Last Updated June 3rd, 2022 at 08:35 am by Lisa
Make Croutons with a leftover baguette and simple ingredients in minutes. Serve with hot soup, chilled salad, or as a snack on a cheeseboard!
We will also go through using different types of bread that have a short shelf life and all the amazing recipes and different ways you can use them in your cooking.
The best way to make this baguette crouton recipe is to simply slice thick long diagonal slices of bread, dry out them overnight so they crisp up, shake them and the ingredients in a bag, bake, flip, and sprinkle with shaved parmesan cheese, and finish baking in the oven.
And the next time you have half a baguette from your dinner party the best thing to do is use it in tonight's dinner. Whatever you do, don't throw it out!
Absolutely addictive. Buttery, crisp, with melted parmesan cheese on top...
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Why This Recipe Works...
- Covered in melted butter and parmesan cheese. Need I say more?
- Dip into hot soup or serve on a cheese board for a crowd.
- A great way to use up day-old French baguettes.
- Quickly slice up the bread and toss in a bag. EASY RECIPE.
- Use sourdough baguette bread slices or sliced crusty baguettes.
- Those crispy buttery golden edges are everything. Yum.
- Use part of the entire baguette for croutons, but don't waste it!
How To Make Croutons
PRO TIP: Plan ahead by slicing the baguettes and letting them dry overnight so the croutons get nice and crisp. If you have a leftover baguette, slice it BEFORE it becomes rock-hard and un-sliceable.
- Use a serrated knife to cut the fresh baguette.
- Cut into long diagonal thin slices about ¼" thick.
- Set on a parchment lined baking sheet.
- And dry overnight to get them crisp.
Bake The Croutons
The next day or once the baguette slices are dry, melt butter. In a large ziplock plastic bag, combine the baguette slices, melted butter, grated parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and pepper. Set shaved parmesan aside for later.
Shake the bag to coat the baguette slices.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper, and spread the slices out in a single layer, giving them space in between.
Bake 10 minutes until slightly golden brown and crisp.
Flip the croutons over and sprinkle shaved parmesan on top of each one. Bake 5-10 more minutes until parmesan cheese melts and edges turn golden brown.
Storing Croutons
Remove the croutons from the hot oven, cool on the counter. Freeze them in an airtight container or airtight freezer bag. They are good for up to 3 months in the freezer.
How To Use Leftover Baguettes FAQ
There are so many different ways and amazing recipes to use up leftover bread loaves, slices of bread, or baguettes.
The good news is that you can still use that stale loaf of bread, various sliced bread, or breadcrumbs in so many ways.
Baguettes come home golden and chewy and then turn rock hard solid so fast. Don't throw them out, try one of these delicious recipes.
Croutons - slice in long thin shards, toss in butter cheese and parmesan, and toast for soup and salad croutons.
Panzanella - use cubes of baguette for an Italian bread salad. Panzanella is a salad made out of bread, tomatoes, onions, and other ingredients.
Breakfast Cheese Strata - use pieces to bake up a bubbly breakfast casserole and a perfect dish to feed a crowd. Stratas are made in a baking dish loaded with bread cheese, and breakfast meats like sausage, and can have mushrooms, bell peppers, and other ingredients.
Top French Onion Soup - tear small pieces on top with melted gruyere cheese, and toast under the broiler.
Crostini - slice long pieces, rub with peeled garlic cloves, drizzle on olive oil, and toast for crostini. Add toppings you love like tapenade, charcuterie sliced meats, dips, and cheeses.
Thicken Soup & Stews - use torn toasted bread as a thickening agent in blended soups and stews.
Bruschetta - thick slices of bread grilled, rubbed with garlic, drizzled with olive oil, often topped with tomatoes and herbs, and usually served as an appetizer.
Day-old bread, stale slices, or an entire loaf can all be used in creating delicious recipes. Here are some of the most popular ways to use day-old bread.
Bread Pudding - use small bread pieces of Challah or Brioche for this bread-based dessert popular in many countries' cuisines. Made with stale bread and milk or cream, generally containing eggs, a form of fat such as oil, butter, or suet, and depending on whether the pudding is sweet or savory, a variety of other ingredients.
French Toast - make the best french toast try Texas toast, leftover cinnamon bread, slightly stale day-old sourdough bread, brioche bread, French bread, or challah.
Dressing or Stuffing - a favorite Thanksgiving dish, use up a loaf of French Bread in addition to the cornbread. The larger pieces of bread crisp up while baking and add a wonderful texture to the stuffing. Foccacia is also amazing as it is so well seasoned.
Crumbs - run through a food processor to use in meatballs, top baked macaroni, coat chicken schnitzel, or fried foods like chicken nuggets.
Italian Bread Crumbs - are added to a variety of different recipes, including meatballs, pasta, burgers, and schnitzels. They're simply regular bread crumbs with Italian seasonings like oregano and basil. They also contain salt, pepper, parsley flakes, and garlic and onion powders.
Meatballs & Meatloaf - create homemade breadcrumbs, soak in milk and mix into use in either meatballs or meatloaf to help bind the ground meat mixture from falling apart while baking.
Apple Brown Betty - is a traditional American dessert made from fruit and sweetened crumbs. Similar to a cobbler or apple crisp, the fruit is baked, and, in this case, the sweetened crumbs are placed in layers between the fruit. It is usually served with lemon sauce or whipped cream.
Ways To Enjoy Parmesan Cheese Croutons
- With a chilled wedge salad
- Dip into tapenade
- As a snack with cool drinks
- Stack on a beautiful cheese board
- Plate with a creamy spreadable dip
- Next to a bowl of creamy soup or stew
Try these parmesan-topped Baguette Croutons with my Famous Cheese Soup recipe or any creamy soups you love.
Leftover Baguette Recipes
Here are some of my recipes to use stale baguette recipes and bread in other recipes. Use up a large load of French bread in this Sheet Pan Chicken, Italian bread crumbs in some homemade Turkey Meatballs, or make bread toasts for Fall or Spring Crostini with cocktails.
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Croutons ~ Plus Leftover Baguette Recipes
Ingredients
- 1 baguette sliced thin let slices dry out
- ½ cup melted butter 1 stick
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
- 2-3 oz shaved parmesan cheese
Instructions
- PRO TIP: Plan ahead by slicing the baguettes and letting them dry overnight so the croutons get nice and crisp. If you have a leftover baguette, slice it BEFORE it becomes rock-hard and un-sliceable.
- Use a serrated knife to cut the fresh baguette. Cut into long diagonal thin slices about ¼" thick. Set on a parchment lined baking sheet.And dry overnight to get them crisp.
- The next day or once the baguette slices are dry, melt butter. In a large ziplock plastic bag, combine the baguette slices, melted butter, grated parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and pepper. Set shaved parmesan aside for later.
- Preheat oven to 375.
- Shake the bag to coat the baguette slices.
- Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper, spread the slices out in a single layer, giving them space in between.
- Bake 10 minutes until slightly golden brown and crisp.
- Flip the croutons over and sprinkle shaved parmesan on top of each one.
- Bake 5-10 more minutes until parmesan cheese melts and edges turn golden brown.
- Remove the croutons from the hot oven, cool on the counter. Freeze them in an airtight container or airtight freezer bag. They are good for up to 3 months in the freezer.
- Serve with soup, salad, as a snack, or on a cheese board.
This is one of my favorite bites to make to enjoy with a glass of wine. Make sure you have plenty of pieces at the ready if you plan to have friends over because they go fast. I have also used bread rounds and made really long strips which look even fancier. 🙂