Deck the Halls with Bagels and Pavlova Schmear: Brooklyn Boy Bagels Do Christmas
Summer in Australia: a season where the sun roasts the streets, the beaches teem with sand-dusted eskies, and everyone suddenly decides prawns belong on barbecues. But while the rest of the country busies itself with sunscreen and inflatable Santas, Brooklyn Boy Bagels of Marrickville has rolled up its sleeves to tackle the great festive conundrum: how do you make Christmas even better?
The answer, apparently, is Pavlova Cream Cheese.
Yes, you heard that right. Owner Michael Shafran and his team of carb artisans have conjured a seasonal masterpiece by smashing Australia’s beloved pavlova into a schmear-worthy spread. Imagine velvety cream cheese, tangy seasonal fruit compote, and the satisfying crunch of crumbled meringue, all spooned generously onto a bagel. It’s Christmas on a plate, minus the inevitable family bickering.
The Bagel Bonanza: Cinnamon, Christmas, and a Dash of New York
This festive schmear finds its soulmate in Brooklyn Boy Bagels’ hand-rolled delights. Their Cinnamon Raisin Bagel offers a cosy, classic pairing, but for those who prefer their bagels with a side of yuletide pizzazz, there’s the Christmas Bagel, a red, white, and green triumph that screams holiday cheer and pairs fabulously with tinsel and mulled wine.
But don’t let the flashy colours fool you. These aren’t just gimmicky rounds of dough; they’re lovingly crafted the traditional New York way, with all the chewiness and heft you’d expect from the bagel mecca itself.
“We’re all about celebrating the occasion,” says Michael, with the kind of zeal usually reserved for someone who’s just discovered a new setting on their coffee machine. “Combining our Brooklyn roots with an Australian Christmas classic? It’s a no-brainer.”
Beyond Bagels: Eggnog, Donuts, and a $125 Party in a Box
If you think Brooklyn Boy Bagels stops at schmears and bagels, think again. Their holiday menu reads like the fever dream of someone locked in a bakery overnight with nothing but eggnog for company.
Take their Eggnog Snickerdoodle Cookies—chewy, soft, and laced with enough rum and nutmeg to make your uncle’s Christmas pudding jealous. Or the Sufganiyot Donuts, a Hanukkah classic filled with Nutella, raspberry jam, or Pistachio Papi creme, because nothing says “holiday spirit” like deep-frying dough and stuffing it with joy.
For those who want a bit of everything (and who doesn’t?), there’s the Christmas Box. For $125, you’ll get:
- Pumpkin, Everything, Christmas, and Cinnamon Raisin Bagels (two of each, naturally)
- Pavlova Cream Cheese and its quieter, plainer sibling
- Eggnog Snickerdoodle Cookies, because one just isn’t enough
- And others
“We’ve basically taken the best bits of Christmas,” says Michael, “and shoved them in a box. It’s like a festive feast without the arguments about whose turn it is to wash up.”
A Bagel-Filled New Year Awaits
Brooklyn Boy Bagels’ festive offerings run all December, ensuring your summer picnics, beachside hangs, and lazy backyard afternoons come with a side of schmear. Visit their Marrickville or Surry Hills locations, or order online to secure your stash.
And what about 2025? “Let’s just say we’ve got more joy to spread,” Michael teases. If this year’s pavlova breakthrough is anything to go by, the new year promises to be stuffed, schmear-ed, and savoured in the best possible way.
Because when life gives you summer, you eat bagels.
