Kia ora e te whānau!
If you caught this one on our Instagram, you already know — this bagel had no business looking that good. Toasted bagel, homemade high-protein cream cheese, fresh strawberries, and a slow golden drizzle of our Kānuka Honey 1000+. Simple kai, big energy.
And the best part? That "cream cheese" is actually strained protein yoghurt. One ingredient, zero effort, and your breakfast quietly becomes a protein hit. We don't gatekeep in this whare — here's exactly how to make it.
The High-Protein Cream Cheese Hack
This is the overnight strain method, and once you try it you won't go back to the tub stuff.
What you need
- 1 large pottle of high-protein yoghurt (plain or vanilla both work)
- A sieve
- Cheesecloth, muslin, or a clean chux cloth
- A bowl
How to make it
- Line your sieve with the cheesecloth and sit it over a bowl — you want a gap underneath for the liquid to drain into.
- Tip the whole pottle of protein yoghurt into the cloth.
- Fold the cloth over the top, pop the whole setup in the fridge, and walk away.
- Strain overnight (8–12 hours). The whey drains off and what's left is thick, spreadable, cream-cheese-style goodness — with all the protein still in it.
- Give it a stir in the morning and it's ready to spread.
The longer it strains, the thicker it gets. A quick few hours gives you a soft Greek-style spread; a full overnight gives you proper schmear territory.
Build the Bagel
- Slice and toast your bagel until golden.
- Spread a generous layer of your homemade high-protein cream cheese.
- Layer on fresh sliced strawberries.
- Finish with a drizzle of Kānuka Honey 1000+ — let it run into every gap. This is the moment.
Why Kānuka Honey?
Kānuka is mānuka's lesser-known cousin, and honestly? She deserves her flowers. Ours is 100% Aotearoa honey, harvested from our hives in Te Hiku, with a smooth, delicate sweetness that lets the strawberries shine rather than shouting over them.
A little bonus for the label-readers: honey sits lower on the glycaemic index than refined sugar, so you get that golden sweetness with steadier energy — no mid-morning crash. Sweet tooth satisfied and you're still fuelled for the day. Win-win.
Make It Yours
- Swap strawberries for banana and a pinch of cinnamon
- Add crushed walnuts for crunch
- Stir a spoon of Kānuka straight through the strained yoghurt for a honey-whipped spread
If you make this one, tag us @kaiorahoney — we genuinely love seeing your creations, and your drizzle technique will be judged (lovingly).
Ngā mihi nui,
Blanche & the Kai Ora whānau