How to Draw a Bagel: Easy 9-Step Guide for Kids

Looking for a fun, screen-free activity? This bagel drawing tutorial is perfect for artists ages 5 and up. All you need is a pencil, an eraser, and some paper to create a tasty masterpiece that helps practice basic shape construction and line control.

10 Steps

🎯 Final Result

A colorful, finished drawing of a bagel on a plate, ready for artistic inspiration.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sketching the Top Crust

Pencil sketch of an irregular oval shape representing the top of a bagel.

Draw a long, gentle curved line, then mirror it below to enclose an irregular oval shape. Teacher's Tip: Keep this shape slightly lumpy rather than a perfect circle to make it look like a real, hand-rolled bagel.

Step 2: Defining the Filling

Adding a wavy line inside the bagel shape to represent the filling layer.

Starting at one end, draw a wavy line that follows the inner curve of your bagel. Teacher's Tip: Use a light, shaky hand to create the wavy line; it makes the cream cheese or filling look soft and textured.

Step 3: Connecting the Filling

Completing the wavy line across the center of the bagel shape.

Extend your wavy line until it meets the opposite side of the bagel. Teacher's Tip: Make sure the line touches the outer edge so the filling looks like it is sandwiched perfectly between the two halves.

Step 4: The Bottom Half and Center Hole

Drawing the bottom crust and the central hole of the bagel.

Draw a curved line for the bottom half, then add two overlapping curved lines in the center to create the hole. Teacher's Tip: The hole doesn't need to be perfectly centered; bagels are rustic, so a little asymmetry adds character!

Step 5: Refining the Center

Adding detail lines inside the center hole to create depth.

Add a long curved line inside the hole, followed by three shorter lines that don't quite touch. Teacher's Tip: These small lines create the illusion of depth and shadow inside the bagel's center.

Step 6: Adding Texture

Adding sesame seed details to the top of the bagel using small teardrop shapes.

Draw small, teardrop-shaped lines on the top of the bagel to represent sesame seeds. Teacher's Tip: Vary the direction of the seeds so they look scattered naturally, rather than lined up in a row.

Step 7: More Toppings

Adding additional sesame seeds to the bagel surface.

Continue adding more teardrop shapes across the bagel's surface. Teacher's Tip: Don't overfill it! Leaving some empty space makes the seeds look more realistic.

Step 8: Drawing the Plate

Drawing a plate underneath the bagel using a wide curved line.

Draw a large, wide curved line underneath the bagel to form the plate. Teacher's Tip: Make sure the line is wide enough to extend past the edges of the bagel so it looks like it's resting on a flat surface.

Step 9: Final Details

Adding small crumbs on the plate to complete the drawing.

Add a few small, irregular shapes on the plate to represent crumbs. Teacher's Tip: Keep these shapes very small and scattered to add a fun, realistic touch to your drawing.

Step 10: Bring It to Life with Color

A fully colored bagel drawing with golden brown crust and cream filling.

Now it's time to color! Use golden browns for the crust and white or cream for the filling. Teacher's Tip: Use a light tan pencil to add subtle shading around the edges of the bagel to make it look 3D.