8 Mind-Blowingly Delicious Ways to Top a Bagel That Go Beyond Cream Cheese (2024)

Listen up: bagels are everything. (See what I did there?) Besides being a quick-and-easy breakfast, they're portable and convenient for an on-the-go meal anytime of day. If you're like most people, you probably have 1 or 2 mainstay ways you typically enjoy them/ And that's totally valid--it's tough not to be a bagel purist. Many believe that if you're working with a fresh, high-quality bagel to begin with, you don't need anything more than a hit of plain cream cheese and that anything beyond that compromises the integrity of the bagel. I understand that school of thought, but I'm about to challenge it. I've recently gone beyond the usual schmear to vary up my own bagel routine and have found massive enjoyment by breaking the established "rules" for bagel construction. Loaded up with any of these inventive topping ideas, bagels can be a filling, exciting, and even nutrient-loaded meal that will leave you satisfied for hours. So next time you find yourself in a plain-cream-cheese-only rut wondering if maybe, just maybe, there could be something more...remind yourself of these 8 ultimate bagel toppers. These flavor combos are game changers in my book.

1. Strawberries + chocolate-hazelnut spread + chopped hazelnuts

8. And if you still can't get enough bagel action, try your hand at the trend everyone's talking about with these show-stopping Rainbow Bagels from our friends at Spoon University.