Bagel with Cream Cheese (Printable version)

Warm toasted bagel topped with smooth cream cheese and your favorite garnishes.

# What You Need:

→ Base

01 - 1 bagel, any variety (plain, sesame, whole wheat, etc.)

→ Cream Cheese

02 - 2–3 tbsp cream cheese (plain or flavored, such as chive, veggie, or smoked salmon)

→ Optional Toppings

03 - Sliced cucumber
04 - Sliced tomato
05 - Smoked salmon
06 - Fresh dill
07 - Capers
08 - Red onion slices

# Directions:

01 - Using a serrated knife, slice the bagel in half horizontally.
02 - Toast both halves in a toaster or under a broiler until golden and crisp, approximately 2–3 minutes.
03 - Spread a generous layer of cream cheese on each warm bagel half while still warm.
04 - Arrange desired toppings such as sliced cucumber, tomato, smoked salmon, fresh dill, capers, or red onion slices.
05 - Serve immediately while the bagel remains warm.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Its breakfast in under ten minutes but feels like something you ordered from a deli
  • The combination of warm, chewy bagel and cool, creamy cheese hits every texture craving
  • You can customize it endlessly based on whats in your fridge
02 -
  • Over toasted bagels become too hard and will fight back against your knife
  • Room temperature cream cheese spreads smoothly without ripping the surface
  • Pressing gentle indentations into the cheese before adding toppings keeps them from sliding off
03 -
  • Buy extra bagels and freeze them in individual bags for busy mornings
  • Invest in a good serrated knife specifically for bread, it makes clean cuts effortless
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