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The build-your-own bagel bar from my holiday brunch gathering today was such a major hit, I wondered why I hadn’t done this setup at countless gatherings before. It couldn’t have been simpler to put together, required zero cooking time , and who on earth does not adore coffee and bagels?! I absolutely love hosting my best girlfriends this time of year as we celebrate the holidays and actually have time to spend together before the hustle and bustle of December sweep in.

I have also been feeling incredibly nostalgic this season. I have been thinking of my fave holiday traditions which I shared earlier here and am really missing my family. My grandfather and I would go for coffee every single Sunday at Dunkin' Donuts in El Paso and work on some crossword puzzles. Then we would take a long drive. One of my faves is Scenic Drive. It cuts along the edge of the mountains and traverses the southern tip of the Franklins. You get the best views of El Paso and Jaurez. Another fave is the Trans-Mountain Highway. I remember picking the beautiful wild flowers with my Dunkin' Donuts coffee in one hand and a disposable camera in the other. I have always loved coffee and taking pictures.

Isn't it amazing how certain memories begin to get more vivid the older we get? I cannot not just envision the coffee-but I can smell it when I think of it.

I was pleased to see that Dollar General carried Dunkin' Donuts Holiday Coffee when I popped in to get some gift bags for a birthday party. The store was right next to one of my client's offices so it was super convenient. They even had a variety of formats, blends, and flavors, including my two favorites- the dark roast ground coffee and the vanilla ground coffee. It was just as consistently smooth and delicious as I remember it being from those Sunday mornings long ago. And it definitely provides you with the fuel you need to tackle the day. I like my coffee strong my dears!

If your friends are anything like mine, coffee is a necessity of life so a brunch party would not be a party without it. We drink it in the morning, in the afternoon, and some even drink it at night. So I decided to introduce them to
Dunkin' Donuts Holiday Coffee . They enjoyed the coffee greatly and I was so happy to have shared a little piece of my roadmap with them from childhood.

I am so excited to show you how to set up the perfect bagel and coffee brunch for your holiday events this season. This would also make for a lovely bridal shower, bachelorette party, baby shower, and even a New Year's Day brunch. Who on earth wants to cook on New Year's Day?!

BAGEL COFFEE PARTY HOW-TO

Bagels should be as fresh as possible. Pick them up on the morning of the party from a spot that you know makes them fresh daily. Get a variety: I always opt for plain and everything. You can pick a sweet one too like blueberry or cinnamon raisin or even chocolate.
Toast them just before serving. I split bagels and placed them cut side up on a sheet pan under the broiler for about a minute just before serving. You want them lightly toasted — make sure to keep an eye on them under the broiler so you don’t end up with blackened bagels.
Go crazy with toppings. And get creative.

Here is what I used for my beautiful and delish spread.
• avocado
• capers
• tomatos
• purple onion
• Persian cucumbers
• radish
• cream cheese (I always do two so I did a salmon flavor and a garden vegetable)
• lettuce
• dill and chives for topping

How easy is this?!

Just have fun with it. This is a party menu that requires zero kitchen skills, so just buy great, fresh ingredients and go to town with styling a pretty buffet setup using big cutting boards and mismatched platters. The colors of the veggies and salmon spread just look so divine and everyone will be taking pics for their gram.

So now to set up your coffee bar...

Use the mugs you have on hand or you can purchase some great decorative throw-away coffee cups. Have some cream and sugar available for your guests and even some milk.

Add a gorgeous festive cocktail napkin and you are set!

I hope you are inspired to host your own bagel and coffee party for your friends and family this holiday season.

And kickstart your season with some Dunkin' Donuts Holiday Coffee from Dollar General. You can find a Dollar General near you with their store locator which you can find here.

It's in the coffee aisle with all the coffee and tea.