These sweet and savoury toasted bread leaves make the perfect snack for autumn. Actually, these toasted leaves are pretty perfect for any time of year and they are a zero waste recipe too!
These toasted leaves are the simplest of things to make just using a few slices of bread that may be just about on it’s way out.
They are so versatile and can be served either savoury or sweet. What a great way to use up extra bread and make a super easy tasty snack.
Kids just love these. You can get them to make them for you too. Nothing like a bit of kitchen crafting!
Love autumn
Autumn leaves, fallen leaves, gold and red and fabulous. The clocks have gone back and the whiff of winter in the air. Mother Nature is delving into her wardrobe and changing her outfit as befits the weather.
I love Autumn and the leaves. I bring them into the house and let them dry out and curl, their colours still radiant. They are strong and yet pliable, even when all seems lost they still hold beauty.
I wanted to embrace my love of leaves and make them part of my Larder Love. Something fun and tasty and something a wee bit special to celebrate the season.
Simple snacks for Autumn
So here I give you my Toasted Leaves. A simple recipe for making a snackeroo that will brighten up your Halloween party or just make you smile when you serve them in front of the fire with a bowl of dip and a good movie on the TV.
Ingredients for toasted bread leaves
This really is simplicity itself. All you need is a loaf of bread. Thin sliced is best and I used two loaves so I could have one brown and the other white.
You can even make your toasted leaves from bread that is a couple of days old and maybe not at it’s best. This is a great way to use up bread and waste nothing!
Here’s another great recipe for making bread go further;
Make your own homemade crispbreads
How to make toasted leaves
Cut the crusts off the bread and roll out each slice with your rolling pin (or a wine bottle if you don’t have a rolling pin to hand!) until the bread is only about 1-2mm thick. It will really pack down and become quite dense.
Using leaf shaped cookie cutters press out the different leaf shapes. I got one leaf per slice with my life sized cutters.
Pro tip
Remember to whizz up the left over bread to make breadcrumbs and store in the freezer for another use.
Sweet or savoury
Now I made two different flavours for my toasted leaves. I did half sweet and half of them sweet and half savoury.
Sweet leaves
For the sweet leaves I melted a little butter and brushed this on one side of the bread leaves. Then I sprinkled them with a mixture of cinnamon and the Citrus Sugar we made recently.
Savoury leaves
For the savoury leaves I brushed one side with olive oil and sprinkled on some of my Hot Salt that we made a few weeks ago (told you all these goodies would be useful in the larder!).
You could also just use plain salt flakes and either some black pepper or some chilli flakes or ground garlic, the choice is yours.
Place your leaves on your grill tray and pop them under a hot grill oven for only about 3 minutes.
Keep checking these guys as you want them to toast and not burn. Turn them over for a quick blast on the other side for only about 1 minute.
Remove from grill and allow to cool on a wire rack.
How to serve toasted bread leaves
Serve your toasted leaves with the dips you like best. I’ve served mine here with my Hot Tomato Jam for the savoury leaves and my Scotch Hedgerow Jelly for the sweet leaves.
Try creamy dips, salsa, anything you like.
Add a pile of toasted leaves to a cheeseboard for a fabulous fall presentation.
These toasted leaves are a great topper for cozy winter soups too. Or just have a few toasted leaves at the side of your plate and dip them into your soup.
These are seriously moreish and will knock crisps and chips into a cocked hat!
How long will these toasted leaves keep?
Your toastie leaves will keep for up to 2 weeks in an airtight jar. You can’t freeze them. But they are so quick and easy to make you really don’t have to.
Looking for more fun fall bakes? Then check these out before you go;
Traditional Scottish treacle scones
Finally, if you do try this recipe don’t forget to leave a comment/star rating below as I just love to hear from readers. Want more Larder Love? Then follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter and sign up for my newsletter too of course.
PS check out my 20 favourite fall recipes. Everything from hug-in-a-mug soups to preserves, pumpkins, cozy main meals and lots more.
Sweet and savoury toasted bread leaves
Ingredients
- 400 g white bread a small loaf
- 400 g brown bread a small loaf
- 1 tbsp butter melted
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt and pepper
Instructions
- Cut the crusts off the bread
- Roll each slice as thin as possible, about 1-2mm
- Using leaf shaped cookie cutters cut a leaf shape from each slice.
- Reserve all bread cuttings and crusts to make breadcrumbs for another use.
- Melt the butter and brush on one side of half the leaves and sprinkle with the sugar and cinnamon.
- Brush the other half of the leaves with olive oil and sprinkle on the flavoured salt.
- Place all leaves on a grill pan and grill under high heat till browned, turn and give a quick toast to other side.
- Cool on a wire rack.
- Serve with dips of your choice.
Dang clever of you! I love this idea and might have to steal it…I’m home from seeing the fam, sick as sick can be, and the idea of eating toasty leaves sounds like the cure I need! xo, Nan
Sorry you’re not well Nan. Toastie leaves would be perfect in a healing bowl of tasty soup.
K x
Such a FUN idea. Love it!