We also tend to have a lot of crusts left over from bread. Collect these, cut them into strips, and throw them into a plastic bag that I keep in the freezer at all times. You can use them in the following ways .
Delicious ideas for using leftover crust
cheese slices
Crust snacks look more like chips than crusts . Sprinkle the remaining crust with Parmesan cheese, dried thyme, salt and pepper and wait for them to crisp up. Serve hot for the ultimate delicious snack.
homemade bread crumbs
This is probably the easiest option. Making homemade bread crumbs from leftover crust is a simple three-step process.
- Bake the crust in a 250 degree oven for about 2 hours, until completely dry and crispy.
- Crush into bread crumbs. To do this, you can: a) place the baked crust into a large plastic food storage bag and crush it with a mallet or rolling pin, or b) place the crust in a food processor and pulse until Desired consistency.
- Store homemade bread crumbs in an airtight container (metal or plastic works best) for up to 2 weeks.
garlic bread crust
Brush each side of crust with garlic herb oil, season and bake for 20 minutes. While these chips are extra crunchy, they'll be the perfect partner for your pre-meal dip.
homemade fillings
This is another easy option. All you need to do is cut the crust into small pieces and bake it in a 250 degree oven for about 2 hours until completely dry and crispy.
Then, make homemade stuffing using bread cubes instead of store-bought stuffing/sauce.
French toast sticks
Whisk together some eggs, milk, and vanilla, then add a few handfuls of the remaining crust. Stir well and place the crust individually on a heated griddle or skillet coated with a small amount of melted butter. Cook until cooked through on one side, about 2 minutes, then flip and cook the other side, about 90 seconds.
Use for bread pudding, toasted French toast, or layered
Use leftover crust in place of bread cubes in your favorite bread pudding or layering recipes.
One thing to note if you do this - the taste will be exactly the same, but the dish may not look as "full" and pretty as the croutons. The crust can be used in Berry French Toast and Apple Bread Pudding.
Delicious canapés or croutons
To use this option, you can leave the crust intact for a delicious snack, or cut it into quarters for croutons.
The basic way to do this is:
- 1/4 cup olive oil and/or melted butter for every 3 cups remaining crust
- Salt, pepper, and any of the following spices and seasonings of your choice: garlic powder, chili powder, oregano, dill, tortilla seasoning, paprika, Italian seasoning, thyme, grated Parmesan cheese wait.
Place all crusts in a large bowl and pour in olive oil and/or melted cream. Sprinkle with your desired seasonings and mix well. Spread the crust on a baking sheet and bake at 250 degrees for about an hour, until crispy.
Make the Cinnamon Sugar Crust
Cinnamon Sugar Crust
- Crust from one loaf of bread (about 5-6 cups crust or sliced bread loaf) *if frozen, thaw first
- 1/2 c. cream, melted
- 3/4 c. sugar
- 1 1/2 cinnamon
Place crust in large bowl. Pour melted cream over top. Throw on coat. Pour in the sugar and cinnamon and mix again. Spread on a baking sheet and bake at 325 degrees for 25-30 minutes, turning at least once during baking, until golden and crispy. However, they will keep for about 3-5 days in a metal cookie tin or plastic bag.
