These homemade croutons are crispy, flavorful, and butterLESS! Crisped in the oven using avocado oil makes these a healthier and vegan friendly choice that is great for the whole family!
I absolutely love croutons—the perfect crunch and just the right seasoning. Yum! But they’re often loaded with butter. No wonder they were so crispy. I knew there had to be a lighter option—and I found it! So, here’s my recipe for the perfect, butterless croutons.
Now, don’t get me wrong—high-quality, pasture-raised butter is great and can be part of a healthy diet. But these croutons offer a lighter, dairy-free alternative for our vegan and dairy-free friends!
My solution to all that butter? Avocado oil! (I use this kind if you’re curious.) Avocado oil, pressed from the pulp of avocados, is packed with antioxidants and healthy fats. Here are some of its health benefits:
- Rich in oleic acid, a heart-healthy monounsaturated fat
- Supports heart health
- High in lutein, an antioxidant great for your eyes
- Neutralizes free radicals
And that’s just the start! A key reason I use avocado oil for this recipe is its high smoke point—around 500°F. This means you can cook with it at high temperatures without it breaking down, preserving its health benefits. When oils break down, they can lose their benefits and even become harmful.
Now that you know why these are the BEST CROUTONS ever, let’s make them!
How to Make Homemade Croutons
You really can’t mess this up. Cut the bread into any size you want, and spray as much or as little avocado oil as you like. The smaller the pieces, the crispier they get, and the more oil you use, the crisper they become—just don’t overdo it!
For a gluten-free option, try using gluten-free hamburger buns!
Looking for something to serve these croutons on? Try my massaged kale salad with nut butter vinaigrette.
Print
ButterLESS Crispy Croutons
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: variable
Description
Gluten Free Option, Vegan, Refined Sugar Free
These homemade croutons are crispy, flavorful, and butterLESS! Crisped in the oven using avocado oil makes these a healthier and vegan friendly choice that is great for the whole family!
Ingredients
- Hamburger buns (I used Angelic Bakehouse sprouted 7 grain buns)
- Avocado oil (I buy this one)
- Garlic salt
- Garlic powder
- Thyme
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F.
- Slice buns if not already (the ones I used were not pre-sliced)
- Cut each side (top and bottom separately) into small square pieces.
- Place on a greased cookie sheet with aluminum foil.
- Spray generously with avocado oil.
- Sprinkle with spices (go lighter on the salt but feel free to go a lil crazy with the garlic powder and thyme – in my opinion!).
- Bake 15 minutes until crisp and golden brown.
Notes
This recipe is fairly generic with amounts, because you can really make as much or as little as you want! But when I made it I used two buns and it made enough for me to use on two different salads, and snack on some too 😛
Gluten Free Option – just buy gluten free hamburger buns!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Side dish
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bun worth of croutons
If you try this recipe be sure to leave a comment and let me know what you think! If you remake on Instagram remember to tag me at @donutworry_behealthy so I can see and send my love and support right back to ya!
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