Homemade Crispy Cheese Croutons

Ready in under 30 minutes, these homemade crispy Cheese Croutons combine crusty bread and Gruyère, and are a perfect topper for your favorite soup.
Some people have a sweet tooth. I like to say that I have a “bread and cheese” tooth. The combination of bread and cheese is pretty irresistible to me. So when you combine crunchy, caramelized cheese and crusty bread to make Crispy Cheese Croutons – I’m done.
Since I am clearly an expert in the bread-cheese arena, I can say that this is hands down THE BEST homemade crispy cheese croutons you will find on the internet.
This recipe actually grew out of a desire for a topping to go with my Creamy Asparagus Leek Soup. I love dipping crusty bread into my soup, and Gruyère cheese goes well with Asparagus so it seemed like a perfect match. And it was!

Just one bite confirmed that these were good not only with the soup, but also incredibly addictive on their own. Both my husband and I couldn’t stop munching on them.
If you are a bread and cheese lover like me, there is no reason not to make these.

What is the best bread for making croutons?
I love using baguette for croutons because it has the perfect ratio of crunchy exterior crust to soft inside. In fact, the word crouton is actually derived from the French word croûton, itself a diminutive of the word croûte, which means “crust.” So when you think of making croutons, think CRUST.
Also, if you’ve ever had croutons that didn’t turn out crispy, it might be because the bread wasn’t old enough. Yep, you read that right – for the best croutons you want to use bread that is a day or two old so some of the moisture is already gone. Croutons are a great way to use up bread that is no longer enjoyable or soft enough to eat on its own or as part of a sandwich.

What is the best cheese for making cheese croutons?
These homemade crispy Cheese Croutons have a flavor similar to those yummy cheese twists you might see on a fancy charcuterie board and that’s all thanks to the Gruyère.
If you’ve never had it, Gruyère (pronounced groo-yehr) is a hard Swiss cheese that is creamy with a salty and slightly sweet taste. Gruyère is the best in recipes like these cheese croutons where you want the cheese to get melty, bubbly and caramelized. Shredded Gruyère melts into the baguette and gives the croutons a crispy, cheese crust similar to parmesan crisps if you’ve ever tried those.

How To Make Cheese Croutons
A short list of ingredients and just five minutes of prep means these croutons are super simple to make. As they bake, you can warm up your favorite soup and in less than 30 minutes you have a delicious meal. Here’s the quick step-by-step of how you do it:
- Preheat your oven.
Preheat the oven and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Prep the bread.
Slice the baguette into 1 inch cubes and add them to the baking sheet. Toss with a little olive oil to help make them crispy.
- Add your cheese!
Evenly sprinkle the grated Gruyère all over the bread.
- Bake!
Bake the croutons until the cheese is melted and slightly golden (about 15-20 minutes).
- Serve!
Remove croutons from the oven. Try to restrain yourself from eating them all before they cool and get even crispier.

Recipe FAQs
Yes, but it’s recommended that you choose a high quality, savory bread with a crusty exterior. For example, other artisanal types of bread such as sourdough would be great, but your average sandwich bread would not work well.
I have not tested other types of cheese in this recipe. But cheeses similar to Gruyère, such as swiss would also work. You should also be able to substitute similar hard cheese such as a sharp cheddar with success, though be sure to watch the oven closely so the croutons don’t get too brown or burn.

How To Serve Cheese Croutons
Since I developed this recipe to pair with my Creamy Asparagus Leek Soup, I highly recommend you whip up a batch when you make these croutons. Trust me, you won’t regret it!
Prefer to watch instead of read? Check out this video!

Homemade Crispy Cheese Croutons
Ready in under 30 minutes, these easy homemade crispy Cheese Croutons combine crusty bread and Gruyère, and are a perfect topper for your favorite soup.
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 1 baguette, or crusty bread, approximately 12 oz
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 6 oz Gruyère, grated
Instructions
1. Prepare oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Prepare baguette: Slice the baguette into 1 inch cubes. Add baguette cubes to the baking sheet and toss with olive oil.
3. Add the cheese: Push the baguette cubes close together on the baking sheet. Sprinkle the grated Gruyère all over the sliced bread.
4. Bake: Bake in the center of the oven for 15-20 minutes, until the cheese is melted and slightly golden.
5. Serve: Remove croutons from the oven and let them cool. Break them apart before serving.
Notes
Croutons are best if eaten immediately after making. Keep leftover croutons in an airtight container and use them within four days. Rewarm in the oven or toaster oven if using on future days to make them crispy again.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup croutons
- Calories: 169
- Sugar: 1.1 g
- Sodium: 305.9 mg
- Fat: 7.5 g
- Trans Fat:
- Carbohydrates: 17.6 g
- Protein: 7.9 g
- Cholesterol: 15.6 mg
Crispy, cheesy, toasty perfection! You’re going to love these croutons in your favorite soup or salad!