How to Build a Bagel Board [Easy Customizable Brunch Recipe]

This bagel board recipe is a beautiful brunch or breakfast charcuterie with a variety of bagels, toppings, and sides. It has the best of both worlds…sweet and savory!

Bagel boards are a fun idea for a weekend or Mother’s Day brunch, breakfast on Christmas or Easter morning, or a spread for a baby or bridal shower.

They’re perfect for feeding a crowd of people with different tastes and preferences. Below you’ll find lots of customization ideas for bagels, spreads, proteins, veggies, fruits, snacks, and drink pairings to complete your brunch spread. 🥯🥓🥑🥚🍓🍹

this recipe

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How to Build a Bagel Board – Tips for Designing the Perfect Brunch Charcuterie!

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What bagels should I use for the bagel board?

Create a stunning bagel board by offering a mix of classics like plain and everything, alongside unique options like cinnamon raisin and jalapeno cheddar.

I linked some bagel recipes below to add a homemade touch to your bagel board! I promise they’re a lot easier to make than you might think. 🥯

To keep it even easier, you can buy bagels from the grocery store or bakery! Choose two to four (or more) options for variety.

Savory Bagel Ideas:

• Classic bagels like plain, sesame, poppyseed, everything, or onion.
  
  
• Unique bagel flavors:
  
  
  • Jalapeno Cheddar
    
    
  • Garlic Parmesan
    
    
  • Rosemary Olive Oil

I love this homemade sourdough bagels recipe—it‘s the one I made for the bagel board! I’ve also tried this recipe and loved the bagels.

Sweet Bagel Ideas:

• Cinnamon Roll
  
  
• Blueberry
  
  
• Cinnamon Raisin

What toppings should I include?

Toppings and snacks should be both sweet and savory if you want to create a balanced bagel board. Include a variety of spreads like cream cheese and nut butter, fresh fruits, vegetables, and proteins.

Here are some specific ideas and cooking tips:

Savory Options

• Spreads: Plain and flavored cream cheeses (chive, vegetable, lox), butter, and hummus.
  
  
• Proteins: Smoked salmon (lox, cold-smoked, or nova), crispy bacon, boiled eggs, deli turkey or ham, sliced cheese (Colby jack, smoked gouda, cheddar), fresh mozzarella, and cottage cheese.
  
  
• Veggies: Sliced cucumber, tomatoes, red onions, avocados, guacamole, fresh arugula or spinach, and radishes.

🥓 Bacon Cooking Tip: my favorite, hands-off way to cook bacon is in the air fryer! It comes out so crispy. This Cosori air fryer that I have (and love) has shelves so it’s easy to cook ten to twelve pieces at a time without even having to flip it. Cook the bacon at four hundred degrees Fahrenheit (two hundred four degrees Celsius) for about twelve to fourteen minutes.

🥚 Egg Cooking Tip: Make hard or soft-boiled eggs faster in the Instant Pot! You can see how in this video I made on Instagram. The instructions are in the caption.

Sweet Options

• Spreads: Strawberry or another fruit-flavored cream cheese, Nutella, honey, peanut butter, almond butter, or fruit preserves.
  
  
• Fresh Fruits: Sliced strawberries, bananas, blueberries, oranges, blackberries, kiwi, grapes, etc.
  
  
• Extras: Granola, dried fruits (dates, figs, cranberries, apricots), chocolate cocoa almonds, or cinnamon sugar.

🫐 Berry Cottage Cheese Idea: Blend cottage cheese with berries and a dash of maple syrup. Alternatively, leave the cottage cheese chunky and stir in fresh berry puree for a sweet high-protein bagel spread.

Use ramekins or small bowls for spreads and toppings like capers, jam, or nuts to keep the board organized and to prevent the ingredients from touching or spreading!

Things like fresh herbs (dill, chives), arugula, and edible flowers add contrasts of color and can be placed in open spaces so the board feels full and complete.

How many bagels and toppings do I need?

For each guest, I would plan to have one to one-and-a-half regular-sized bagels. Offer at least three to five topping options per flavor profile (sweet and savory).

Here is an example of a group of 8 people:

• Bagels: 10–12 (include 2–3 flavors).
  
  
• Spreads: 3–4 varieties.
  
  
• Proteins, Fruits, and Veggies: Enough for everyone to have 2–3 pieces of each option.
  
  
• Extras like Granola and Nuts: About 1/4 cup of each per person

Remember, bagels freeze easily so it’s better to have more and freeze the leftovers, rather than not having enough. Leftover spreads and toppings can be used for sandwiches or snacks!

Can I make a bagel board ahead of time?

Yes, you can make a bagel board ahead of time! Here are some tips for doing so:

• Slice bagels up to a day in advance and store them in airtight containers or resealable bags.
  
  
• Prep toppings like sliced veggies or smoked salmon the night before, storing them in the fridge in separate containers.
  
  
• Assemble the board just before serving. If necessary, arrange everything but the delicate items (like herbs or fruit slices) an hour ahead.

Keep spreads chilled and add ice packs under the board if it will be sitting out for a long time!

What drinks pair well with a bagel board?

Setting up a drink station next to the bagel board is a great idea to complete your brunch spread. Many non-alcoholic and alcoholic options pair well with a bagel board.

I have an entire category of healthy drink recipes on Heavenly Spiced. Here are some of my favorites:

• Pineapple Coconut Lemon Ginger Juice Shots
  
  
• Chaga Mushroom Iced Coffee
  
  
• 2-Ingredient Protein Hot Chocolate

Here are some more ideas:

• Alcoholic Drinks: Mimosas, Bloody Marys, Bourbon Smash, or Sparkling Rosé.
  
  
• Non-alcoholic Drinks: Coffee, herbal tea, fresh orange juice, sparkling water with fruit slices, or sparkling juice.

Can I make the bagel board gluten-free or vegan-friendly?

Yes! With some substitutions, a bagel charcuterie board can accommodate gluten-free and vegan diets. Here’s some way to do so:

• Gluten-free: Offer gluten-free bagels or sandwich thins.
  
  
• Vegan: Use plant-based cream cheese, hummus, and dairy-free spreads. Load up on fresh veggies, fruits, and nuts for extra variety!

Label gluten-free or vegan items clearly to avoid cross-contamination.

And that is how you make the perfect bagel board with all the goods! I hope you and your guests, family, and friends enjoy this fun brunch recipe for your next gathering. 🥯🙌🏽😋

Please continue reading below for more brunch recipes, charcuterie board and utensil recommendations, and more!

I’d love to hear about your experience with this recipe. Please leave a question or comment below, get in touch via email, and follow me on social media which I have linked below.

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