Buzz
Bagel Bites from Ore-Ida are a popular choice among teenagers and pizza enthusiasts of all ages. They can be quickly and easily cooked in a conventional oven, toaster oven, or microwave, provided you adhere to the instructions on the packaging (or at http://www.bagelbites.com/en/About-Us/Cooking-Instructions). Alternatively, if you're feeling adventurous, you can try making your own version of mini bagel pizzas—it's straightforward and delicious!
Steps
Baking Them in the Oven
Preheat the oven to 425 °F (218 °C). Allow the oven to reach the desired temperature while you unpack the Bagel Bites and arrange them on a baking sheet.
- If you're a child with limited oven experience, seek assistance from an adult.
Arrange the Bagel Bites on a baking sheet, leaving about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) of space between each one. Precision isn't necessary with the spacing, but keeping them apart ensures even cooking.
- No need to grease the pan or use cooking spray.
- You can also use a shallow baking dish.
Place the tray in the oven on a rack positioned in the upper middle. Placing the tray too low might scorch the bottoms before the tops brown, while positioning it too high could lead to uneven cooking.
- Use oven mitts and caution when inserting the tray. Children should have adult supervision or assistance.
Adjust the baking time depending on the type and quantity of Bagel Bites. With 10 varieties, baking times may vary slightly. More Bagel Bites and longer baking times go hand in hand. Here are the recommended baking times from the Bagel Bites website:
- For varieties like Bacon, Egg, and Cheese; Sausage, Egg, and Cheese; Bacon, Sausage, and Cheese; or Bacon and Cheese: 12 minutes for 4 pieces; 14 minutes for 9 pieces.
- Cheese and Pepperoni; Cheese, Sausage, and Pepperoni: 12 minutes for 4 pieces; 14 minutes for 9 or 12 pieces; 16 minutes for 20 pieces.
- Three Cheese: 12 minutes for 4 or 9 pieces; 14 minutes for 12 or 20 pieces.
- Mozzarella: 14 minutes for 12 or 24 pieces.
- Supreme: 14 minutes for 9 pieces (per box).
- Buffalo Chicken Style: 12 minutes for 4 or 9 pieces (per box).
Using a Toaster Oven to Cook Bagel Bites
While the toaster oven preheats to 400 °F (204 °C), place Bagel Bites on a tray. Despite the small size of the toaster oven's baking tray, try to space out the Bagel Bites as much as possible for uniform browning—0.5 in (1.3 cm) works well.
- Children should always be supervised when using a toaster oven, especially if they lack experience.
Bake them according to the time provided on the package or Bagel Bites website. Baking times may vary slightly depending on the Bagel Bites variety and quantity. Here are some general guidelines:
- For varieties like Bacon, Egg, and Cheese; Sausage, Egg, and Cheese; Bacon, Sausage, and Cheese; or Bacon and Cheese: 13 minutes for 4 pieces; 16 minutes for 9 pieces.
- Cheese and Pepperoni; Cheese, Sausage, and Pepperoni: 12 minutes for 4 pieces; 16 minutes for 9 pieces; 18 minutes for 12 pieces.
- Three Cheese: 12 minutes for 4 pieces; 14 minutes for 9 pieces; 16 minutes for 12 pieces.
- Mozzarella: 12 minutes for 4 pieces; 16 minutes for 12 pieces.
- Supreme: 16 minutes for 9 pieces (per box).
- Buffalo Chicken Style: 12 minutes for 4 pieces; 14 minutes for 9 pieces (per box).
Allow them to cool for 1 minute after removing the tray from the toaster oven. Bagel Bites can be extremely hot, so resist the urge to touch them right away! Wait at least a minute before indulging in your crispy treat.
- The toaster oven tray and interior will be hot. Use caution and wear oven mitts. Children should be supervised.
Quick Fix: Microwaving Them
Remove the crisping tray from its packaging and place it with the shiny side facing up. Each Bagel Bites package includes a crisping tray specifically for microwave use. Discard the plastic and position the tray on your microwave plate (or a microwave-safe dish) with the shiny side up.
- The crisping tray prevents the bottom of the Bagel Bites from becoming soggy in the microwave. It's not advisable to microwave them without it.
- Children can quickly learn to operate a microwave, but supervision is recommended until they are fully comfortable with it.
Position Bagel Bites on the shiny side of the crisping tray. Leave a bit of space around each Bagel Bite—about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) if possible. This ensures even cooking and crispiness.
Microwave them on High for the specified time. Most microwaves default to High power unless adjusted. Each of the 10 Bagel Bites varieties has different microwave times, depending on the quantity. Refer to the package or the following times from the Bagel Bites website:
- For Bacon, Egg, and Cheese; Sausage, Egg, and Cheese; Bacon, Sausage, and Cheese; or Bacon and Cheese: 1 min 15 sec for 4 pieces; 2 min 30 sec for 9 pieces.
- Cheese and Pepperoni; Cheese, Sausage, and Pepperoni: 55 seconds for 4 pieces; 2 min 30 sec for 9 pieces; 3 minutes for 12 pieces.
- Three Cheese: 55 seconds for 4 pieces; 2 min 10 sec for 9 pieces; 2 min 15 sec for 12 pieces.
- Mozzarella: 55 seconds for 4 pieces; 3 minutes for 12 pieces.
- Supreme: 2 min 20 sec for 9 pieces (per box).
- Buffalo Chicken Style: 1 minute for 4 pieces (9 pieces per box).
Allow them to cool in the microwave for 1 minute before removing. After at least 1 minute, use an oven mitt to take out the crisping tray from the microwave. The Bagel Bites should be ready to enjoy!
Creating Homemade “Bagel Bites”
Collect your ingredients. Crafting homemade mini bagel pizzas—essentially your take on Bagel Bites—requires just a few basic ingredients. These include:
- 16 mini bagels, halved
- 12 oz (340 g) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 16 fl oz (470 mL) pizza sauce
- 6 oz (170 g) pepperoni, cubed to 0.25 in (0.64 cm).
- Feel free to substitute or add other cheese, meat, or vegetable toppings to suit your taste.
Preheat the oven and halve the mini bagels. Set the oven to 450 °F (232 °C). While waiting, carefully slice each mini bagel in half. Children should be supervised when cutting bagels.
- This recipe yields 32 mini bagel pizzas, made in 2 batches of 16.
Bake 16 halved mini bagels on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper for 5 minutes. Aim for a slight browning of the bagel tops. If they brown before 5 minutes, remove them from the oven early.
- Parchment paper is optional but helps prevent sticking and keeps cheese from sticking to the baking sheet.
Top your halved mini bagels with sauce, cheese, and pepperoni. Add approximately 0.5 fl oz (15 mL) of sauce, 0.33 oz (9.4 g) of cheese, and 0.16 oz (4.5 g) of diced pepperoni to each bagel. Adjust the quantities to your taste or make substitutions or additions.
- For variety, consider adding diced green peppers and mushrooms instead of pepperoni.
Place the mini bagels back in the oven for 10-16 minutes. Check them regularly after about 8 minutes and remove them once the cheese is golden and bubbly to your liking. Let them cool for at least 1 minute before enjoying!
- While the first batch bakes, prepare the second batch of 16 bagels, then bake them afterward.
- Always use oven mitts when handling trays in or out of the oven, and supervise children during baking.
Helpful Tips
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If you're using a different brand of mini bagel pizzas, such as those produced by another company, be sure to refer to the instructions provided on the package.
