Bagel Toppings

Cold-smoking salmon usually requires an elaborate setup. Jason Alley's brilliant trick of quickly smoking the fish, then curing it like gravlax, is a great option for the home cook.

Think of this classic party dip as a new take on an onion and chive cream cheese spread.

This creamy pâté from Gabriel Frasca and Amanda Lydon has an amazingly rich, smoky flavor.

This crostini from Karen Small, topped with goat cheese mousse, red-wine caramel and strawberry compote, is a delightful example of a dish that combines sweet and savory. Substitute bagel chips for the crostini for more crunch.

Great with scones, bagels, or pancakes, this jam is a zesty but sweet topping.

Down Home with the Neelys has inventive recipes like these irresistible Southern-food inspired appetizers.

Using bagel chips as the base for an hors d'oeuvre is a quick way to add flavor and crunch. Grace Parisi tops the chips with fresh ricotta, chive puree and prosciutto.

"My grandpa always used to make pimento cheese for me with sharp cheddar, or even Velveeta," says Katie Lee about the sweet pepper–studded spread, a Southern classic that's also a great dip. "I wanted to make it more grown-up." Katie's goat-cheese version is light and silky and would be a delicious substitute for plain cream cheese on your morning bagel.

Simpler than it might seem, this spread recipe can be refrigerated for up to three days and still keep its fresh flavor.

Fruit butters are made with less sugar than jam, so they have a less candied fruit flavor. Grace Parisi blends all types of stone fruits here, making combinations like nectarine-plum or cherry-peach. The yield here will vary slightly; when the fruit is especially juicy, there is more water to evaporate before the butter thickens, and the yield is smaller.

"Chorizo is so underused," says Shea Gallante. Here, he uses the spicy Spanish sausage in a savory crostini topping. It would also be great on a bagel.

Inspired by the classic combination of bagels with lox and cream cheese, Tory Miller devised this variation using smoked, locally raised trout and homemade English muffins. It would be equally good on other breads, such as a baguette, or even the bagel that inspired it.

Hummus can do more than cling to a carrot stick. Spread it on a bagel or bagel chip for a healthy snack.

This fruit-filled butter is wonderful on crusty bread. It's also great with warm popovers, pancakes, waffles, muffins and bagels.

Canned chipotles in adobo sauce, sold at Latin markets and many supermarkets, give this clever, creamy dip an enticing heat and smokiness. The spiced pepitas (roasted and salted pumpkin seeds) scattered over the dip are addictive and great as a snack on their own.