how to make homemade croutons

Pre-heat the oven to 425 degrees.Slice your bread into 2 thick slices. It's really up to you on how thick you want the slices of bread! We like our croutons big, so we slice them pretty thick. Make sure to keep the crust on, as it adds so much flavor and texture to the croutons.Cut the slices into ½-inch cubes. This is really personal preference, you can cut the cubes as big or small as you want, just make sure they are roughly even-sized.In a medium bowl, add the 5-6 teaspoons olive oil, salt and pepper, and stir to combine. Note: If you're making the croutons for a salad, then be sure to add the 2 cloves of minced garlic to the olive oil mixture. If you're using thicker sliced bread like I used, then 6 teaspoons of olive oil is perfect. You want to make sure that the bread cubes are all evenly covered with the olive oil mixture.Toss in the bread cubes and mix with your hands to combine. Make sure to get all of the bread cubes evenly coated with the olive oil mixture.Spread the bread cubes in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet.Set your timer and bake the croutons for 6-7 minutes (I would check them at 6 minutes the first time to see how quickly they bake up in your oven) and then check the croutons, if the bottoms are browned, then flip over the croutons and bake for another 6-7 minutes, or until the croutons are browned and crisp to your liking. Total baking time for me is usually 14 minutes.NOTE: If you're using a thinner bread, like a sliced sandwich bread, then check your croutons at the 5-minute mark, as sliced sandwich bread cooks much quicker than a loaf bread.Let the croutons cool on the baking sheet for a bit.Top them on your favorite soup, or toss them into any salad.Storing the croutons: The croutons will stay fresh in a sealed container for about 2-3 days.