# Bagels: Sweet or savory? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 5, 2011, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagels-sweet-or-savory/605193 "2011-12-05T22:50:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Maiira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Maiira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maiira)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagels-sweet-or-savory/605193/21 "2011-12-06T04:44:07Z")
Savory. I like making tuna sandwiches with them! Smoked salmon is nice, too. I also prefer my cream cheese savory, too. Not a fan of the sweet flavors. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagels-sweet-or-savory/605193/22 "2011-12-06T04:53:39Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Sweet bagels??? The end times must have arrived. > > If you want sweet, get a donut! That’s what they’re for. Yes. \*So Random \*totally answered the question. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagels-sweet-or-savory/605193/23 "2011-12-06T05:01:27Z")
Sweet bagels strike me as bizarre. I much prefer the classic plain with a smear of butter or a bit of cream cheese and lox. Ideally it should slightly hot indicating it was baked very recently. ---
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagels-sweet-or-savory/605193/24 "2011-12-06T05:21:53Z")
I suspect this isn’t _kosher_ _wink_ But I’ve fallen in love with a pretzel bagel, toasted, with lox, cream cheese, capers, onions and tomatoes. I know that’s basically a lox bagel, except for the pretzel part. But the pretzel part totally makes it! ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagels-sweet-or-savory/605193/25 "2011-12-06T05:24:18Z")
Call my sacrilegious, blah blah, whatever, but I like a savouryish bagel (onion, everything) well toasted with butter and honey or jam. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagels-sweet-or-savory/605193/26 "2011-12-06T06:48:58Z")
I like sourdough bagels. What’s the consensus around here on those? ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagels-sweet-or-savory/605193/27 "2011-12-06T09:26:07Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > Why not serve ham and cheese on a bagel while you’re at it. Oy. Actually, I DO put ham slices on a bagel spread with cream cheese. I don’t like lox, but I do like ham. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagels-sweet-or-savory/605193/28 "2011-12-06T11:46:39Z")
Sweet bagels plain, regular bagels with stuff that’s either savory or savory with light sweet (like flavored cream cheese). Come to think of it, sweet bagels aren’t that sweet, either. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagels-sweet-or-savory/605193/29 "2011-12-06T11:51:57Z")
I keep reading this as “Beagles: Sweet or savory?” I like both. Classic with cream cheese and lox (capers a bonus), or the apple cinammon bagels a local place makes. Best: classic savory bagel, followed by a sweet one for dessert. ---
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagels-sweet-or-savory/605193/30 "2011-12-06T13:36:06Z")
I’m all over the map when it comes to bagels. Sweet? I’ve never been a fan of cinnamon raisin, but our local upscale gourmet market used to carry both French toast and triple chocolate chip. They were both TO DIE FOR with just a touch of butter and a sprinkling of cinnamon sugar. The wholesaler from which they got them discontinued both. When I found that out I wanted to cry ☹ Otherwise, I really like pairing that butter/cinnamon sugar mixture with the savory, particularly with everything bagels. When I want to feel healthy I’ll ditch the everything and eat 100% whole wheat or some kind of multigrain. And I just realized it’s been years since I’ve had either a salt or a pumpernickel bagel… Ooh, I also like anything “berry”. The wholesaler I mentioned upthread makes triple berry occasionally with real fruit. They’re always the first one gone at the upscale market. ---
**Author:** ![Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sticks_and_scones/32/16951_2.png) [@Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sticks_and_Scones)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagels-sweet-or-savory/605193/31 "2011-12-06T13:41:40Z")
> [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](#): > > I used to like cinnamon raisin bagels, but I grew out of them. I prefer savory bagels, specifically sesame. There’s nothing like a toasted sesame bagel with cream cheese on it. Mmmm > [@Ashes\_Ashes](#): > > Unless I make my own, bagels are just round bread, half the time. You’re right. ‘Bready’ bagels make me want to puke. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagels-sweet-or-savory/605193/32 "2011-12-06T13:42:22Z")
> [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](#): > > I used to like cinnamon raisin bagels, but I grew out of them. I prefer savory bagels, specifically sesame. Yes, sesame seed, toasted so the seeds get all nutty, with really good chive cheese. mmmmmmm ETA: Nice simulpost **Sticks and Scones!** ---
**Author:** ![Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sticks_and_scones/32/16951_2.png) [@Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sticks_and_Scones)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagels-sweet-or-savory/605193/33 "2011-12-06T13:43:50Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Yes, sesame seed, toasted so the seeds get all nutty, with really good chive cheese. > > mmmmmmm > > ETA: Nice simulpost **Sticks and Scones!** 😃 ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagels-sweet-or-savory/605193/34 "2011-12-06T13:52:48Z")
> [@Ashes\_Ashes](#): > > Unless I make my own, bagels are just round bread, half the time. Doughnuts do not equal sweet bagels. That’s an insult to good bagels _and_ good doughnuts. Ugh, I feel sorry for you…are there really no nice local bakeries that have decent bagels where you live? Don’t go for those bags of Lender’s POS’s on the shelves, I agree those are just round bread, and when my mom bought those as a kid I was convinced I didn’t care for bagels! Heck, even the bakery department at most supermarkets make _passable_ bagels…not as good as even a halfway decent bagel place, but better than something made offsite and shipped in a month ago. Anyway, to answer the OP, savory. Sometimes I’ll get a plain bagel and put jam on it, but usually I go full savory. Last bagel I had was Sunday…an everything bagel with veggie cream cheese. There’s also a place around here that makes a really good parmesan black-pepper bagel. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagels-sweet-or-savory/605193/35 "2011-12-06T14:12:58Z")
I usually like savory, but once in a while I like a cinnamon raisin bagel with peanut butter. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagels-sweet-or-savory/605193/36 "2011-12-06T14:26:42Z")
Savory, savory, savory. And it always bites me in the ass, because whenever someone brings in bagels to the office (generally from Panera; it’s closest), they always have a metric ass-ton of sweet bagels. I have to dig to find the one (one!) asiago bagel in there; forget a garlic or onion or everything bagel. Bums me out, but hey, free bagels! ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagels-sweet-or-savory/605193/37 "2011-12-06T15:05:57Z")
Sesame is definitely my favorite but a good blueberry bagel is a nice treat. My preferred topping is savory cream cheese but when I’m in the mood for sweet a whole wheat bagel with plain cream cheese and a tiny bit of jam or sliced fruit is delicious! ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagels-sweet-or-savory/605193/38 "2011-12-06T15:33:44Z")
Savory. My favorite used to be Sun Dried Tomato and even Sara Lee made them. But now days, no such luck. I am terribly saddened by this news and wish to complain to the bagel industry. Who else is with me? ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagels-sweet-or-savory/605193/39 "2011-12-06T15:49:48Z")
> [@chiroptera](#): > > I keep reading this as “Beagles: Sweet or savory?” > > I like both. Classic with cream cheese and lox (capers a bonus), or the apple cinammon bagels a local place makes. > Best: classic savory bagel, followed by a sweet one for dessert. I had to look up “capers” as I didn’t know what they were (though I’ve heard the term before). What I read didn’t do a very good job explaining what they might taste like, other than to say that chopped green olives are a good substitute. I know it’ shard to describe flavor, but what are capers like? Are they like olives? Now I’m going to put myself out there as a heretic and say that I actually prefer the more bready, less hard/chewy bagels. I used to like the harder ones, but with my current dental situation I find them difficult and sometimes even painful to eat. Toasting helps, as the crispness will get through some of the chewiness. Here on campus if I get a bagel I usually get an “everything bagel” with hummus on it. I like cream cheese, but with hummus I can pretend I’m being healthy. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagels-sweet-or-savory/605193/40 "2011-12-06T15:53:46Z")
Capers give you a pungent-briny hit of flavor. They are small, so you don’t get overwhelmed by the taste. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagels-sweet-or-savory/605193.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagels-sweet-or-savory/605193.md?page=3)