[1] Fruit on bagels? Sure…and you can put it on raisin bagels for a double fruit hit.

[2] Bagel topping ideas from Arla, which makes delicious flavored cream cheeses including Herbs & Spices, Natural, Natural Light and Pineapple, with seasonal specialties (photos © Arla).

[3] This bagel “Caprese” also works as holiday colors. You can use cream cheese or the classic mozzarella, with a balsamic drizzle (photo © The Nibble).

[4] If your time is limited, you can buy flavored cream cheese. Otherwise…(photo © The Nibble)

Updated July 2026

If your idea of brunch includes bagels, it may also include pricey fish:

 
While we love all of these, they can run up quite a tab at the cash register.

So this article is about how to fill out a bagel buffet for less by leaving out the fish. You can call it a vegetarian bagel buffet.

And if you want to add smoked fish to the ideas below, go for it.

(In college, we could barely afford four ounces of smoked salmon, which amounted to one slice per guest. So added a batch of tuna salad, and it was gobbled up.)

Below:

> A cornucopia of cream cheese.

> Make flavored cream cheese: easy recipes.

> Other spreads for bagels.

> Beyond smoked fish: healthy “new” bagel toppings.

> The year’s 4 bagel holidays.

Elsewhere on The Nibble:

> The history of bagels.

> The year’s 4 bagel holidays.

> A different take: bagel chips and gravlax recipe, and the difference between smoked salmon and gravlax.

> Bagel panzanella salad recipe.

> Recipe: sweet and crunchy cream cheese.

> 3 cream cheese spread recipes: pesto, sundried tomato, and artichoke.

> More bagel recipes.

> Bagel vs. simit, the ur-bagel.

> The history of cream cheese.

> The history of bread.

> The different types of bread: a photo glossary.

> The year’s 20+ bread holidays.

> 30+ ways to use Everything Bagel seasoning.
 
 
1. START WITH A CREAM CHEESE BUFFET

Serve plain cream cheese, a savory option (herbs, jalapeño), plus a fruit flavor (blueberry, strawberry).

Of course, there’s no limit to the number of flavors you can have. Flavored cream cheese = yummy fun.

In addition to plain cream cheese, (regular, whipped, reduced fat, plant-based/dairy-free, and lactose-free) Philadelphia Cream Cheese, the world’s #1 brand, has outdone itself creating flavored cream cheese varieties.

Tasty as they are, it’s far less expensive to make your own, and it’s as easy as blending the chopped ingredients into softened cream cheese (recipe below).

As of July 2026 the Philadelphia lineup includes these 20+ varieties. We hope it will inspire you to make your own versions.

Sweet Cream Cheese Flavors

 
Savory Cream Cheese Flavors

For a beautiful dip (photo #5), you just need softened cream cheese, the flavor element (fruit, vegetable), and basic seasonings.
 
Ingredients

 
For strawberry cream cheese, switch the seasonings:

 
Preparation

1. BEAT the soft cream with hand mixer, stand mixer, or fork for 1 to 2 minutes until smooth and creamy. Stir in the other ingredients.

2. MIX on low speed just until well combined. Place in a sealed container and let it rest in the fridge for 30 to 60 minutes for the flavors to meld. It will keep for up to 1 week.
 
 

[6] Top row: guacamole, hummus, spinach dip. Bottom row: taramasalata, whipped goat cheese (photo © The Nibble).
 
 
3. BEYOND CREAM CHEESE OTHER SPREADS FOR BAGELS

It doesn’t have to be cream cheese. Consider other spreads:

 
This post has made us so hungry, that we’re off to create our own bagel.

Maybe jalapeño cream cheese topped with red bell pepper and pineapple.
 
 

[7] Garnishes: cucumbers, radishes, walnuts, raisins, red onion, olives, basil, jalapeno (photo © The Nibble).
 
4. THE NEW BAGEL TOPPINGS

In addition to the classics—sliced red onions and tomatoes—add:

 
Head to the market to see what looks good. Buy a variety of bright colors, both sweet (fruit) and savory (veggies).
 
 
5. MORE BAGEL HOLIDAYS

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