There are few things better than waking up to a nice toasted bagel with a schmear, and since today is National Bagel Day, celebrate this carb-filled day the right way with some unique and unusual cream cheese and spread recipes that you can make in your very own home!
While the typical plain cream cheese is always a classic, there's so much more you can do to upgrade what you spread on your bagel, and we've found some of the most interesting recipes that will help you eat different kinds of bagels all day long.
Cheddar Ranch Cheese Spread
All it takes is some plain cream cheese, sour cream, a packet of ranch seasoning mix and some shredded cheddar cheese, and you have the most addicting cheese spread you've ever tasted. Click here for recipe.
Garlic and Herb "Cream Cheese"
This recipe is extra special because it's vegan! Take some garlic, salt and pepper, Trader Joe's already-made vegan cream cheese, lemon juice, chives and thyme leaves, and you've got the perfect non-cheese cream cheese to spread on your bagel Click here for recipe.
Chocolate-Peanut Spread
Not all spreads have to be made from cheese, or even be savory for that matter. This chocolaty-peanut spread tastes just like a Reese's and goes great on either a plain bagel or a sweet bagel like cinnamon raisin. Click here for recipe.
Lemon Dill Schmear
This popular combination tastes incredible when mixed with cream cheese and heavy whipping cream and goes perfectly with a poppy seed bagel. Click here for recipe.
Raspberry Cinnabon Cream Cheese
This recipe was created specifically for Valentine's Day, which is perfect given National Bagel Day's February date, but it's so good it will have you wanting it all year round. All you need is some cream cheese, Cinnabon creamer and raspberry jam. Click here for recipe.
Jalapeno Popper Spread
This is one of those spicy cheesy spreads that you'll want to put on everything. It could be paired with a lot and is best served with slices of bread, tortilla chips, crackers and, of course, on top of a nice, warm bagel. Click here for recipe.
Bacon Green Onion Spread
If you haven't tried it already, we suggest you do because bacon and cream cheese go great together, especially on a bagel. Click here for recipe.
Veggie and Herb Cream Cheese
This isn't too unusual, as veggie cream cheese is a classic in nearly every bagel shop and deli, but the added jalapenos and lemon juice give this a little extra kick that make it stand out from the rest. Click here for recipe.
Spinach-Walnut Pesto Cream Cheese
Pesto isn't typically something you see on a bagel, but after you try this, you're going to want it every single time. This recipe includes spinach, walnuts, garlic, Parmesan cheese and olive oil for the most delicious Italian-inspired spread. Click here for recipe.
Cannoli Cheeseball
This cannoli cheeseball would be the perfect thing to put out at any breakfast or office party because this spread tastes shockingly good on a bagel. The mixture of cream cheese, ricotta, powdered sugar, cinnamon and chocolate chips is creamy, tasty and goes great with pretty much any bread. Click here for recipe.
If you bought too many bagels for National Bagel Day and they're starting to go stale, as bagels sadly do, there are some creative things you can do with the leftovers, according to The Kitchn. You could toast the bagels and make sandwiches for lunch out of them, or make pizza bagels in the broiler or toaster oven until the cheese is bubbly. And if they're super stale, you could tear them up for yummy croutons on a salad.
You could also make bagel chips out of the leftover bagels, which would go great with any of the above spreads and cream cheeses.
