Pulled out some stale bread from pantry

Stale bread is actually a great starting point for tons of delicious recipes! Here are some classic and creative ideas:

🔥 Savory Recipes

1. Croutons

   • Cube the bread, toss with olive oil, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and herbs.

   • Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 10–15 minutes until golden and crispy.

2. Stuffing or Dressing

   • Sauté onions, celery, and herbs, mix with cubed stale bread and broth.

   • Bake for a savory side dish (great even outside of the holidays!).

3. Panzanella Salad (Tuscan Bread Salad)

   • Combine bread cubes with chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, and basil.

   • Toss with olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt, and pepper.

4. French Onion Soup with Bread Topping

   • Use thick slices of stale bread as a base for melted cheese on top of this classic soup.

5. Bread Crumbs

   • Blitz stale bread in a food processor. Toast if needed. Great for coating or toppings.

🍬 Sweet Recipes

1. Bread Pudding

   • Cube bread and soak in a mixture of eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla, and spices.

   • Bake until set. Add raisins, chocolate chips, or fruit for extra flair.

2. French Toast Bake

   • Layer bread in a casserole dish, pour over a custard mixture, and bake.

   • Top with fruit or syrup.

3. Pain Perdu (Classic French Toast)

   • Dip slices in egg-milk mixture, fry in butter until golden. Great with powdered sugar or jam.

4. Stale Bread Chocolate Cake

   • Some European recipes use soaked stale bread instead of flour in dense, moist cakes.