Bacon-Brioche Croutons

Preparation

1. Step 1

   Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place the brioche in a mixing bowl. In a cast-iron skillet or other heavy ovenproof skillet, cook the bacon over medium-low heat for about 3 minutes, until most of the fat has rendered but the bacon hasn’t gotten too brown or crispy. Turn off the heat, add the butter to the pan, and swirl the pan until the butter is fully melted. Pour the bacon with the fat into the mixing bowl with the brioche, sprinkle with the salt and pepper, and toss to coat evenly. Spread the croutons across a baking sheet.

   Step 2

   Bake the croutons, stirring every 2 to 3 minutes, until golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. (Note that brioche will toast up a slightly darker color than some other types of bread because of its sugar and egg content.) The croutons can be made up to 2 hours in advance and rewarmed in the oven just before serving.