Everything Bagel Spread

Everything Bagels are my favorite bagel. I love the way the cream cheese melts into the toasted bagel with all those wonderful seeds and spices. I decided to replicate the flavor of those spices into a cream cheese spread to use on both toasted bagels and fresh chopped vegetables.

It’s easy to make your own Everything (or any flavor) Bagel. Here is a recipe I use from the Weight Watchers recipe site.

https://cookwithcindy.com/2022/01/28/finagle-the-bagel/

Click on the link above if you’d like that recipe. Once you make them a couple of times you will not even need to look at the recipe. With only 2 ingredients they are very easy to put together. Plus they have fewer calories and more protein than regular store-bought bagels and they taste even better as they are freshly baked.

To make the spread start by softening cream cheeses and creme fraiche. Creme fraiche is a rich, thick cultured dairy product made from heavy cream soured with bacterial cultures. In French creme fraiche means fresh cream. It has a high fat content, very smooth texture and a little nutty tang, but much less tangy than regular sour cream.

I like to use this brand from Vermont Creamery. They have a very interesting history and if you’d like to learn more about them, click on the link below.

https://www.vermontcreamery.com/pages/about-our-story

You can also use sour cream or Greek-style yogurt, but the texture and flavor will be slightly different. The fat-content and how they are made differ altering both taste and texture. Creme fraiche is made from heavy cream with a 30 to 45% butterfat content. Sour cream is made from light cream with a 18 to 20% butterfat content. Greek style yogurt fat content varies as it is made from fat-free to whole milk, but it is tangier and denser than the other 2 choices. If you can find creme fraiche in your local market that is the best choice.

I used 2 kinds of cream cheese; traditional Philadelphia brand (8 oz.) and Tillamook (4 oz.); another company with a fascinating history.

https://www.tillamook.com/our-story

Click on the link above if you’d like to learn more.

Once the cheeses are softened add all 3 to a bowl and with a hand-held mixer cream them together until they become light and fluffy.

Next stir in spices: 3 Tbsp. Everything Bagel seasoning (more for garnish); 1/2 tsp. Smoked paprika; 1 tsp. each white and black sesame seeds (more for garnish); 1/4 tsp. each garlic and onion powder; and a few grinds of black pepper. Taste for salt and add if needed.

Whip a couple more minutes. Taste again for seasoning. Remove to a serving bowl and garnish with more black and white sesame seeds and a healthy sprinkling of Everything Bagel spice. That’s it!

Make it a day in advance of serving and the flavors deepen.

It’s good served with toasted bagel pieces and also great with fresh veg. Roughly chop a bagel and lightly toast. The pieces do not have to be even. In fact, it’s better if they are not. Looks more rustic. The veg add a bright spot of color as it’s not easy making brown food look pretty.

Not every recipe has to be super-complicated or involved. I do like to fuss with food, but sometimes it’s fun to pull something together in minutes!

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Everything Bagel Spread

Light, creamy, tangy spread that tastes just like an Everything Bagel.

Ingredients

• 1 8 oz. Package Philadelphia cream cheese, full fat
• 1/2 8 oz. Package Tillamook cream cheese; 4 oz.
• 1/3 cup Creme fraiche, or sour cream or Greek-style yogurt
• 3 Tbsp. Everything Bagel seasoning
• 1/2 tsp. Smoked paprika
• 1 tsp. Sesame seeds, white
• 1 tsp. Sesame seeds, black
• 1/4 tsp. Onion powder
• 1/4 tsp. Garlic powder
• A few grinds of black pepper

Instructions

• Bring cheese to room temperature. Using a hand mixture blend until very light and fluffy.
• Add all seasonings and beat again for a couple of minutes to fully incorporate.
• Remove to a serving bowl and garnish with more white and black sesame seeds and a generous sprinkling of Everything Bagel seasoning. Serve with toasted bagel pieces and fresh vegetables.