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7 delicious ways to repurpose your leftover bread this holiday season

By Lia Ryerson
November 23, 2018, 2:32:15 PM EST

With the holiday season right around the corner, home cooks nationwide are beginning to prepare their kitchens (and their stomachs) for the feasting that is soon to commence. However, even the most ambitious of eaters have been faced with the stark reality of too many leftover ingredients, and not enough ways to use them up.

If you, like many others, find yourself with a surplus of bread after you awaken from your carb-laden holiday coma, and want to do your part to help counteract food waste, don’t worry—there are plenty of ways to put the humble bread loaf to tasty use after it has passed its doughy prime. Here are 7 ways to repurpose your leftover bread into something new and delicious.

1. French Toast

veganfrenchtoast.jpg


Is there anything more classic and comforting than a plate of French toast in the morning? Not only will your day-old bread act as a vehicle for flavor, but its staleness is actually the ideal consistency for French toast, because the dough won’t go mushy after being introduced to moisture. We love how easy and decadent this vegan recipe is.

2. Ribollita

Ribollita, Tuscan soup classic, old-fashioned meal peasants


A hearty and vegetable-heavy soup from Tuscany, Ribollita (which essentially translates to “reboiled”) uses leftover bread as a thickening agent.

3. Breadcrumbs

meatballs.jpg


Have a hankering for spaghetti and vegan meatballs? Or maybe you want to liven up a dish of gooey Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese? In either scenario, breadcrumbs are your answer.

4. Bread Pudding

Bread pudding in coffee cup


It’s all in the name. Most types of bread—from a crispy baguette to a stale raisin loaf— work in bread puddings, so feel free to get creative with what you’ve got. Here’s a lovely recipe for a vegan strawberry rhubarb bread pudding.

5. Panzanella

Italian panzanella salad


If you’re worried your leftover bread is a little too crunchy or dry, try Panzanella— comprised mainly of stale bread and tomatoes, this Italian salad actually calls for drier breads that hold their own against acidic ingredients.

6. Croutons

Fresh Homemade French Croutons


Easy, flavorful, and versatile, all you need to transform your old bread loaf into a mound of golden croutons are a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of your favorite herbs.

7. Beer

Glass of beer


Yes, you read that correctly. Toast Ale, a startup that makes British beer out of surplus bread from bakeries that would otherwise be destined for the landfill, conveniently offers cooks a home-brew recipe on its website.

More articles from Care2:
Healthy Recipes for Your Thanksgiving Leftovers
5 Healthy Fridge Tips for Holiday Leftovers
Quick Cranberry Multigrain Bread

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