Finding store-bought gluten-free croutons can be tough — and don't even get me started on how difficult it can be to get my hands on vegan, gluten-free croutons since most traditional croutons available on shelves are made with butter, cheese, or eggs.
I got tired of trying to figure out where to find allergen-friendly croutons and decided to start making my own. Thankfully, making Homemade Gluten-Free, Vegan Croutons is incredibly simple — and they taste better than store-bought croutons, too!
One thing about me is I'm a sucker for a crunchy salad — give me ALL of the sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, croutons, and roasted nuts. In college, a few of my friends used to joke that my salads sometimes looked like bird food because they were loaded with so many nuts and seeds — and, personally, I think that's A-OK.
These croutons make a delicious addition to any salad or as a topper for a creamy soup.
If you're looking for more salad recipes check out my Crunchy Cucumber and Tomato Salad or my Vegan Smashed Chickpea Salad.
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Why You'll Love This Gluten-Free Crouton Recipe
Cost-effective: Gluten-free bread can be expensive, so I try my best not to waste a single piece. Making this easy recipe is a great way to repurpose your bread butts/heels/end pieces (whatever you choose to call them) or any stale or leftover gluten-free bread you have on hand.
Incredibly versatile: Using simple ingredients, these herby homemade croutons are gluten-free, naturally vegan, and ready in only 20 minutes. Modify this base recipe to create all kinds of crouton flavors! Use fresh croutons on your favorite salads or creamy soups, or make your own gluten-free stuffing or breadcrumbs.
Ingredients
- Gluten-free bread – Stop throwing away the bread butts and make gluten-free croutons instead! It doesn't matter what type of bread you use (fresh, day-old, or stale bread), though, heads up, fresh bread may require a couple of extra minutes in the oven. Any type of gluten-free bread can be made into croutons, but the texture can vary slightly amongst brands. You can even use homemade bread. I typically stick to my favorite three brands (listed below) and end up with delicious, crunchy croutons every time!
- Extra-virgin olive oil – Bread and olive oil go hand-in-hand. I love using extra-virgin olive oil for its rich flavor — but you can also use melted dairy-free butter or avocado oil if you'd prefer.
- Seasonings – I most often make garlicky croutons seasoned with Italian herbs, but since croutons are so versatile, feel free to swap the seasonings out to create your favorite flavors. I've listed some other delish crouton flavors below!
How to Make Gluten-Free Croutons
The best part about making your own croutons at home is that it could not be any simpler. The prep work will take you less than five minutes and you'll have crisp, golden, flavorful croutons before you know it. Here's what you'll need to do:
Step 1: Slice gluten-free bread into ¾-inch cubes. Measure six cups-worth (about 6-8 slices, depending on the size of your bread)
Step 2: Add bread and seasonings to a large bowl.
Step 3: Drizzle in the olive oil and toss to combine until bread cubes are well-coated.
Step 4: Spread onto a parchment-lined baking sheet in a single layer and bake for 12-15 minutes at 375° F, flipping once halfway.
FYI: Bake time will vary slightly depending on whether you use fresh or stale bread. Fresh bread cubes will take a few minutes longer to crisp up.
Crouton Flavor Variations
Once you've learned how to make homemade vegan croutons, adjust seasonings and ingredient amounts to create a crouton for any occasion.
- Cheesy – Add nutritional yeast for an extra savory, cheesy flavor boost.
- Garlic and vegan butter – You can't go wrong with a buttery, garlicky crouton. Simply swap the olive oil in this recipe with dairy-free melted butter and adjust the seasonings to your preference.
- Garlic and vegan parmesan - For a vegan spin on a classic cheesy garlic crouton, use fresh garlic, garlic powder, and your favorite dairy-free parmesan cheese.
- Rosemary and thyme - These fresh herbs pair especially well with soups, or use your herby croutons to make stuffing. I sometimes like to add dried sage or extra black pepper as well.
- Spicy – Season with chili powder, paprika, cayenne, and/or cumin for a smoky, spicy kick.
Storage
Store leftover croutons in an airtight container or resealable bag at room temperature. Croutons will stay fresh for about two weeks. It's important to let your croutons cool completely before storing them to avoid moisture, as moisture encourages mold.
Gluten-Free, Vegan Bread Recommendations
Finding a tasty gluten-free, vegan bread can be tough, but these are some of my tried and true favorites:
- Little Northern Bakehouse white wide slice bread
- MYBREAD original baguettes
- Schar deli-style sourdough
I can find all three of these at my local Sprouts market, but have also found some of these brands at HEB, Natural Grocers, ShopRite and Whole Foods — if you find them at your local grocery store, too, let me know in the comments below! You can also order, MYBREAD and Schar via their websites.
FAQ
Croutons are made from dried bread, so, no, most croutons are not naturally gluten-free. However, it's quite simple to make your own gluten-free, croutons at home!
You can use whichever gluten-free bread you prefer to make these croutons (check the ingredients to make sure it's vegan as well if needed, though!)
When kept at room temperature in an airtight container or resealable bag, away from moisture, you can expect these croutons to stay fresh for 1-2 weeks.
The key to keeping croutons crispy is keeping them away from moisture. Store your croutons in an airtight container at room temperature instead of in the fridge.
Gluten-Free Croutons
Ingredients
- 6 cups gluten-free bread diced into ¾-inch cubes, (about 6-8 slices, depending on the size of your bread)
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375° F.
- Slice gluten-free bread into ¾-inch cubes. Measure six cups-worth.
- Add bread, Italian seasoning, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper
- Drizzle in the olive oil and toss to combine until bread cubes are well-coated.
- Spread bread cubes onto a parchment-lined baking sheet in a single layer and bake for 12-15 minutes, until croutons are golden brown, flipping once halfway.1
- Remove from oven and let cool completely.
- Store in an airtight container and enjoy your homemade croutons for up to two weeks.
Notes
- Cooking time will vary slightly, depending on your oven, the thickness of your bread cubes, and whether you use fresh or stale slices of gluten-free bread. On average, expect stale bread to bake for 12-15 minutes and bake for fresh bread for 15-20 minutes.
Related Recipes
Looking for more delicious salads? Give one of these a try:
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