If you're looking for an easy, adorable, kid-approved Christmas recipe that doubles as a creative food activity, these Christmas Character Bagels are perfect for that. They're so easy to customise and they come together in minutes, making them ideal for busy festive mornings or after-school snacks.
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No cooking required, you just need to assemble the Christmas bagels. Such good fun for kids (and adults) to decorate and a great way to get a few fruits and vegetables in at Christmas time. They would be perfect for a Christmas Eve breakfast I think.
Bagels in the theme of reindeer, Santa, snowmen and wreaths. These look far more impressive than they actually are, as they are so easy to put together.
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Ingredients and Substitutions
A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Bagels - We used wholewheat bagels, but you could use a protein bagel for extra protein or even a cinnamon raisin bagel for the sweet Christmas characters.
- Cream cheese - For the snowman and Santa's beard. We used plain, as the other flavours are sweet and something like a garlic and herb cream cheese wouldn't work.
- Fruit - Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and apple to make the facial features and hats.
- Mini marshmallow - Just one! This is for the top of the Santa hat.
- Bell pepper - For the wreath bagel decorations and to also make the bow.
- Avocado - To give the green of the wreath. You could use pesto if you prefer.
- Carrot - For the snowman nose.
- Peanut Butter - To match the colour of a reindeer. Any nut butter will work.
- Pretzels - For the reindeer antlers.
- Edible eyes - These really bring the festive characters to life. Buy them here.
Variations
Nut-free reindeer: Swap peanut butter for sunflower seed butter, Biscoff spread, or chocolate hummus.
Dairy-free snowman & Santa: Use a vegan cream cheese.
Gluten-free: Use gluten-free bagels.
Healthy twist: Add chia or hemp seeds on the wreath for extra nutrients and they will also look a bit like Christmas lights. Use wholemeal or high-protein bagels. You could add some chopped spinach into the avocado on the wreath bagel too.
How To Make Christmas Bagels
Prep: Slice the bagels in half.
Reindeer Bagel:
- Spread the bagel half with peanut butter.
- Add two pretzels for antlers, two edible eyes and a raspberry nose.
Santa Bagel:
- Spread the bagel half with cream cheese.
- Use strawberries for the hat with the mini marshmallow. Add edible eyes and a raspberry nose.
Snowman Bagel:
- Spread the bagel half with cream cheese.
- Cut a hat shape from the apple and a thin strip of carrot for the nose.
- Add blueberries for the eyes and smile.
Wreath Bagel:
- Spread the bagel half with mashed avocado.
- Add finely diced pieces of bell pepper and make a bow from a piece of red pepper.
Christmas Bagels Storage & Make-Ahead Tips
These Christmas bagels are best served immediately for everything to be fresh, crisp and not soggy. You can prepare some of the fruit in advance and store it in airtight containers under ready to assemble.
Store decorated bagels in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 12 hours, but note: avocado and fresh fruit will soften.
For lunchboxes: Keep components separate and let kids assemble their own before eating. Add a lemon spritz on apples to prevent browning.
Dannii's Top Tips
- If you are making these Christmas bagels with kids, then have everything ready in little bowls, and fruit cut and ready to make assembly easy and stress-free.
- Have a photo printed out for kids to follow as well, this works well for younger kids that might not be able to come up with their own ideas.
- You can make mini versions of this with mini bagels.
- Nutritional information given here is an average. Each bagel will vary differently, depending on which one you make.
More Bagel Recipes
If you've tried these Christmas bagels, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.
Recipe
Christmas Bagels
Ingredients
- 3 Wholewheat bagels
Reindeer bagels (makes 2)
- 60 g (0.25 cup) Peanut butter
- 4 Mini pretzels
- 4 Edible eyes - for the reindeer
- 2 Raspberries - for the reindeer
Snowman bagels (makes 2)
- 40 g (2.5 tablespoon) Light cream cheese - for the snowmen
- 0.5 Apple - small
- 5 g (0.25 oz) Carrot
- 10 Blueberries
Santa bagel (makes 1)
- 20 g (1.5 tablespoon) Light cream cheese - for Santa
- 100 g (0.75 cup) Strawberries - halved
- 1 Mini marshmallow
- 1 Raspberry - for Santa
- 2 Edible eyes - for Santa
Christmas wreath bagel (makes 1)
- 50 g (0.33 cup) Avocado - mashed
- 15 g (0.5 oz) Green bell pepper
- 15 g (0.5 oz) Red bell pepper - for the wreath decorations
- 15 g (0.5 oz) Red bell pepper - for the wreath bow
Instructions
- Slice 3 Wholewheat bagels in half.
Reindeer bagels (makes 2)
- Spread the bagel halves with 60 g Peanut butter.
- Add 4 Mini pretzels for antlers (2 per reindeer), 4 Edible eyes (2 per reindeer) and 2 Raspberries for the noses.
Snowman bagels (makes 2)
- Spread the bagel halves with 40 g Light cream cheese.
- Cut hat shapes from 0.5 Apple and thin strips of 5 g Carrot for the noses.
- Add 10 Blueberries for the eyes and smile.
Santa bagel (makes 1)
- Spread the bagel half with 20 g Light cream cheese.
- Use 100 g Strawberries for the hat with 1 Mini marshmallow for the bobble.
- Add 2 Edible eyes and 1 Raspberry for the nose.
Christmas wreath bagel (makes 1)
- Spread the bagel half with 50 g Avocado.
- Add finely diced pieces of 15 g Green bell pepper and 15 g Red bell pepper and make a bow from 15 g Red bell pepper.
Recipe Tips
- If you are making these Christmas bagels with kids, then have everything ready in little bowls, and fruit cut and ready to make assembly easy and stress-free.
- Have a photo printed out for kids to follow as well, this works well for younger kids that might not be able to come up with their own ideas.
- You can make mini versions of this with mini bagels.
- Nutritional information given here is an average. Each bagel will vary differently, depending on which one you make.
Nutritional Information
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The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.
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