National Crouton Day Date in the current year: May 13, 2024

Croutons are small pieces of fried or toasted bread that are used to add flavor and texture to salads, soups, stews and other dishes, or eaten as a snack food or appetizer. They are usually cubed and can be seasoned with garlic, herbs and spices, or cheese.

Croutons originated in French cuisine; the French word croûton is a diminutive of croûte, which means crust. Historically, a croute was a slice of a baguette lightly brushed with clarified butter or oil and then baked, fried or toasted. Today, however, many people use the word crouton for various kinds of fried or toasted pieces of bread ranging from small cubes to large slices that are traditionally used to top French onion soup.

Croutons are a great way to utilize nearly any type of dry, stale or leftover bread. The bread is usually cut into small cubes, but croutons can be of any shape and size you want. The pieces of bread are coated in butter or oil and then baked. Alternatively, you can fry them lightly in oil or butter until crisp and brown. The last step, which is optional, is adding seasoning.

When you use croutons as a topping, always add them right before serving the dish so that they don’t get soggy and lose their crunch. If you intend to serve croutons as an appetizer, you can top them with grated cheese, small pieces of ham or fried bacon, etc., and/or accompany them with a dipping sauce.

Arguably the most famous dish that incorporates croutons is the Caesar salad. Its principal ingredients are romaine lettuce, croutons, coddled eggs, and a dressing consisting of anchovies, black pepper, crushed garlic, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, Parmesan cheese, and Worcestershire sauce.

Another popular dish topped with croutons is the aforementioned French onion soup. Baguette slices are toasted in the oven until lightly browned, placed on top of the cooked soup, and sprinkled with grated cheese. The soup topped with croutons and cheese is then baked or broiled until the cheese is melted and slightly browned.

National Crouton Day was created in 2015 by Rothbury Farms, a family-owned and operated bakery business producing a variety of baked products. Sadly, the company had to discontinue its croutons in February 2022, but National Crouton Day lives on.

There are many ways to celebrate this amazing food holiday. You can top your favorite salad, soup or chili with croutons, use them to cook other dishes (croutons can be used in meatloaf, casseroles, bread puddings or stuffing), enjoy croutons by themselves as a snack, make your own croutons at home (don’t be afraid to experiment with different types of bread and seasonings to figure out the best flavor combinations), have a crouton-themed potluck dinner with your family and friends, and post about the holiday on social media with the hashtags #NationalCroutonDay and #CroutonDay.