How to Make the Perfect Veggie Cream Cheese Bagel Faces
American · Easy · 10 min · 4 servings
These playful bagel faces are spread with cream cheese and decorated with vegetables to create fun edible characters that kids love to assemble and eat. They encourage picky eaters to try new vegetables by making lunchtime feel like an art project.
Why this recipe works
This Veggie Cream Cheese Bagel Faces recipe has been crafted to deliver restaurant-quality results in your home kitchen. At just 10 minutes from start to finish, it fits perfectly into a busy schedule without sacrificing flavor. Each serving comes in at 270 calories with 10g of protein, making it a balanced choice for any meal.
What you will need
This recipe uses 6 simple ingredients that you can find at any grocery store:
- 4 whole plain bagels sliced in half
- 8 tablespoons cream cheese softened
- 1 medium cucumber sliced into rounds
- 0.5 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 0.5 cup shredded carrots
- 8 whole black olives
Step by step instructions
Step 1: Spread the Cream Cheese
Spread one tablespoon of softened cream cheese evenly over each bagel half, covering the entire cut surface all the way to the edges so the vegetables have something to stick to.
Step 2: Create the Eyes
Place two black olive halves near the top of each cream cheese-covered bagel half to create the eyes of the face, pressing them gently into the cream cheese so they stay in place.
Step 3: Add Nose and Cheeks
Place one cherry tomato half in the center of the bagel to create the nose, then add two small cucumber rounds on either side of the nose to make the cheeks of the face.
Step 4: Make the Smile and Serve
Use a small pinch of shredded carrots to create a smiling mouth near the bottom of each bagel face, then present the plates to the kids and encourage them to add their own creative touches before eating.
Easy substitutions
Missing an ingredient? Here are some swaps that work perfectly:
- cream cheese → hummus for a dairy-free spread option
- black olives → blueberries or raisins for the eyes
Common mistakes to avoid
Watch out for these pitfalls that can affect your results:
- Using cold cream cheese straight from the refrigerator which is too stiff to spread smoothly without tearing the bagel
- Making the vegetable pieces too large which makes the face decorations fall off when kids pick up the bagel
Nutrition facts
Per serving: 270 calories, 10g protein, 32g carbs, 11g fat, 3g fiber.
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