Thanksgiving is a day of gratitude, as well as gastronomic glee. Loved ones gather around the table to share pleasantries, hefty portions of their favorite dishes (like our easy vegan Thanksgiving recipes) and often their Black Friday shopping agendas! But after a day of cooking and eating, the last thing anyone is thinking about is an on-the-go option to fuel up for early morning department store adventures. Don’t worry – Vevan’s got you covered! Check out our takes on a classic bagel with cream cheese, starring our line of plant-based UnCreamCheese.
Why Do People Love a Bagel with Cream Cheese?
While invented hundreds of years apart, the bagel with cream cheese combo became popular in New York in the last 1920s. For the “city that never sleeps,” it was a perfectly filling on-the-go choice. Going against the adage “Good, fast, cheap – pick two,” this was a tasty, affordable option that could be prepared in seconds for hungry, busy city dwellers. Today, people continue to choose this portable and convenient breakfast that can be effortlessly assembled at home too, like on early Black Friday mornings!
Four Ways to Enjoy a Bagel with Cream Cheese
Almost everyone has their favorite bagel! And while there is a science to those New York bagels we noted earlier, not all bagels are vegan-friendly. It’s important to check labels for sneaky animal-based ingredients like honey, eggs, milk, and sugar. So before you go grabbing just any bagel for your Black Friday fix, check out this list of vegan-friendly bagel options.
When it comes to the cream cheese topping (we pass on the butter board trend), Vevan’s smooth, creamy, can’t-believe-it’s-plant-based UnCreamCheese spread is dairy-free, gluten-free, non-GMO, soy-free and vegan. Available in four delectable flavors, pick your favorite for a classic, savory or sweet bagel with cream cheese experience!
Looking to level this up a little? Check out these four tips for elevating your typical bagel breakfast:
- Avocado Everything – for a hearty and heart-healthy breakfast, prepare a plain bagel with our Plain UnCreamCheese, then top with smashed avocado and a few dashes of Everything Bagel Seasoning. To get that avocado toast vibe, be sure to toast your bagel first and enjoy open-faced.
- Garlic Lox – yet another NYC origin, bagel and lox gets even tastier when Vevafied! Grab a bagel, top with our Garlic & Herb UnCreamCheese, a few slices of vegan lox, and if you’re feeling fancy, top with thinly sliced red onion, capers, and fresh dill for a super savory treat.
- Very Berry – keep things sweet and light when you top your bagel with a generous schmear of Strawberries & Cream UnCreamCheese and fresh berries. We suggest blueberries, raspberries, and more strawberries for an antioxidant-filled morning.
- Pump(kin)ed Up – looking to use up some leftover pumpkin puree from Thanksgiving? Try whipping a tablespoon or two in with a serving of our Caramelized Peach & Maple UnCreamCheese, spread onto bagel, and dust with cinnamon for a breakfasty twist on pumpkin pie!
How Many Calories are in a Bagel with Cream Cheese?
Lots of people wake up on Black Friday still feeling stuffed from the day before. As they grab their quick pre-shopping bagel fix, they may be wondering about the caloric intake of a bagel with cream cheese, possibly Googling “bagel with cream cheese calories.” On average, a bagel with two tablespoons of cream cheese is approximately 360 calories.
Comparable to dairy cream cheese, Vevan UnCreamCheese flavors are 90 calories each per serving, which is two tablespoons. If you’re exploring one of our tasty recipe ideas above, you’re adding more, although most are healthy additions.
However, after Thursday’s feast, which on average is 3,000-4,500 calories per person, does it even matter?
From Grab-and-Go Bagels to Vegan Brunch
You set your alarm to wake up and shop on Black Friday but overslept, #foodhangover. If you decide to skip the in-person experience and opt for Cyber Monday perusing, consider turning your on-the-go breakfast into a vegan brunch with family and friends still in town for the holiday.
If you’re still craving bagels, consider whipping up this Green Goddess Garlic & Herb Veggie Sandwich, swapping the bread with a bagel.
Sweet potatoes are a delectable vegan brunch side, and maybe you can just re-heat this dish as a Thanksgiving leftover.
More pumpkin? Don’t mind if we fon-due! Check out our Party-Perfect Pumpkin Fondue recipe, and be sure to repurpose your bagels as one of your dippers.
Of course, no judgment if you still want to make your bagel with cream cheese for a lazy late morning meal. With Vevan UnCreamCheese, you can always enjoy the rich, delicious taste and smooth and velvety texture you’ve come to love and expect from cream cheese, now in a 100% awesome, 0% dairy alternative. And for that, we can all be thankful!
