Brown Butter Croutons

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Today we have homemade croutons with a twist, Brown Butter Croutons.

These golden nuggets bring a perfect balance of spice and buttery goodness to your soups and salads. 

Life hack: never throw stale bread away. Use them to make homemade croutons! 

You could make cheese croutons like these Homemade Parmesan Croutons or Cajun Croutons.

Or you can make almost spicy croutons today using sumac and aleppo pepper.

Homemade croutons taste so much better than grocery store bought croutons.

And they are a great way to use up stale bread pieces so they aren’t thrown away.

Mixing sumac and aleppo pepper with rich brown butter creates a flavor explosion in these croutons.

It’s a symphony of spice and warmth in every bite.

Whether you’re tossing them into a hearty soup or on top of a fresh salad, these croutons are perfect.

They add a burst of flavor and crunch to any dish.

The crusty texture of the bread enhances the overall crunchiness of the croutons, and they are ready in just 15-20 minutes.

What Ingredients are in Brown Butter Croutons?

• Stale Bread: you want crusty bread that is at least a day old to give the perfect texture for croutons.
• Unsalted Butter: this adds richness and more depth of flavor than olive oil.
• Sumac: adds a citrusy and tangy note, almost like sun dried tomatoes
• Aleppo Pepper: brings a mild heat, elevating the spice profile.

Pro Tip: Experiment with different bread varieties. I like using baguette, sourdough, or sprouted wheat. Do not discard bread crusts though! Leave the crust on since that is the best part of these homemade butter croutons.

How to Make Brown Butter Croutons:

1. Preheat oven and prepare a baking pan with parchment paper.
2. Melt butter in a small pan over medium heat, whisking continuously as butter melts until browned flecks appear and it smells amazing.
3. Continue whisking away from heat, then add sumac and aleppo pepper, whisking to combine.
4. Pour butter mixture over bread in a large bowl and toss well.
5. Place bread cubes on a small rimmed baking sheet in a single layer.
6. Bake croutons until a deep golden brown.

Pro Tip: Use a serrated knife to cut your stale bread into pieces. You can use the side of a knife as a measuring tool to keep your hunks of bread all the same sized pieces.

When to Serve Brown Butter Croutons:

Serve this brown butter croutons recipe with soups or salads and a sprinkle of fresh ground black pepper on top of each bowl.

You can also use them on top of baked potatoes (I like Yukon gold since they are so creamy).

I love them in a hot bowl of tomato soup with a swirl of heavy cream to give it a nice crunch and flavor variety.

They are also perfect on salads, giving a burst of flavor and crunch.

What to serve with Brown Butter Croutons:

Serve croutons made with brown butter with one of these homemade soup ideas. Try one of these:

• Homemade Roasted Tomato Basil Soup
• Canned Pumpkin Soup
• Asparagus Vichyssoise
• Cheese Soup
• Cheesy Onion Soup

If you love croutons on your salad, try adding them to one of these:

• Best Greek Salad
• Avocado Chicken Salad
• Beet Arugula Goat Cheese Salad
• Arugula Farro Salad
• Roquefort Salad Recipe
• Roasted Butternut Squash Salad
• Roasted Sweet Potato Salad

How Long Do Brown Butter Croutons Last?

These Sumac Croutons last for about a week if stored correctly.

Be sure to store them in an airtight container at room temperature to keep them crunchy.

Are Brown Butter Croutons Spicy?

Yes, aleppo pepper croutsons are a little spicy.

Adding aleppo pepper brings a mild, pleasant heat to the overall flavor profile.

What is the Best Bread for Brown Butter Croutons?

The best bread for butter croutons is your favorite bread.

The second best bread is whatever stale bread you already have. 

While a baguette is delicious, feel free to experiment. Stale, crusty bread with a robust texture is key in these brown butter sumac croutons.

You can even use flavored breads.

Try bread with garlic cloves or nuts. You could even use bread with roasted whole tomatoes.

Are Brown Butter Croutons healthy?

Yes, homemade butter croutons can be healthy.

This recipe is easily customized depending on the loaf of bread you choose.

Healthier breads will make healthier croutons.

I like to use a bread mixture for variety in my croutons.

Are Brown Butter Croutons Gluten Free?

Yes, homemade croutons are gluten free if you use gluten free bread crusts.

Choose your favorite gluten free bread to make the best croutons with big flavor.

How to Store Leftover Croutons:

Store leftover croutons in an airtight container at room temperature.

Do not refrigerate them or they will lose their crispiness.

If that happens, toast them again until they are at the desired texture.

Can You Freeze Croutons?

Yes you can freeze croutons!

Be sure they are as crispy as you want and completely cooled.

Then you can place them in a freezer safe bag. 

Pro Tip: I like to double layer my freezer items to help prevent freezer burn and keep the brown butter aleppo pepper croutons as fresh as possible.

Can Dogs Eat Butter Croutons?

No, dogs should not eat these spicy croutons.

The spices and butter may not agree with their sensitive stomachs.

Brown butter croutons are a delicious way to use up stale bread.

And they make your salads and soups taste absolutely delicious.

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