Cornbread Croutons Recipe (2024)

By Laura

Posted Oct 11, 2020, Updated Nov 06, 2023

5 from 17 votes

9 Comments

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These cornbread croutons are easy to make with 3 ingredients in less than 30 minutes. Watch the video and follow the step-by-step instructions to learn how to make cornbread croutons – my favorite way to use up leftover cornbread.

Cornbread Croutons Recipe (2)

These homemade cornbread croutons are my favorite way to use up leftover cornbread. They’re easy to make with only 3 ingredients in less than 30 minutes!

One of my all-time favorite restaurants was known for their cornbread, and in turn, their cornbread croutons. I craved their salads for the croutons alone! So years (and years) ago I created this cornbread crouton recipe so I could make crave-worthy salads from the comfort of my own home.

Cornbread Croutons Recipe (3)

Cornbread Croutons: Ingredients

There are only 3 ingredients in this cornbread croutons recipe, but as always we’ll chat about them!

  • Cornbread.I recommend making this –best ever cornbread recipe and using the leftovers to make these cornbread croutons. It’s best to use cornbread that’s a day or two old. You could always use a box mix to make it even easier. There are also boxes that are gluten-free, dairy-free, etc. so you can make the croutons comply to your dietary needs.
  • Olive Oil.Any neutral oil works well, but olive oil is my favorite. Canola oil and avocado oil are the two substitutions I’d recommend.
  • Fine sea salt. regular salt works too, you may just need to decrease the amount.
Cornbread Croutons Recipe (4)

How to make Cornbread Croutons

This cornbread crouton recipe is so simple, but we’ll walk through the steps together, and don’t forget to watch the video

To make these cornbread croutons, you have to be gentle when stirring so the cornbread doesn’t fall apart. I like to do it in halves, so drizzle 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over the cornbread then stir, and repeat with the rest.

Then do the same for the sea salt, sprinkle half of the sea salt over the cornbread, stir, and repeat with the second half. This way the ingredients are naturally dispersed and don’t rely too much on stirring.

Cornbread Croutons Recipe (5)

Bake

Lightly grease a baking sheet and spread the cornbread onto it in one even layer.

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Bake in preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, gently flipping the croutons over once halfway through baking (around 6-7 minutes). Remove from oven once they are golden-brown and still slightly soft.

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Store

Store these cornbread croutons in an airtight container at room temperature for 5-7 days.

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Cornbread Croutons Recipe FAQ

How do you make cornbread that doesn’t fall apart?

Make this best cornbread recipe! And then let it sit in the refrigerator overnight and it will not fall apart when cut to make these croutons!

Cornbread Croutons Recipe (9)

Serve

Ilove serving these cornbread croutons slightly warm on top of a salad, in soups etc.

  • I love them in this Brussel Sprout Salad!
  • They’d taste amazing on this burrata salad! YUM!
  • Toss them in this sausage and kale soup for a delicious fall meal.
  • They are the perfect compliment to this butternut squash soup and this homemade tomato soup!
  • Use them to make cornbread dressing!
Cornbread Croutons Recipe (10)

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Cornbread Croutons Recipe (11)

Cornbread Croutons Recipe (12)

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Homemade Cornbread Croutons Recipe

Laura

These cornbread croutons are easy to make with 3 ingredients in less than 30 minutes. Watch the video and follow the step-by-step instructions to learn how to make cornbread croutons – my favorite way to use up leftover cornbread.

5 from 17 votes

Course condiment, Salad

Cuisine American

Servings 16 Servings

Calories 211

Prep Time5 minutes minutes

Cook Time20 minutes minutes

Total Time25 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  • 4 cups cornbread cut into ½” cubes (day-old leftover cornbread)
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a large baking sheet, set aside.

  • Gently cube leftover cornbread and transfer to a large mixing bowl.

  • Drizzle 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over the cornbread. Gently stir.

  • Drizzle the remaining 1 tablespoon over the cornbread and gently stir to distribute.

  • Sprinkle half of the sea salt over the cornbread, stir, and repeat with the second half.

  • Spread cornbread onto the prepared baking sheet in one even layer.

  • Bake in preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, gently flipping the croutons over once halfway through baking (around 6-7 minutes).

  • Remove from oven once they are golden-brown.

Video

Notes

Ingredient Substitutions

  • Cornbread.I recommend making this –best ever cornbread recipe and using the leftovers to make these cornbread croutons. It’s best to use cornbread that’s a day or two old. You could always use a box mix to make it even easier. There are also boxes that are gluten-free, dairy-free, etc. so you can make the croutons comply to your dietary needs.
  • Olive Oil.Any neutral oil works well, but olive oil is my favorite. Canola oil and avocado oil are the two substitutions I’d recommend.
  • Fine sea salt. regular salt works too, you may just need to decrease the amount.

Store:

Store these cornbread croutons in an airtight container at room temperature for 5-7 days.

Freeze:

Yes, you can freeze them in an airtight container for up to 1 month.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.25cup | Calories: 211kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 427mg | Potassium: 79mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 98IU | Calcium: 79mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you enjoy this recipe? Have a question? Leave a comment below!

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Cornbread Croutons Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What ingredient keeps cornbread from crumbling? ›

Adding about 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of extra butter or vegetable oil can increase the moistness of your cornbread. You can do this even if your recipe doesn't call for butter or oil. Replace milk or water with creamed corn. If your recipe calls for milk or water, try replacing it with creamed corn.

How do you make croutons softer? ›

Here are some ways to do this:
  1. Use your hands: If the croutons are large and hard, try breaking them up into smaller pieces with your hands. ...
  2. Crush them with a utensil: If you don't want to use your hands, try using the back of a spoon or a fork to crush the croutons into smaller pieces. ...
  3. Soak them: If the croutons ar.
Feb 28, 2019

Will an extra egg make cornbread less crumbly? ›

The extra egg which is increased protein and binder makes the cornbread denser and heavier in texture. Can I add flour to Jiffy cornbread to make more batter?

How to make Jiffy cornbread that doesn t crumble? ›

  1. 1Put in an extra egg yolk. ...
  2. 2Cut back on fat or grease by one third. ...
  3. 3Replace white sugar with a moist sweetener. ...
  4. 4Add 1 tablespoon (15 ml) more butter or oil. ...
  5. 5Replace milk or water with creamed corn. ...
  6. 6Add 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of sour cream.
Oct 29, 2021

Should you let cornbread batter rest? ›

Note: We recommend allowing cornbread batter to sit for 10 to 15 minutes before baking, so if you prefer, you can delay heating the oven until you make the batter.

How do you keep croutons crunchy? ›

After the croutons have been baked, be sure to let them cool completely before storing them. You don't want any added moisture in the storage container. Once cooled, store the croutons in an airtight container or jar in a cool, dry place.

Why are my croutons not crispy? ›

Crowding the pan.

Pile the bread cubes on top of each other and they won't have enough space to crisp up and brown. Instead, make sure they're in a even layer.

Why are my homemade croutons chewy? ›

The key to crispy croutons is making sure that they're fully dried out in the oven and crunchy all the way through. They should not be chewy when they come out of the oven. Bake croutons in a single layer on the baking sheet to crisp up the bread, rather than steaming it.

Why wont my cornbread stay together? ›

generally speaking, cornbread is crumbly if there is too high a proportion of cornmeal to flour. you need the gluten in the flour to hold it together and also enough moisture. if it is too high in fat it will also be too tender and crumbly.

How do you make cornbread hold together? ›

More flour makes it less crumbly. If you're using too high a proportion of corn meal, the bread doesn't have enough gluten to hold it together. Try using less cornmeal and more flour.

What is the best cornmeal for cornbread? ›

As for the best cornmeal for cornbread, either fine- or medium-grind cornmeal is a great choice. Medium-grind cornmeal will bring slightly more texture and grittiness to the batter, which you may or may not want (it's up to you!). You can use fine or medium cornmeal in these extra corny muffins.

Can you put too many eggs in cornbread? ›

If there isn't enough egg, your batter or dough may not be able to hold its structure or could end up overly dry or dense. On the other hand, if there is too much egg, your baked goods could lose their shape due to excess liquid, or have a rubbery (or even overly cakey) texture depending on the recipe.

Can you use two eggs in cornbread? ›

Yellow cornmeal: for that cornbread flavor, of course. Baking staples: you'll also need some baking powder (not baking soda!) & salt so that the cornbread bakes up nice and fluffy. Eggs: you'll need two eggs in this recipe. Sweetener: feel free to use pure maple syrup or honey to naturally sweeten the cornbread.

Should you soak cornmeal before making cornbread? ›

Soaking the cornmeal in buttermilk for a few hours, or even overnight, tenderizes the large grains of cornmeal, making the bread more moist and tender. This step is optional, however, and the bread is still delicious without the soaking step.

Why does my Jiffy cornbread always crumble? ›

Why Is Jiffy Mix So Crumbly? The recipe on the box doesn't give the batter as much moisture as I like in my cornbread, which is why it can sometimes turn out crumbly. Adding in the sour cream and vegetable oil makes a huge difference and makes the best moist cornbread.

How do you keep cornbread from getting gritty? ›

The key to cornbread that isn't gritty is letting the cornmeal soak in the milk for a bit. For a cakier style, you need more flour than cornmeal, and to make it nice and sweet, without being overpowering, you need a mixture of sugar and something else (like honey, in this recipe).

What's the best cornmeal for cornbread? ›

As for the best cornmeal for cornbread, either fine- or medium-grind cornmeal is a great choice. Medium-grind cornmeal will bring slightly more texture and grittiness to the batter, which you may or may not want (it's up to you!). You can use fine or medium cornmeal in these extra corny muffins.

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