This is the fastest and most reliable method. Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C). Cut your bread into 1-inch cubes. Think of it as bread dice for a tasty game.
Spread the cubes on a baking sheet in a single layer. Don’t crowd them—no one likes a traffic jam. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, tossing them halfway. What you want is dry on the outside, slightly chewy inside. Not toast, not crackers. Just… stale-ish.
Let them cool completely before you use them. Hot cubes will turn your stuffing into a weird steamed mess. Patience, grasshopper. You’re almost there.
Pro tip: The “Oops, I burned them” rescue
If you get distracted and your cubes turn golden brown, that’s actually fine. Don’t panic. Darker cubes add a toasty flavor to stuffing. Just don’t go full charcoal. That’s not “stale,” that’s a crime scene. Use them anyway, but apologize to your stuffing later.
