Zucchini Bread Croutons

Zucchini bread croutons are a great way to use up those last few slices of zucchini bread. These crunchy croutons are perfect for topping your morning yogurt parfait or adding to a lunch salad.

Have a few slices of zucchini bread left and want to switch things up? How about making a batch of zucchini bread croutons. These crunchy bread cubes are lightly sweetened (when using a traditional zucchini bread), like little dessert croutons.

All you need are a few slices of zucchini bread that isn't overly moist or crumbly, a bit of olive oil, and a baking sheet lined with parchment.

Use zucchini bread croutons to top your morning yogurt, add to an ice cream sundae as a crunchy topping, or enjoy on their own as a crunchy snack.

Ingredients and substitutions

Zucchini bread - I used a few slices of my applesauce zucchini bread for this recipe. You'll want to use a bread that isn't extra moist or crumbly. Most bread flavors should work, just use your best judgement. A bread that will hold together when sliced into cubes works best.

Olive oil - A small amount of olive oil (or any cooking oil you have on hand) brushed onto your bread helps the edges crisp up in the oven. If desired, this can be omitted. Your croutons will turn out a lot like toast from the toaster oven - a little less crunchy than a crouton.

Tips and tricks

• Use a serrated knife to cut your bread into cubes. A regular chef's knife can pinch the edges of your bread.
• Try to slice your bread into uniform cubes. This helps ensure that your croutons are all baking at the same rate.
• Spread your bread cubes out into a single layer on a baking sheet. If they're squished together or heaped in a pile, they'll take longer to crisp up in the oven.
• If your croutons start to look too brown in the oven, but they're not crispy yet, turn the heat down slightly. Low and slow is better when drying out a moist bread like zucchini bread (even when it's a few days old, it's still more moist than your standard bread).
• If you'd like to make more croutons, I suggest spreading them between two baking sheets rather than overcrowding one baking sheet.

Ways to use croutons

Since zucchini bread is generally a little sweet, what can you do with zucchini bread croutons? They're sort of like dessert croutons. Here are a few ideas:

• Salad topping (like a strawberry spinach salad or side salad)
• Breakfast yogurt topping
• Ice cream topping
• Serve with fresh fruit and whipped cream as a light dessert

Of course, you can also enjoy zucchini bread croutons on their own as a crunchy snack!

📖 Recipe