Bagel croutons are as easy to make as regular croutons and double as both a snack and garnish. Create larger croutons for snacking and scooping up dips and soft cheeses (think bagel chips meet crostini). Or cut the bread into smaller, bite-size croutons for garnishing salads and soups! Only 5 ingredients and 15 minutes to make a batch of these irresistible vegan croutons.
Everyone loves croutons. I mean, they're just bite-size toasted bread that's been seasoned with fat, herbs, and salt. In other words, there might as well be an image of a crouton in the dictionary next to the word "irresistible."
Shout out to Maillard for helping us understand the caramelization-like reaction that occurs between amino acids and sugars at high temperatures. This is why croutons and toast are so good!
Not only are homemade croutons ridiculously easy to make, they're much tastier than store-bought.
When I have extra bread on hand, I like making a batch to top soups and salads, like this vegan tahini Caesar. Because every salad benefits from a bit of crunch!
But recently when I spotted Dave's Killer Bread's bagels on sale at the grocery store, I started brainstorming fun ways to use them. And here we are!
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Ingredients
You can endlessly customize the flavors and seasonings. In fact, when I spotted cinnamon-raisin bagels next to these plain ones on the shelf, it gave me the idea to create a dessert crouton. Paired with ice cream, doesn't that sound amazing? Anyway, we'll save the sweet croutons for another day.
Here are the basics for a garlic-herb crouton that pairs well with most dishes:
- bagels - I used Dave's Killer Bread plain bagels. More below about other types of bread you can use to make classic croutons.
- olive oil
- garlic powder
- dried thyme
- salt and pepper
See the recipe card below for quantities and full instructions.
How to Make Bagel Croutons
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Cut the bagels (or whatever bread you're using).
- For large, hand-held snacking croutons like you see in the photos, cut into pieces approximately 1 ¼-inches square.
- For bite-size croutons, cut into ¾- to 1-inch cubes.
- Spread the bread out in a single layer on a baking sheet. Evenly drizzle the olive oil over the bread. Then evenly sprinkle with dried thyme, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Toss gently until well-combined.
- Bake until golden, flipping the croutons once in order to brown all sides. Cook time will depend on the type of bread, the amount of moisture in the bread, and the thickness of the pieces. Keep a close eye on them around the 8- to 10-minute mark so they don't burn. Mine usually take 10 to 12 minutes.
- Let the croutons cool on the baking sheet. Use immediately, or store in an air-tight container for up to 2 weeks.
The Best Bread for Croutons
Though this recipe calls for bagels, you can use almost any type of bread to make croutons, fresh or stale. Tip: if you have a LOT of stale bread on hand, remember it's also great for French toast and stuffing.
Sourdough, French bread, and a good quality sandwich bread are all great choices for croutons. Once I even made cornbread croutons, which pair really well with chili and taco bowls!
Variations
- cheesy - grate vegan Parmesan on the croutons when they're almost done. Then pop back into the oven for a minute or two.
- everything but the bagel seasoning - instead of garlic and thyme, season the bread with your favorite Everything Bagel blend.
- gluten-free - any gluten-free loaf or sandwich bread you enjoy will also work here.
Storage
Store homemade croutons in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks, or freeze for up to 2 months. To use from frozen, spread the croutons on a baking sheet and bake at 325 degrees F for a few minutes or until warm and crisp.
FAQs
Some brands of croutons are vegan, but many are seasoned with cheese, butter, or other milk products. So it's important to carefully review the ingredient lists. When dining out, it's more difficult to know whether croutons are vegan. Thankfully, making vegan croutons at home is quick and easy.
You can use either. Dried herbs can be added before the croutons are baked. Fresh herbs are more delicate and should be tossed with the croutons after baking.
Yes! An air fryer is a quick and easy way to make homemade croutons if you don't feel like turning on the oven. Due to the increased air flow as compared to baking, cook time is reduced. Set the air fryer to 375 degrees F, and check on the bread after 4 minutes. Flip the croutons, and air fry for another 2 to 4 minutes or until golden and crisp.
Top Tips
Making croutons is a simple process, but I do have a few tips:
- Cut or tear bread into similar sized pieces. Since bagels are fairly tough, a serrated knife or sharp chef's knife are useful. If you're making croutons with a softer bread, like sandwich bread, you can either tear or cut it into pieces.
- For large bagel croutons that will be served on a cheese board or with dips:
- For a more classic crouton, to serve on soup or salad, aim for ¾- to 1-inch cubes of bread. This size is just right for picking up with a fork or spoon.
If you try the recipe I would love to hear from you! Comment below to let us know your favorite way to enjoy homemade croutons!
Ways to Use Croutons
📖 Recipe
Bagel Croutons
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 plain vegan bagels (7 oz) - see Notes; or other bread such as sourdough, French, rye, or good quality white bread
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme - not powdered
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- rounded ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- black pepper, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F, and locate a standard baking sheet.
- For large, hand-held, snacking croutons, cut bagels into chunks approximately 1 ¼-inches square. For bite-size croutons, cut into ¾- to 1-inch pieces.
- Spread the bread out in a single layer on a baking sheet. Evenly drizzle the olive oil over the bread. Then evenly sprinkle with dried thyme, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Toss gently until well-combined.
- Cook time depends on the type of bread, the amount of moisture in the bread, and the thickness of the pieces. Bake until golden, flipping the croutons once around the 6-minute mark. Keep a close eye on them after 8 to 9 minutes so they don't burn. Mine usually take 12 minutes for large bagel croutons, and 10 minutes for smaller ones.
- Remove from oven and let the croutons cool on the baking sheet. Use immediately, or store in an air-tight container for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
Estimated Nutrition (per serving)
Nutrition information is an estimate and will vary depending on the exact amounts and specific products and ingredients used. We calculate this information using the online calculator cronometer.com.
