Crispy Everything Bagel Bits!!!

These Crispy Everything Bagel Bits are a brilliant, zero-waste solution for turning day-old bread into a gourmet, high-crunch snack. By cubing plain or pre-seasoned bagels and tossing them in a light emulsion of olive oil and everything bagel seasoning, you create a toasted crouton that is far superior to store-bought versions. The dense, chewy crumb of the bagel allows it to withstand the high heat of a 375°F oven, resulting in a deeply golden exterior that shatters upon impact while maintaining a satisfyingly sturdy core.

Crispy Everything Bagel Bits

Ingredients:

Step-by-Step Directions

Step 1: The Oven Prep: Preheat your oven to 375°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. This prevents the small seeds in the seasoning from sticking to the pan and burning.

Step 2: The Cubing Technique: Cut your bagels into uniform 1/2-inch cubes.

Tip: Using stale bagels is actually an advantage here! Older bread has less internal moisture, which means it will dehydrate and crisp up significantly faster and hold its shape better during the tossing process.

Step 3: The Seasoning Toss: In a medium mixing bowl, toss the bagel cubes with the olive oil until every piece is lightly and evenly glistening. Sprinkle the everything bagel seasoning over the top and toss again. The oil acts as a “glue” to ensure the poppy seeds, sesame seeds, and dried garlic adhere to the bagel rather than falling to the bottom of the pan.

Step 4: The Golden Roast: Spread the cubes in a single layer on your prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10/15 minutes, flipping the bits halfway through.

Tip: Start checking them at the 10-minute mark. Because of the dried garlic and onion in the seasoning, these can go from “perfectly toasted” to “burnt” very quickly.

Step 5: The Cooling Crunch: Remove from the oven and let the bits cool completely on the pan. They will continue to firm up and reach their maximum “snap” as the residual heat evaporates any remaining moisture.