Real Bagel Ornaments — Yes, They Were Once Actual Bagels!

A real bagel. Preserved forever. Ready to hang.

This may be one of the most wonderfully ridiculous things we make at Eclectic Judaica—and yes, these ornaments really do start their lives as actual bagels.

The idea began years ago with a friend who was working as a baker at a local bagel shop. When I told her about my slightly crazy plan to turn real bagels into Judaica, her response was simply: “I’m in!”

That bagel shop is now right down the street from our Hadley studio—and arguably makes some of the best bagels in the Pioneer Valley.

We spent a long time perfecting the process. Each mini bagel is formed and baked, then carefully dehydrated before receiving multiple coats of protective sealer to harden and preserve it. What started as an experiment eventually became our Real Bagel Collection, including menorahs and Shabbat candle holders.

And then we thought: Why shouldn’t you be able to hang a bagel, too?

Enter the Real Bagel Ornament.

Each ornament is lightweight and comes ready to hang with a gold cord looped through the center of the bagel—no holes drilled through these beauties.

Choose your bagel:

Everything • Plain • Poppyseed • Sesame

Because these begin as actual, hand-formed bagels, no two are exactly alike. They aren’t perfectly round, the seeds vary, and the size and shape will differ slightly from one to another. That’s part of what makes each one so much fun.

Approximately 3” wide × 2.5” tall.

Ready to gift

Each Real Bagel Ornament is individually packaged in its own white window bakery box, nestled in black-and-white checkerboard paper. The box makes it easy to give as a gift, store safely between uses—or simply admire if you’re buying one for yourself.

They’re especially fun for bagel lovers, New Yorkers and former New Yorkers, Jewish food enthusiasts, hostess gifts, Hanukkah gifts, stocking stuffers, white-elephant gifts, and the person who already owns absolutely everything except a preserved bagel.

Made with a little chutzpah in Hadley, Massachusetts.

PLEASE NOTE: This ornament is made from real preserved food but is FOR DECORATION ONLY. DO NOT EAT. Keep away from children and pets who may understandably disagree.