Bagel Brunch Board
Ready to host the most epic brunch? It all starts with this savory Bagel Board featuring cream cheese, smoked salmon and so many toppings!
This spread is perfect for small groups, but can also easily be scaled up for larger gatherings such as baby or bridal showers.
Bagel board ingredients
- Bagels: My assortment of bagels for this board included plain, asiago and everything bagels.
- Cream cheese: Since my board was all savory, I chose regular cream cheese and onion and chive.
- Protein: My favorite proteins are smoked salmon and lox and hard or soft-boiled eggs.
- Vegetables: I went with red onions, cucumbers, tomatoes and microgreens.
- Garnishes: These are the little touches that just take the bagel board to the next level. I used cornichons and a dish with everything bagel seasoning this time. More fun additions include capers, sun-dried tomatoes, sesame seeds and fresh herbs.
Portioning: I plan for 1.5 bagels per person to ensure there’s enough variety and quantity if guests want seconds.
Variations
While I went for a savory smoked salmon bagel board, the options are endless! Here are a few of my favorite ideas:
- Add something sweet. Blueberry cream cheese, fresh fruit and jam are all great options.
- Use mini bagels. This gives everyone a chance to try different flavor combinations.
- Add more savory proteins. Bacon and sausage also make excellent bagel sandwiches and you can even make eggs to order!
Step by step instructions
Step 1: Start with the largest items. This is usually the cream cheese and smoked salmon.
Step 2: Add the vegetables to the board.
Step 3: Arrange the garnishes on the board. I used cornichons and everything bagel seasoning.
Step 4: Add the bagels and use the halved eggs to fill in any gaps.
Make ahead and serving
You can prep the ingredients for this board ahead of time, but I recommend waiting to assemble until just an hour or two before serving. This ensures the veggies stay crisp and fresh.
I generally make the eggs and rinse and slice the veggies a day in advance to make serving easy.
For serving, I recommend pre-slicing the bagels and having a toaster nearby to warm up bagels as needed.
Expert tips
- Find the best bagels your city has to offer. Seriously, the quality of these bagels will determine how good your bagel board is. I always stop by my favorite cafe for bagels when making this board.
- Serve the bagels on the side. Unless you have a huge serving platter, I recommend arranging all of the toppings on a board and serving the bagels in a basket to the side. This also keeps the bagels from getting soggy.
- Have extra ingredients on hand. Keep extra pre-sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, et cetera in the fridge and replenish as needed.
FAQ
You can prep the separate ingredients ahead of time (wash and slice the veggies, etc.), but I don’t recommend assembling the board until 1-2 hours before serving.
I like to get an assortment, but let me tell you, the everything bagels ALWAYS disappear first. This time I used plain, asiago and everything bagels.
I recommend serving the bagels untoasted so guests can choose. Have a toaster or toaster oven ready to toast bagels as needed.
Freshly brewed coffee is a must for this bagel board! Having a few types of juice or even serving mimosas is also a great option.
Bagel Brunch Board Recipe
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 6
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Charcuterie
- Cuisine: Global
Ingredients
- 6–9 assorted bagels, sliced in half
- 3.5 ounces (100 grams) plain cream cheese
- 3.5 ounces (100 grams) flavored cream cheese
- 8 ounces (225 grams) smoked salmon
- 4–6 hard or soft-boiled eggs, cut in half
- 1–2 heritage tomatoes, sliced
- 2 mini cucumbers, sliced
- 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
- fresh dill or microgreens
- 1/3 cup cornichons
- 2 tablespoons everything bagel seasoning (optional)
Instructions
- Transfer the cream cheese to small bowls. Place on the board or serving platter.
- Arrange the smoked salmon on a piece of parchment paper and place on the board.
- Add the cut veggies (tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion and herbs or microgreens) to the board. Pay attention to color – you want pops of red and green throughout the board.
- Place the cornichons and everything bagel seasoning in small dishes. Place on the board.
- Use the halved eggs to fill in any gaps.
- Place the bagels in a basket or arrange them around the board.
Notes
Portioning: I generally plan for 1.5 bagel per guest to ensure enough variety and quantity.
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