This time of year, we love topping our warm bowls of soup with plenty of croutons. I love how simple these croutons are to make! No fancy bread needed – just plain, ol’ whole wheat sandwich bread works great. In fact, this is a perfect way to use up stale bread. While you are warming the soup or washing the lettuce, your kiddos can be prepping these cheesy croutons.
Parmesan Whole Wheat Croutons
4 slices whole wheat sandwich bread, cubed 2 Tablespoons olive oil or melted butter 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/8-1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley or Italian seasoning (optional) Slice the sandwich bread into cubes, removing the crusts if you like.
Put the bread cubes in a large bowl and add the rest of the ingredients. Stir with a spoon or toss with your hands to evenly coat the bread.
Dump the coated bread pieces onto a cookie sheet and spread into a single layer.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy. I checked mine at 10 minutes, gave a stir, and kept a close eye on them until they were done. The croutons will crisp up even more as they cool.
Yum! We gobbled these up without a single one leftover. We’re looking forward to experimenting with some different herbs and spices, and making these again and again. Enjoy!
