Easy Gluten-Free Croutons (Dairy-Free, Vegan)
Total Time: 22 minutes
Yield: 6 cups
Ingredients:
1 loaf stale Gluten-Free Bread (best if it’s an unsliced loaf you can cut yourself)
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon granulated garlic or garlic powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
Directions:
Cut Bread into Chunks: Cut the loaf of bread into even slices before cutting each slice into evenly-sized cubes (approximately 1-inch cubes).
Coat Bread Cubes with Oil, Herbs, and Salt: Combine the cut bread chunks in a large mixing bowl, and mix well with the olive oil, dried herbs, and salt until evenly coated.
Transfer Bread Cubes to Large Baking Sheet: Place the coated bread cubes in a single layer on a large baking sheet, making sure to spread them out as much as possible so they are not crowded together.
Bake Until Golden Brown: Bake the bread cubes for 10 to 12 minutes until they are golden brown, tossing them halfway through to ensure that they cook evenly.
Cool Completely Before Storing: Let the gluten-free croutons cool completely on the baking sheet before serving or storing in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Notes:
Gluten-Free Bread: I like making my own soft, fluffy Gluten-Free Bread, but you can use whichever loaf of gluten-free bread you have available. To keep this totally vegan, make sure you use a loaf of vegan, gluten-free bread.
Olive Oil: I recommend using extra virgin olive oil for the best taste. If you don’t have olive oil on hand, feel free to use other vegetable oils such as avocado oil, sunflower oil, or canola oil if you prefer. You can also use melted vegan butter or melted coconut oil. Alternatively, if you are not lactose-intolerant, go ahead and use melted butter too.
Dried Herbs/Spices: I like using a mix of dried parsley, dried oregano, granulated garlic (or garlic powder) and salt for plenty of flavor. However, feel free to use other herbs and spices such as onion powder, dried thyme, dried rosemary etc.
Storing/Freezing: To store, place in an airtight container and store at room temperature for up to 1 week. To freeze, place the gluten-free croutons in a freezer-safe container or ziplock bag and freeze for up to 2 months. Before using, toast the croutons in the oven at 350F for 5 to 7 minutes.
Dish by Dish Tips/Tricks:
Make Plain Croutons: If you prefer plain, unflavored croutons, you can simply leave out the herbs from the recipe.
Other Seasoning Options: If parsley, oregano, and garlic aren’t your jam, feel free to switch up the flavors of this crouton recipe! Alternative seasonings include black pepper, onion powder, Italian seasoning, and even chili powder or ground paprika if you prefer a little bit of heat.
Stale Bread is Best: To make this recipe, make sure to use stale bread (or at least day-old bread that has been left to dry overnight) so that it’s easier to cut the bread into cubes without it breaking into so many pieces.
Make Breadcrumbs with Leftover Croutons: If you have too many croutons leftover, turn them into breadcrumbs but processing them in the blender or food processor!
Air Fry instead of Bake: If you prefer to use the air fryer instead of the oven, simply place the croutons in a single layer in the air fryer basket and air fryer at 400F for 6-8 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.
Recipe FAQs:
How to Store Gluten-Free Croutons:
To store, place in an airtight container and store at room temperature for up to 1 week.
Can You Freeze Croutons?
Yes, you can! To freeze, place the gluten-free homemade croutons in a freezer-safe container or ziplock bag and freeze for up to 2 months. Before using, toast the croutons in the oven at 350F for 5 to 7 minutes.
Are Croutons Gluten-Free?
Regular croutons are often made with gluten-containing bread, which means Celiacs or those with gluten-intolerances usually cannot eat the classic croutons. However, since we’re using gluten-free bread in this recipe, these are safe for those with Celiac disease or intolerances to gluten.
Recipe courtesy of Dish by Dish.net
