Easy Everything Bagel Pull-Apart Bread with Frozen Bread Dough
Make easy Everything Bagel pull-apart bread with frozen bread dough, butter, and seasoning for a simple bakery-style savory loaf.
There was a time when I would walk into one of those fancy bakeries, spot a gorgeous loaf covered in seeds and seasonings, and happily pay good money to take it home. There's just something about an artisan-looking loaf of bread that makes an ordinary dinner feel a little more special.
Well, friends, apparently I've been overpaying.
This Everything Bagel Pull-Apart Bread starts with an ordinary loaf of frozen bread dough. Add some butter and Everything Bagel seasoning, let it rise, and about 25 minutes later you've got a beautiful golden loaf that looks like it came straight from the bakery.
My Frozen Bread Dough Obsession (A Confessional)
My recent obsession with frozen bread dough actually started when I used it to make my Copycat Dollywood Cinnamon Bread. Once I realized how incredibly light and fluffy that frozen dough baked up, I decided to experiment with both sweet and savory versions.
I started with a cheesy garlic version, so for my next savory loaf I decided to keep things ridiculously simple: butter and Everything Bagel seasoning.
And when this gorgeous loaf came out of the oven, I couldn't believe how pretty it was. It reminded me of those gorgeous specialty loaves you see at a high-end bakery—the kind you admire through the glass and then pay a small fortune to take home.
Only this one started with an inexpensive loaf of frozen bread dough. Like I said above, I've been paying too much! (Lesson learned: Make it at home from now on!)
Ingredients
You'll find a printable recipe card at the bottom of this post, but here's a quick look at the ingredients for this delicious loaf. These are simple ingredients you can find at any grocery store.
- 1 loaf frozen bread dough
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1–1 ½ tablespoons Everything Bagel seasoning
That's it! You can adjust the amount of seasoning based on the brand you're using and your own preference for salt.
How to Make Everything Bagel Pull-Apart Bread
Generously grease a standard loaf pan.
Place the frozen loaf of bread dough in the pan. Loosely cover with plastic wrap that's been lightly sprayed on the underside with nonstick cooking spray.
Let the dough thaw for approximately two hours, or until it's still cool but soft enough to cut and work with.
Remove the partially thawed loaf from the pan and place it on a clean work surface.
Cut the dough into several thick sections. You can cut completely through the loaf or leave a little dough attached at the bottom. Either method will work.
Brush the exposed surfaces generously with melted unsalted butter.
Sprinkle the Everything Bagel seasoning over the buttered surfaces. Remember, we're sprinkling with restraint here. We have learned things. 😄
Carefully arrange the sections back in the greased loaf pan.
Cover again with lightly greased plastic wrap and allow the dough to continue rising until it's noticeably puffy. Depending on the temperature of your kitchen, this will probably take another 1 ½–2 hours.
Bake the Bread
Preheat your oven to 350°F.
Bake for approximately 25 minutes, or until the loaf is beautifully golden and baked through.
If the top begins to brown too quickly, loosely tent the pan with foil for the remainder of the baking time.
Allow the bread to cool briefly before removing it from the pan.
Then pull off a piece and enjoy!
What to Expect
This might be one of the easiest ways I've found to turn an ordinary frozen loaf of bread dough into something that looks genuinely special.
The inside stays light, fluffy, and soft, while the outside develops a buttery golden crust covered with all of those familiar Everything Bagel flavors—sesame, poppy seed, garlic, onion, and salt.
And because the dough is cut into sections before baking, some of that buttery seasoning works its way down between the pieces instead of sitting only on top.
It's simple, inexpensive, and surprisingly impressive.
Just promise me you'll measure your seasoning.
I learned that lesson so you don't have to. 😄
A Quick Word About the Salt
Before we go any further, let's talk about the one mistake I made. My bread was a bit too salty for my liking. I'm not blaming the bread—or even the Everything Bagel seasoning. This one was entirely on me. I didn't measure my seasoning, I used salted butter, and apparently I was feeling very generous that day. That's a dangerous combination when your seasoning blend already contains plenty of salt!
So learn from me. Use unsalted butter, measure your Everything Bagel seasoning, and remember that different brands contain different amounts of salt. Start conservatively. You can always sprinkle a little more seasoning over your individual serving later.
Serving Suggestions
This bread would be lovely alongside soup, chili, or a big salad. You could serve it with eggs for breakfast or brunch, or put it on the table with a casual dinner.
You could also serve it warm with softened cream cheese on the side, which would really lean into those Everything Bagel flavors.
And if you've got a house full of bread lovers, just set the loaf on the table and let everybody pull off a piece.
Variations on Everything Bagel Pull-Apart Bread
Once you know the basic frozen-dough technique, it's easy to change this loaf to suit your tastes. Here are a few ideas:
Everything Bagel and Cream Cheese: Instead of adding cream cheese before baking, serve the warm pull-apart bread with softened cream cheese on the side. You'll get all the flavors of an Everything Bagel without risking the cream cheese leaking out during baking.
Cheesy Everything Bread: Tuck a small amount of shredded mozzarella, cheddar, or Parmesan between the sections before the final rise.
Garlic Everything Bread: Add about ¼–½ teaspoon garlic powder to the melted butter before brushing it onto the dough. Keep in mind that your Everything seasoning probably already contains garlic, so don't go overboard.
Parmesan Everything Bread: Sprinkle a little grated Parmesan between the sections along with the Everything Bagel seasoning. Because Parmesan is salty, use an especially light hand with the seasoning.
Spicy Everything Bread: Add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes for a little heat.
Breakfast Bread: Serve the warm loaf with scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, and cream cheese for an easy weekend breakfast or brunch.
You can also use the same frozen-dough technique with completely different seasonings. I've already made a cheesy garlic version, and once you realize how easy these loaves are, you'll probably start dreaming up combinations of your own.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Everything Bagel seasoning?
Everything Bagel seasoning is a blend inspired by the toppings traditionally found on an everything bagel. Most blends contain sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried garlic, dried onion, and salt. Exact ingredients vary by brand.
Why was my Everything Bagel bread too salty?
The most likely culprit is the combination of salted butter and a salty seasoning blend. That's exactly what happened to me.
Everything Bagel seasonings vary considerably in salt content, so I recommend using unsalted butter and measuring the seasoning instead of sprinkling straight from the container. Start conservatively. You can always add more seasoning to your individual serving.
How much Everything Bagel seasoning should I use?
For one frozen loaf, I recommend starting with about 1 tablespoon. If your seasoning blend isn't particularly salty and you love a heavily seasoned bread, you can increase it toward 1 ½ tablespoons.
This is definitely one of those recipes where I'd rather have you start with less and add more next time.
Does frozen bread dough need to thaw completely first?
No. For these pull-apart loaves, I actually found the dough easier to work with when it was mostly thawed but still cold and slightly firm.
Mine was ready to cut and fill after about two hours at room temperature. After seasoning, I returned it to the loaf pan and let it finish rising before baking.
Why do you spray the plastic wrap?
The bread can rise high enough to touch the plastic wrap. Lightly spraying the underside with nonstick cooking spray prevents the dough from sticking when you remove the wrap.
Can I use a different brand of frozen bread dough?
Yes. I used Rhodes frozen bread dough, but another comparable frozen yeast bread dough should work. Thawing and rising times may differ, so watch the dough rather than relying solely on the clock.
Can I add cheese?
Absolutely. Mozzarella, cheddar, or Parmesan would all work. Just remember that cheese adds additional salt, so reduce the Everything Bagel seasoning accordingly.
How do I know when the bread is done?
Mine baked for approximately 25 minutes at 350°F. The bread should be nicely golden on top and baked through in the center.
If the seasonings or top begin getting too dark before the center is finished, loosely tent the loaf with foil.
Can I make Everything Bagel bread ahead of time?
You can bake the loaf ahead and reheat it before serving, although I think it's especially good fresh from the oven while the crust is golden and the interior is still wonderfully soft.
How should I store leftovers?
Once the loaf has completely cooled, store it tightly wrapped or in an airtight container. For longer storage, refrigerate it.
Warm individual pieces briefly before serving to bring back that lovely soft, fluffy texture.
What should I serve with Everything Bagel Pull-Apart Bread?
This is a surprisingly versatile bread. Serve it with soup, chili, salad, eggs, or a casual dinner. You can also put out softened cream cheese or butter and serve the loaf as part of a breakfast or brunch spread.
More Easy Frozen Bread Dough Recipes
My frozen-dough experiment started with the Dollywood-inspired cinnamon loaf, but it certainly didn't end there.
Copycat Dollywood Cinnamon Bread
Easy Cheesy Garlic Pull-Apart Bread
Thanks for Stopping By!
If you make this yummy bread and love it, please leave a comment or review. And before you go, please pin some photos to your Pinterest boards. I love it when folks share my recipes !
Janice Thompson is a professional baker, cake designer, and author with over 20 years of experience creating unique cakes and desserts. She’s the creator of Out of the Box Baking, where she shares her favorite doctored cake mix recipes, tutorials, and baking tips. Learn more →
Everything Bagel Pull-Apart Bread
Turn a simple loaf of frozen bread dough into a beautiful bakery-style pull-apart bread with butter and Everything Bagel seasoning.
Ingredients
- 1 loaf frozen bread dough
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1–1 ½ tablespoons Everything Bagel seasoning
Instructions
1. Generously grease a standard loaf pan.
2. Place the frozen bread dough in the pan and loosely cover with plastic wrap lightly sprayed on the underside with nonstick spray.
3. Allow to thaw for approximately 2 hours, until cool but workable.
4. Remove the dough from the pan and cut it into several thick sections.
5. Brush the exposed surfaces with melted unsalted butter.
6. Sprinkle measured Everything Bagel seasoning over the buttered dough.
7. Carefully return the sections to the loaf pan.
8. Cover and allow to rise until noticeably puffy, approximately another 1 ½–2 hours.
9. Preheat oven to 350°F.
10. Bake for approximately 25 minutes, until golden brown and baked through.
11. Cool briefly before removing from the pan.
12. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
Watch the salt. Everything Bagel seasoning blends vary considerably in saltiness. I recommend using unsalted butter and starting with the smaller amount of seasoning, particularly if your blend contains a lot of salt.
I used salted butter and didn't measure my seasoning when I tested mine. The resulting loaf was much saltier than I wanted, so I've deliberately given you more controlled measurements here.
For a fun serving option, offer softened cream cheese alongside the warm bread.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 48Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 3gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 11mgSodium: 18mgCarbohydrates: 2gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 0g
The nutrition information is a product of online calculators. I try to provide true and accurate information, but these numbers are estimates.
