• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Fearless Dining
  • New? Start Here
  • Recipe Index
  • Cookbooks
  • GF Resources
    • Pantry
  • The Gluten Free Resource Guide: Everything You Need To Know About Gluten Free Living
  • Reader Testimonials
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Resources
    • My Pantry
  • Recipes
  • Cookbooks
  • About
    • Testimonials
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Resources
      • My Pantry
    • Recipes
    • Cookbooks
    • About
      • Testimonials
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home Recipes Salad Recipes

    How to Make Gluten Free Croutons

    Published: Feb 28, 2023 by Sandi Gaertner · 6 Comments · As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    • Facebook
    • Yummly
    • Flipboard
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    a pinterest collage showing the croutons in a brown ceramic mug

    It is so easy to make homemade gluten free croutons! My simple directions will teach you how to make croutons from scratch and give you many ideas on how to season your croutons!

    A brown ceramic jar filled with gluten free croutons.
    Jump to:
    • Why Make These Gluten Free Croutons:
    • What gluten free bread is best for making croutons?
    • Ingredient Notes:
    • Recipe Step-By-Step Directions:
    • Flavor Variations:
    • Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ:
    • More Salad Recipes To Try:
    • 📖 Recipe
    • Fearless Dining
    • 💬 Comments

    Croutons have many fun uses, from topping salads and soups to making a Panzanella salad. If you haven't made them, this homemade croutons recipe will walk you through every simple step.

    I am sharing dairy-free (vegan) and regular gluten free versions so you can enjoy these croutons if you have food allergies. If you are new to gluten free, this beginner guide to gluten free is a great resource!

    Why Make These Gluten Free Croutons:

    • Freshness: When you make these gluten free croutons, you can use fresh gluten free bread that you've just purchased or baked, which means that your croutons will be much fresher than store-bought ones. Fresh croutons have a great texture and flavor that can't be beaten.
    • Customization: These croutons are also great because you can customize the flavor to your liking. You can choose the type of bread you want to use, the seasonings and herbs you want to add, how much salt you like, and even the size and shape of the croutons.
    • Texture: Homemade croutons are typically crunchier than store-bought ones because they haven't been sitting on a shelf for a long time. The crunchiness of homemade croutons makes them a great addition to salads, soups, and other dishes that need a bit of texture.
    • Cost-effective: Making gluten free croutons at home is also a cost-effective way to use up stale bread. Instead of throwing away old bread, you can transform it into delicious croutons that can be used in various dishes.
    • Time Effective: You can make your homemade croutons for a fraction of the cost in as little as 15 minutes!

    🔑 Sandi says: Gluten free can be expensive! If you are looking for low-cost gluten free food, these croutons are great for those learning to live on a tight gluten free budget.

    What gluten free bread is best for making croutons?

    There are so many great gluten free brands of bread you can use to make croutons! You can make them from homemade bread like this gluten free sourdough bread! I typically have Franz Gluten Free Bread or Canyon Bakehouse Bread loaves, so I use those.

    Ingredient Notes:

    Photos of the gluten free croutons ingredients.

    The ingredients for this recipe are so easy. Depending on if you make this recipe as is or if you customize the recipe, your ingredients may change slightly. For plain croutons, you only need three ingredients!

    • Gluten Free Bread - Any brand is fine to use. I save the ends of bread loaves in the freezer, then use them to make croutons and Gluten Free Bread Crumbs.
    • Butter - Use salted or unsalted butter.
    • Salt - Use sea salt or kosher salt.

    Three simple ingredients. It doesn't get any easier than that. Try counting the ingredients in store-bought croutons! You probably can't even pronounce half of them! Check out the flavor variation suggestions below for some delicious flavors of croutons to make.

    Top Pick
    Ball Regular Mouth 32-Ounces Mason Jar with Lids, Pack of 2, Clear
    Ball Regular Mouth 32-Ounces Mason Jar with Lids, Pack of 2, Clear

    Mason jars are perfect for so many things, including food storage and gift-giving!

    Buy Now
    We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

    Recipe Step-By-Step Directions:

    Photos making croutons steps 1 and 2.

    Step 1: Cut 8-10 slices of gluten-free bread into cubes on a cutting board. Add the bread chunks to a large mixing bowl.

    Step 2: Pour the melted butter over the bread cubes. Add the flavor seasonings and salt. If you decide to add any optional seasonings, add those now too. Mix to coat the bread cubes.

    Pouring croutons onto a baking sheet.

    Step 3: Pour the bread cubes onto a foil-lined baking sheet.

    Step 4: Spread the cubes so they are flat on the sheet. Try to avoid the crumbs stacked on top of each other. Bake at 300º F for 15 minutes, stirring once to flip over the bread cubes.

    Gluten free croutons on a metallic cookie sheet.

    Flavor Variations:

    You can change the seasonings and enjoy these croutons in many flavors! Here are some of my favorites:

    • Make them Italian by adding basil, garlic powder, and parmesan cheese.
    • Dust them in pumpkin spice and enjoy these croutons in this Acorn Squash Soup.
    • If you like spicy, sprinkle some sriracha over them!
    • Sprinkle taco seasoning over them.
    • Trader Joe's and Penzeys make ranch seasoning that is fun to flavor these gluten free croutons with!

    Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ:

    How do you store these croutons?

    You can store these gluten free croutons in an airtight container. Oven-baked croutons will last for up to 4 days in an air-tight container or mason jar. Ziplock storage bags work, too!

    Can you freeze croutons?

    You can freeze these croutons, but you will need to thaw them in the oven so they can re-crisp. Otherwise, they will be soggy.

    How can you tell when croutons are stale?

    Homemade croutons can go stale because they are not made with preservatives. You can tell your croutons are stale if you see mold, they get soft, or they taste off.

    The top view of a full container of croutons.

    More Salad Recipes To Try:

    • This Kale & Apple Salad is the most popular salad recipe on the blog. Even kale-haters love it!
    • My Chicken Chopped Salad makes a wonderful lunch.
    • If you love pasta, my Deli-Style Gluten Free Macaroni Salad recipe is great.

    📖 Recipe

    The top view of a full container of croutons.

    Gluten Free Croutons

    Sandi Gaertner
    An easy tutorial to teach you how to make homemade gluten free croutons. Homemade croutons are a lot less expensive than store-bought!
    5 from 5 votes
    gluten free allergy icon
    nut free allergen icon
    soy free allergy icon
    vegetarian icon
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save RecipeSaved!
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 25 minutes mins
    Course Gluten Free Bread Recipe
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12
    Calories 156 kcal

    *As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 cups gluten free bread * see note
    • 3 tablespoons salted butter For dairy-free, use vegan butter.
    • ½ teaspoon sea salt

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 325º F.
    • Take your slices of gluten free bread and cut them into cubes.
    • Put the bread cubes into a large bowl.
    • Melt the butter in a microwave-safe dish for 10 seconds to melt it. Drizzle it over the cubes of bread. Sprinkle on the salt.
    • Toss to coat the bread cubes.
    • Put onto a baking sheet and bake for 7 minutes. Remove from the oven and mix them. Bake an additional 7-8 minutes.
    • Remove from the oven and allow to cool.

    Video

    Notes

    1. You can use any brand of gluten free bread. I used Franz Multigrain for this post, but I have used several brands easily.
    2. If you want to make this recipe dairy-free, use vegan butter, and ensure your gluten free bread is also dairy-free.
    3. These gluten free croutons will keep up to 4 days in an air-tight container.
    Variations:
    You can change up the seasonings and enjoy these croutons in so many flavors! Here are some of my favorites:
    • Make them Italian by adding basil, garlic powder, and parmesan cheese.
    • Dust them in pumpkin spice and enjoy these croutons in this Acorn Squash Soup.
    • If you like spicy, sprinkle some sriracha over them!
    • Sprinkle taco seasoning over them.
    • Trader Joe's and Penzeys make ranch seasoning that is fun to flavor these gluten free croutons with!

    SPECIAL NOTE

    Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn't test, you may need to adjust your moisture levels in your baked goods.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 10gCalories: 156kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 2gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 16mgSodium: 285mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 194IUCalcium: 54mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @FearlessDining or tag #FearlessDining!

    Nutrition Disclaimer

    Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.

    This post was updated from an older September 2020 post with more recipe details.

    Fearless Dining

    Simplifying the art of baking and cooking gluten-free recipes.

    Get Free Recipes To Your Inbox
    Buy My Cookbook
    Join My Facebook Group
    • Instagram
    • Bandcamp
    • Twitter
    • Twitch

    More Gluten Free Salad Recipes

    • A big bowl of gluten free macaroni salad.
      Gluten Free Macaroni Salad
    • A chicken salad sandwich on a plate.
      Easy Curry Chicken Salad With Grapes
    • A bowl full of curried tuna salad.
      Easy Rainbow Chard Curried Tuna Salad
    • The top view of a chopped salad before it is mixed.
      Easy Chicken Chopped Salad
    • Facebook
    • Yummly
    • Flipboard

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Janet Remy

      November 18, 2022 at 1:45 pm

      5 stars
      I used garlic salt to season these and they were really good. So easy to make. Great recipe.

      Reply
      • Sandi Gaertner

        November 18, 2022 at 4:51 pm

        I love using garlic salt to season croutons! I am so glad you loved the recipe!!

        Reply
    2. AngelaKin

      March 09, 2022 at 3:02 am

      5 stars
      Loved it!!

      Reply
      • Sandi Gaertner

        March 09, 2022 at 8:24 am

        I am so glad Angela! Thank you.

        Reply
    3. Katie

      October 05, 2020 at 11:55 am

      5 stars
      Looks so good! My family would love this one. Can't wait to try it!

      Reply
      • Sandi Gaertner

        October 05, 2020 at 10:15 pm

        Enjoy Katie, they are really fun as a soup topper!

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    • Amazon
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    A picture of my face standing in front of landscape bushes

    Welcome to my blog! I am so glad you are here. If you have Celiac Disease, gluten intolerance, or a wheat allergy, you've come to the right place for delicious recipes. I have years of extensive experience in gluten free recipe development, and I am excited to help you. I am a seasoned gluten free recipe developer and I test recipes multiple times with multiple gluten free flour blends so you know what works. I specialize in creating easy, family-friendly recipes that rival their gluten-filled counterparts.

    More about me →

    Holiday Recipes:

    • a metal holiday gift tin filled with cookies
      Gluten Free Cardamom Cookies
    • Two baked loaves of gluten free panettone bread on a rack.
      Gluten Free Panettone Bread
    • Baked gluten free gingerbread cinnamon rolls with icing.
      Gluten Free Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls
    • gluten free brownie bites decorated with icing Christmas trees on a platter
      Easy Gluten Free Brownie Bites

    More Holiday Recipes!

    A glass bowl filled with my gluten free flour blend.

    Try My DIY Gluten Free Flour Blend Recipe! It is also gum-free!

    Trending Gluten Free Recipes:

    • Two slices of gluten free bread on a plate.
      Bake the Best Gluten Free Bread with Your Bread Machine
    • A baked pie crust in a pan.
      How to Make a Homemade Gluten Free Pie Crust
    • Two bowls of chicken soup with a garlic press and garlic cloves next to the bowls.
      Grandma's Chicken Soup From Scratch
    • A biscuit cut in half on a plate with butter.
      The Best Flaky Gluten Free Biscuits

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • About Me
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up!

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work With Me
    • Web Stories

    Copyright © 2013-2023 Fearless Dining, LLC.