If you’ve ever had Common Ground’s famous top secret bagel, I’m sure you’ve wondered how they work their magic. The mystery behind this bagel, one of Queen’s University’s best kept secrets, is about to be uncovered.

“What makes this bagel so dang addictive? And why won’t they tell me what’s in it?” said every Queen’s student ever

I, the fairy godmother of spreadable toppings, am here to tell you that it’s possible to make this campus favourite at home with just a few simple ingredients. This is the closest anyone has ever gotten to recreating our beloved bagel.

bagel

Photo by Adeena Zeldin

Don’t feel limited to using a bagel, though, because this spread is seriously versatile. Although the cheddar bagel is the best way to get the full CoGro experience, you can make your own at home.

I’ve been putting this creamy goodness onto my sandwiches since I learned how to replicate the cheese, raising my lunch game to a whole new level.

This spread is also great with crackers for an afternoon snack or with tortilla chips and salsa when it’s 2 am and you get the munchies (I ran out of this awesome guacamole and had to get creative with my dipping). So don’t be afraid to experiment.

Easy

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients:
4 cheddar bagels (toasted)
½ cup Philadelphia Herb & Garlic Cream Cheese
¼ cup finely grated cheddar cheese
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon parsley
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and pepper, to taste

bagel

Photo by Adeena Zeldin

Directions:
1. Mix together cream cheese and spices.

bagel

Photo by Adeena Zeldin

2. Slather that delicious topping on a freshly toasted cheddar bagel.

bagel

Photo by Adeena Zeldin

Note: For a smoother texture, mix with a hand blender. This will get rid of any larger pieces of cheese, but also requires more clean up (translation: if you’re lazy like me a spoon is totally fine).

bagel

Photo by Adeena Zeldin

Want more ways to use cream cheese? Check out these links: