Homemade crunchy Gluten Free Croutons flavored with garlic, favorite herbs, and butter mixed with dried-out bread pieces are a delicious way to enjoy salads, tomato soup, stews, and Thanksgiving stuffing. Whether you're enjoying a nice fresh, crisp salad at home or with loved ones at a restaurant, you will add instant buttery and savory flavor to the dish.
And seriously-- the hardest part of this Gluten Free Crouton recipe is trying not to eat them all straight off the baking tray.
Plus this stress-free recipe can be seasoned and baked a week in advance. As well as the seasonings can be adjusted exactly to your liking.
It's time to shout from the rooftops... the days of missing this classic ingredient from salads and other favored dishes are over.
In just a flash of time, you will have a large container filled with delicious homemade gluten-free croutons, ready to enjoy over the course of weeks.
Are their storebought gluten and dairy free croutons?
We have yet to find store-bought gluten and dairy free croutons. How about you? {but even if we could- I would still prefer these easy homemade buttery croutons}.
At best we can purchase a bag of croutons at the local gluten free bakery in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving. But that is about it.
Honestly, though-- this homemade recipe has so much delicious buttery and seasoned flavor, we prefer making our own.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- These are buttery and crispy to the point of addiction legit so good.
- You only need a few simple ingredients to make your own croutons
- You can make a large batch or two and save them for many more recipes
- You don't have to wait for Thanksgiving to pray you can snag some at the local bakery shop (and cross your fingers that they're dairy free too if you need that)
- Gluten Free croutons are the perfect crunch to add to creamy soups, stews, pastas and your favorite salads
Buttery crouton ingredients (get more info at bottom of post in recipe card)
- gluten and dairy free bread-- use your favorite bread. Our go-to is Udi's Whole Grain Sandwich Bread found at Costco and other retailers. Many also enjoy Canyon Bakehouse. Any brand of gluten and dairy free bread will make wonderful croutons. You will need about 12 slices of whatever type of gluten-free bread you have to make these flavorful croutons.
- dairy free butter-- we enjoy using the gluten, dairy, and soy free Earth Balance Buttery Sticks
- dried thyme-- always double check dried herbs and spices are gluten and dairy free. The McCormick brand is known for being safe.
- dried parsley flakes
- garlic powder
- kosher salt
- ground black pepper
Kitchen essentials for this recipe
2 baking trays-- these are our go-to baking trays for all our cookie recipes, and more.
silicone basting/pastry brush-- this is an easy way to brush the sliced bread with dairy free buttery spices
Measuring cups and spoons
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Nonstick mat or parchment paper
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Mixing bowl
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Whisk
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How to Make Gluten-Free Croutons
- First, preheat the oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare 2 large sheet pans with a nonstick mat or parchment paper; set aside.
- Then place 12 slices of bread on a large cutting board.
- Next in a medium size mixing bowl, whisk together the melted butter and seasonings.
- Then with a silicone pastry brush, lightly brush both sides of the bread with the butter mixture.
- Cube the bread into small, even squares so they bake evenly, about 12 cubes per bread slice.
- Now spread cubes in an even single layer across the baking trays.
- Bake for about 30 minutes, or until the croutons are golden brown and crispy; toss croutons once halfway through.
- Lastly, remove from the oven and allow the gluten free croutons to cool completely before transferring them to an airtight container for up to a month.
Note: If after a couple of weeks, the croutons need to be crisped up again transfer them onto a baking sheet at 300 degrees Fahrenheit again for 1-2 minutes before serving.
Ways to use vegan croutons in your home
- we love sprinkling these over our homemade Wedge Salad recipe
- you can pack these in a container and take them with you to add atop the restaurant salad (my favorite hack!) or your work lunch
- also top them over your favorite tomato basil soup, chili, or stew recipes
- these croutons are used in our Thanksgiving Day slow cooker stuffing recipe too, and so good
- also we love snacking on these crunchy, buttery croutons. Sound weird? Just try it! They are such good snacks and super addictive
- pulse in the food processor for a few seconds for homemade breadcrumbs
- use up old bread, hamburger buns, or even hot dog buns with these tasty, buttery croutons
Storage
Store these homemade gluten free croutons in an airtight container. They'll keep at room temperature for a few weeks.
Tips and Variations
- You can use fresh bread, we all know gluten free bread is kind of like stale bread already, right??! LOL.
- This recipe is a great way to use up a loaf of bread you may not have plans for.
- With just a few pulses of the food processor, your croutons will become homemade breadcrumbs too!
- Add even more flavor to your croutons by using more of your favorite fresh herbs and spices. We think onion powder would be a great addition to the spices we already use.
Delicious soup recipes you will love
Add some of your own gluten-free croutons to any of these easy gluten and dairy free soup recipes to really take your food up a notch!
- pasta e fagioli-- copycat Olive Garden soup recipe is loaded with hearty ground sausage, fresh diced vegetables, beans, tender ditalini pasta noodles, and delicious herbs in a savory broth
- cowboy hamburger soup-- this recipe warms you up from the inside out with its tender pieces of Yukon Gold potatoes, flavorful mixed veggies, and tongue-waking, fire-roasted tomatoes in a tasty ground beef broth mixture
- lasagna soup-- favorite Italian ingredients perfectly simmered and ready to serve with fresh basil and topped with a dollop of dairy free ricotta to add creaminess to this soup
lastly
This homemade gluten and dairy free recipe is all about big flavor and crunch.
These Gluten Free Butter Croutons are so tasty and addictive you will start eating them straight off the lined baking sheet and not be able to stop. Trust me, you're not alone on this!
You can safely enjoy these simple, buttery, crisp pieces of coated bread cubes again on salads, soups, stews, as homemade bread crumbs, and more. Tasty croutons are no longer a thing of the past with this homemade gluten-free crouton recipe.
Have you checked out our easy Wedge Salad recipe yet? These croutons taste so delicious on this salad recipe. We absolutely love serving this salad with our BBQ parties and grilled steak. Add in these baked potato wedges for the ultimate meal!
Buttery Croutons
Ingredients
- 12 slices gluten free bread slices suggestion in post
- ½ cup dairy free butter, melted suggestion in post
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley flakes
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- dash ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 300°F.
- Prepare 2 large baking trays with a nonstick mat or parchment paper; set aside.
- Place slices of bread on a large cutting board.
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the melted butter and seasonings.
- Then with a silicone pastry brush, lightly brush both sides of bread with the butter mixture.
- Cube the bread into small, even squares so they bake evenly. Estimate about 12 cubes per slice of bread.
- Spread cubes in an even layer around baking trays.
- Bake for about 30 minutes, or until the croutons are golden and crispy; toss croutons once halfway through.
- Remove from the oven and allow croutons to cool completely before transferring to an airtight container for up to a month.
- If needed, return cubes to the oven for a minutes to crisp up again before serving.
Nutritional Disclaimer
These Nutritional Facts are ESTIMATED. Your actual nutritional info with this recipe may vary depending on the brands you choose. “Eating Gluten and Dairy Free” is not a registered dietician or nutritionist. The provided nutritional info above is based on a generic calculator, if you want more accurate info, use your nutritional calculator of choice where you can choose brands and get more info that way.
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