Soup season is in full swing, but honestly, in this household any season really is soup season. These homemade sourdough croutons are the perfect crunchy topper for a nice bowl of warm soup in the winter. Or try them on top of a fresh salad with lots of veggies and some homemade salad dressing.

If you have some leftover sourdough bread this is the perfect way to use it up. Actually, day old bread (or even older) is drier and works best in this recipe. You won’t even miss the store-bought stuff!

Why Homemade Sourdough Croutons?

Homemade everything tends to taste better and it’s often healthier. Store bought croutons pose a few problems though. They contain enriched flour, which sounds innocent enough. However, glyphosate covered wheat with added synthetic vitamins many of us can’t digest aren’t my favorite. Not to mention the inflammatory vegetable oils, high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors, and preservatives. Even many of the organic versions aren’t much better.

You could technically use any bread you have on hand, but I prefer sourdough for several reasons. It’s more easily digested than regular bread made from grain since it’s fermented. Even better if it’s made with a naturally lower gluten, ancient grain, like Einkorn flour.

So what’s a crouton loving girl to do? Make my own of course! You can keep the ingredients as simple as you’d like and customize the flavors. I used garlic and parmesan to flavor these. I also added in a little oregano and parsley for some extra flavor and color. You can use whatever herbs you have on hand that you think will taste good though.

Here’s how to make them!

Sourdough_Croutons

Garlic Parmesan Sourdough Croutons

  • 4 cups sourdough bread (cubed, day-old works best)
  • 2 TBSP olive oil (or avocado oil)
  • 2 cloves garlic (finely minced, or ½ tsp garlic powder)
  • ½ tsp sea salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • ½ tsp dried oregano (or thyme, optional)
  • 2 TBSP Parmesan cheese (freshly grated, optional)
  • fresh parsley (minced, for garnish)

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

  • In a large bowl toss the bread cubes with olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, and herbs until evenly coated.

  • Spread cubes in a single layer on the baking sheet.

  • Bake for 10 minutes, stir, then bake another 8–10 minutes until golden and crisp.

  • Remove from the oven, immediately sprinkle with Parmesan or nutritional yeast, and toss gently to coat.

  • Cool slightly and garnish with parsley.

Nutrition Facts

Garlic Parmesan Sourdough Croutons

Amount Per Serving (1 serving)

Calories 101

Fat 6g

Saturated Fat 1g

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 4g

Cholesterol 1mg

Sodium 333mg

Potassium 32mg

Carbohydrates 10g

Fiber 1g

Sugar 1g

Protein 3g

Vitamin A 17IU

Vitamin C 0.3mg

Calcium 35mg

Iron 1mg

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

  • Keeps well in an airtight container for 3–4 days. Re-crisp in the oven before serving if needed.
  • For a dairy free version that’s still cheesy, instead of the Parmesan cheese use nutritional yeast and add after baking. 

How to Use Sourdough Croutons

You can use these like you would any other crouton. We love them in soup and they taste great as a salad topper. Or you could totally eat them by the handful (which I might do on occassion). My kids flock to these after they’re done! Here are a few ideas for how to use your freshly baked croutons.

What are your favorite ways to use croutons? Leave a comment and let us know!