored in an air tight container for upto a week for further use.