Choose Your Own Adventure Crunchy Croutons Recipes

EASY CRUNCHY GARLIC CROUTONS RECIPE

Steps:

• In a small sauce pan, combine: 2 Tbsp butter, 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil, 2 pressed garlic cloves, 1 Tbsp chopped parsley, 1/4 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper. Heat over medium heat until butter is melted. Stir to combine then set aside and let the flavors infuse into the oil while you chop your bread.
• Cut your bread into 3/4" cubes. For goodness sake, don't remove the crust! It adds variety and great crunch to these croutons. Transfer to large mixing bowl.
• Drizzle the seasoned olive oil over your chopped bread and toss until bread crumbs have an even coating of oil.
• Spread the bread in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake at 375˚F for
• -20 minutes until they are golden brown and crunchy. (mine took 20 min)
• Serve these up with your favorite green salad.

CROUTONS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Remove crusts from stale bread slices. Brush bread on both sides with melted butter. Cut bread slices up into small cubes. Sprinkle with garlic salt (if desired). Arrange cubes on an ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 15 minutes or until browned. Let cool. Store croutons in a covered container or plastic bag. Serve in soups or salads.

CRUNCHY RANCH CROUTONS

Steps:

• Cut crust from bread and discard the crust.
• Brush both sides of each slice of bread with olive oil, melted butter or margarine.
• Slice bread into 1/2-inch strips; turn and cut crosswise into 1/2-inch cubes.
• Optional:.
• Place bread cubes in a plastic zipper bag; sprinkle with dry salad dressing mix to act as dry seasoning. Securely seal bag and shake, coating bread cubes with dry salad dressing mix.
• Spread cubes flat on baking sheet. Preheat oven to 325°F Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven and cool on baking sheet.
• Note: For bigger croutons, use "Texas Toast" style bread and slice into larger 3/4-inch cubes.

CRUNCHY PARSLEY CROUTONS

Steps:

• Heat the goose fat in a frying pan and toss in the bread, with a the parsley sprigs, turning until golden and crisp. Drain on kitchen paper, season well and keep warm, uncovered.

CHOOSE-YOUR-OWN-ADVENTURE CRUNCHY CROUTONS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300.
• Melt butter; remove from heat, stir in garlic powder (or other seasoning).
• Cut French (or Italian) bread loaf into 1/2-inch slices, then into cubes; place in large bowl.
• Drizzle garlic-butter over bread cubes, tossing lightly.
• Spread cubes in a single layer on a cookie sheet or cake pan.
• Bake for 10 minutes, stir; bake for 5 more minutes, stir again & check to see if the cubes are dry & crispy.
• SEASONING OPTIONS: Use seasoning ingredients listed below--instead of the garlic listed above. All other directions remain the same!
• Parmesan Croutons: 3 T. Parmesan, grated; 1/4 teaspoons garlic powder.
• Dill Croutons: 1 teaspoons dill weed.
• Cajun Croutons: 1 teaspoons Cajun seasoning.
• Onion Croutons: 1/4 teaspoons onion powder.
• Mustard Croutons: 1 teaspoons dry mustard, 1/4 teaspoons garlic powder.
• Herby Croutons: 1 teaspoons basil, 1 teaspoons oregano, 1/4 teaspoons garlic powder.
• Pizza Croutons: 1 teaspoons basil, 1 teaspoons oregano, 1/2 teaspoons chili powder, 1/4 teaspoons garlic powder.
• Now--come up with some of your own!