- 40
Ingredients
- YIELD 40-50 PIECES
- 1 lb unsliced good-quality white sandwich bread such as a pullman loaf
- 3/4 stick unsalted butter, melted
- 1/4 lb chilled blue cheese (preferably Stilton or Gorgonzola), crumbled
- SPECIAL EQUIPMENT: a chopstick
Preparation
Step 1
Preheat oven to 400F with rack in middle.
Trim crusts from loaf, then cut loaf into 1-inch cubes.
Put cubes in a large shallow baking pan and drizzle with melted butter, gently tossing to coat.
Arrange cubes in 1 layer and bake, turning occasionally, until pale golden and crisp around edges but still soft inside, 12 to 20 minutes.
Cool croutons slightly in pan on a rack, then poke a hole three fourths of the way through each cube from top using large end of chopstick, making hole about 1/3 inch in diameter. Press about 1/2 teaspoon cheese into each hole, mounding slightly.
Just before serving, reheat croutons, cheese side up, in baking pan in a 400F oven until warm and crisp, about 5 minutes.
COOKS NOTE: Cubes can be baked and stuffed 1 day ahead and cooled completely, uncovered, then chilled, covered.