by 
Making dried bread cubes at home is easy and a great way to prepare bread for homemade stuffing or dressing. All you need is bread and a low oven to dry the cubes until they are crisp and completely dry.
Why make your own dried bread cubes?
Dried bread cubes are easy to make at home and are a great way to use bread before it goes to waste. I make them most often for homemade stuffing or dressing, especially around the holidays.
Making your own also means you can use whatever bread you have on hand. Homemade bread works well, but a basic loaf of sandwich bread works just as well.
Once the bread cubes are completely dried, they can be stored until you're ready to use them. I often make mine ahead of time so they're ready when it's time to make stuffing.
You can always buy dried bread cubes at the store, but when you can do it yourself, I think it's that much better.
It's all about the bread
You can use almost any type of bread for making dried bread cubes. I usually use mine for homemade stuffing, and I prefer a basic white bread. However, sourdough, wheat bread, challah, or other types of bread will also work.
When I'm using homemade bread, two of my favorites are my braided bread, without the sesame seeds, and my white sandwich bread.
For a large Thanksgiving meal, I often keep things simple and buy a few loaves of basic sandwich bread from the store. Homemade isn't necessary here. Use the type of bread you enjoy and have available.
Does the bread need to be stale?
The bread doesn't need to be stale before you begin, but I find that slightly dry bread is easier to cut into cubes. Very fresh, soft bread can compress or become a little squished when you cut it.
If your bread is fresh, lay the slices out for a few hours before cutting. The bread doesn't need to be completely dried at this point. The oven will do the rest of the drying.
Step-by-step directions
- Cut the bread into cubes. If you're using very fresh bread, let the slices sit out for a few hours first. Cut into approximately 1-inch cubes. They don't need to be perfectly even.
- Place the bread cubes in a large roasting pan. Spread them out so there's plenty of room for the bread to dry.
- Dry in a 200°F oven. Stir the bread cubes every 30–45 minutes so they dry evenly.
- Check for dryness. The bread cubes are ready when they are completely dry and crisp with no softness or give when you press them. Depending on the amount of bread you're drying, this can take 2–4 hours.
- Turn off the oven and leave the dried bread cubes in the warm oven for an additional 30 minutes.
- Cool completely before storing or using.
Recipe tips
- Keep the cubes similar in size: They don't need to be perfect, but evenly sized cubes will dry at about the same rate.
- Don't overcrowd the pan: The bread needs room for the moisture to escape. If you're drying a large amount, use more than one pan if needed.
- Stir while drying: Give the bread cubes a good stir every 30–45 minutes so they dry evenly.
- Make certain they're completely dry: Before storing, break open one of the larger cubes and check the center. There shouldn't be any softness or moisture remaining.
- Cool completely before storing: Any remaining warmth can create condensation in the storage container.
How to store dried bread cubes
Allow the bread cubes to cool completely before storing. Place them in an airtight container or zip-top storage bag and keep them in a cool, dry place.
Before storing, make certain the cubes are completely dry all the way through. Any remaining moisture can cause them to spoil during storage.
For longer storage, place the dried bread cubes in a freezer-safe container or bag and freeze until needed. There's no need to thaw them before using them for stuffing.
If you see any signs of moisture or mold, discard the bread cubes.
More delicious recipes for the holidays
If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop
Dried Bread Cubes
Equipment
- Chef Knife
Ingredients
- 1 loaf bread (any type of bread)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200°F.
- Cut bread into approximately 1-inch cubes. If the bread is very fresh and soft, let the slices sit out for a few hours before cutting.
- Place bread cubes in a large roasting pan.
- Bake for 2–4 hours, stirring every 30–45 minutes.
- Check the bread cubes to make certain they are completely dry and crisp. Break open one of the larger cubes to check that the center is fully dry.
- Turn off the oven and leave the bread cubes in the warm oven for an additional 30 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and cool completely before using or storing.
Notes
- You can dry any amount of bread cubes. Determine how much you will need for your recipe and dry the appropriate amount.
- Stir bread cubes every 30-45 minutes. I use my hands and just rotate the bread cubes around.
- The best way to determine if your bread cubes are fully dry is by testing with your hands. If the bread cubes have any give to them, they need to be dried longer.
- The bread cubes do diminish in size by about half once they are dried.
- Store dried bread cubes in an airtight container. I often reuse the bags the loaves of bread came in.
- Bread cubes may be frozen in freezer safe bags.
Nutritional Disclaimer:
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. To obtain the most precise nutritional information in a provided recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the exact ingredients you are using when preparing the recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
David @ Spiced says
We make these bread cubes every year for stuffing, too, Kathy! I'm always amazed at the bags and bags of bread cubes in the store - it's so easy to make them at home, and they taste better, too! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!