Pin It A playful and festive twist on classic pizza bagels, these adorable reindeer faces are perfect for kids lunches or holiday gatherings.
I love making these with my family because they bring out everyone's creativity and add fun to our holiday meals.
Ingredients
- Bagels: 2 whole wheat bagels, halved
- Sauce & Cheese: 1/2 cup pizza sauce, 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Decorations: 8 round black olive slices (for eyes), 4 cherry tomatoes or pepperoni rounds (for noses), 8 mini pretzel twists (for antlers), 4 small slices red bell pepper (for mouths, optional)
Instructions
- Step 1:
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Step 2:
- Place bagel halves cut side up on the prepared baking sheet.
- Step 3:
- Spread 1 tablespoon of pizza sauce over each bagel half.
- Step 4:
- Sprinkle each with mozzarella cheese.
- Step 5:
- To create reindeer faces, add two olive slices as eyes and a cherry tomato or pepperoni round as the nose on each bagel half.
- Step 6:
- Bake for 8–10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Step 7:
- Remove from oven. While warm, gently press two mini pretzel twists into the top of each bagel for antlers.
- Step 8:
- Add a small slice of red bell pepper for a mouth, if desired.
- Step 9:
- Let cool slightly before serving.
Pin It Making these pizza bagels together has become a cherished family tradition that everyone looks forward to.
Required Tools
Baking sheet, parchment paper, knife, spoon
Allergen Information
Contains Wheat (bagels pretzels), Milk (cheese). May contain Soy (pizza sauce), Gluten (pretzels bagels). Check all packaging for potential allergens.
Nutritional Information
Calories: 260, Total Fat: 7 g, Carbohydrates: 38 g, Protein: 11 g (per serving)
Pin It This fun recipe is a great way to get kids involved in cooking and enjoy a festive treat together.
Recipe Questions & Answers
- → What type of bagels work best?
Whole wheat bagels hold toppings well and add a nutty flavor but any sturdy bagel can be used for this dish.
- → Can I substitute the mozzarella cheese?
Yes, mild melting cheeses like provolone or gouda work well as alternatives to mozzarella.
- → How do I keep the pretzels crunchy?
Add pretzels after baking while the bagels are still warm to gently press them in, preserving crunchiness.
- → Are there vegetarian topping options?
Yes, sticking to cheese, olives, cherry tomatoes, and vegetables keeps this dish vegetarian-friendly.
- → Can I prepare these in advance?
You can assemble the bagels ahead and bake just before serving to keep toppings fresh and cheese melted.