Crouton

Crouton is a small, crisp cube of toasted or twice-baked bread. Golden edges shatter with a light crunch; neutral wheaty flavor readily carries oil, garlic, herbs, or cheese. Commonly sprinkled over soups and salads or folded into stuffings; sold plain or seasoned in assorted cube sizes.

The term comes from French cuisine, where cooks used stale bread by toasting it into flavorful garnishes, and the practice spread widely through European and North American kitchens. Modern production cubes bread, seasons it, then bakes or fries to dehydrate for shelf-stable packaging.