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You know I love a meal on a board and this bagel bar platter is my latest fave for hosting anything from a casual game-day morning or a Sunday brunch. It’s easy, no cooking is required, perfect for a crowd, and lots of fun to eat. Be sure to try my snack board dinner, a cheese board, a Mediterranean charcuterie board, and a brunch board next time.

Bagel Platter Ideas

Go for variety on your breakfast board! I like to make sure that I’ve got the following components:

• Baked goods: variety of bagels (obviously!). Go for some plain, savory, and a few sweet so that you have different flavors.
• Fruits: variety that can be nibbled and don’t require silverware, like berries, apple slices, or clementines.
• Vegetables: cucumber slices, tomato slices, thinly sliced red onion, avocado slices. And anything else that sounds good!
• Protein: smoked salmon, lox, deli meats, hard-boiled eggs, Greek yogurt.
• Spreads: cream cheese (flavored and plain), and a vegan/dairy-free option like hummus or peanut butter.
• Fun: mini muffins, danishes, donut holes, whatever pastries look fun and tasty!
• Drinks: Try a latte, dirty chai, lavender latte, or espresso tonic.

Bagel Topping Ideas

You can’t go wrong with classic cream cheese or a herbed cream cheese, but I also like offering a variety of bagel toppings like lox (check out my lox and bagel spread that includes the classic lox toppings like capers, fresh dill, lemon, etc.), veggies, and some dairy-free options like hummus or peanut butter.

Don’t forget the everything bagel seasoning! (affiliate link)

How to Arrange a Bagel Bar Brunch Platter

The #1 tip for how to arrange a cheese platter is to CRAM THAT BRUNCH PLATTER FULL! Different colors, shapes, flavors, and textures. Click here to watch a video on how to arrange a cheese platter to get a good idea of how to arrange a cheese board or brunch platter.

1. Cream cheese. Start with bowls of cream cheese and or any bowls of berries, etc. Space them throughout the cheese platter.
2. Lox, deli meats, and vegetables. Next add the bagels and lox platter. Group the items that will likely go together next to each other, like I did here.
3. Bagels and baked goods. Spread out bagels and baked goods onto the platter, grouped around the cream cheese and lox platter.
4. Fresh components. Now we’re going to add the fruit and any other vegetables. You want people to be able to pick up one piece and eat it easily, so cut cucumbers into rounds on a bias; slice any pears or apples; and cut off the top of the clementine so that it’s easy for people to peel.
5. Take a look. Step back and look at your bagel bar. Does it feel and look balanced? With a good variety? GOOD! If not, add some extra fruit, cucumber slices or mini treats to the mix.

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