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These Cottage Cheese Bagels are one of the easiest homemade breads you can make. They use just four simple ingredients and bake into soft, chewy bagels with a golden crust.
There’s no yeast and no rising time, so the dough comes together quickly and can go straight into the oven or air fryer.
They’re great for breakfast sandwiches, toasted with cream cheese, or served alongside eggs for a high-protein start to the day.
Homemade, cozy – no reservations needed.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Only a few simple ingredients
Everything comes together using pantry staples. - High-protein breakfast option
Cottage cheese adds protein while keeping the bagels soft. - No yeast required
Just mix the dough, shape the bagels, and bake. - Golden outside, soft inside
The egg wash helps create a beautiful golden crust. - Great for breakfast sandwiches
Perfect with eggs, smoked salmon, or cream cheese. - Freezer friendly
Make a batch and keep some for later.
What You’ll Need
Cottage cheese – adds protein and keeps the bagels soft
All-purpose flour – gives the dough structure
Baking powder – helps the bagels rise
Salt – enhances flavor
Egg wash – creates a golden crust
Optional toppings such as:
- everything bagel seasoning
- sesame seeds
- poppy seeds
- dried garlic flakes
Exact ingredient amounts are listed in the recipe card below.
How to Make Cottage Cheese Bagels
- Preheat:
- Oven: 375°F (190°C)
- Air Fryer: 280°F (140°C)
- Prepare the Dough:
- In a food processor or blender, blend cottage cheese until creamy.
- In a bowl, mix blended cottage cheese, flour, baking powder, and salt until a sticky dough forms.
3. Shape the Bagels:
- Lightly flour your hands and divide the dough into 4 pieces.
- Roll each piece into a log and form a circle to create the classic bagel shape.
4. Add Toppings:
- Place bagels on a parchment-lined baking sheet (or air fryer basket lined with parchment).
- Brush with beaten egg (egg wash).
- Sprinkle with desired toppings like sesame seeds, poppy seeds, or garlic flakes.
5. Bake:
- Oven: Bake for 25 minutes on the top rack of the oven or until golden brown.
- Air Fryer: Air fry for 15 minutes until puffed and golden.
6. Cool:
- Let cool slightly before slicing and using as a sandwich base, toasting, or enjoying with butter or cream cheese.
Recipe Tips
- For a smoother dough: Blend the cottage cheese before adding dry ingredients (optional).
- Low-carb or keto: Swap all-purpose flour for almond flour (note: the texture will be slightly different).
- Make it gluten-free: Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend for gluten-free cottage cheese bagels.
- No flour version: Try experimenting with almond flour or coconut flour versions.
- Fluffy texture: Make sure baking powder is fresh and aluminum-free.
- Perfect shape: Wet your hands slightly if the dough feels too sticky.
- Extra flavor: Add garlic powder, onion powder, or herbs to the dough.
- Golden brown perfection: Brush generously with egg wash before baking.
Storage & Reheating
Refrigerator
Store cooled bagels in an airtight container for several days.
Freezer
Wrap individually and freeze for up to a couple of months.
Reheating
Slice and toast in a toaster or warm briefly in the oven.
Tips for Best Results
Blend the cottage cheese first
This creates a smoother dough and better texture.
Use fresh baking powder
Fresh baking powder helps the bagels rise properly.
Flour your hands when shaping
The dough is slightly sticky, which is normal.
Don’t skip the egg wash
It helps create the golden crust.
Toast before serving
These bagels taste even better lightly toasted.
Variations
Everything Bagel Style
Top with everything bagel seasoning.
Garlic & Herb Bagels
Add garlic powder or dried herbs to the dough.
Gluten-Free Version
Use a gluten-free flour blend designed for baking.
Lower-Carb Option
Almond flour can be used, although the texture will be slightly different.
FAQ
Blending helps create a smoother dough and better bagel texture.
Yes. Freeze them after baking and cooling. Slice before freezing so they can be toasted directly from frozen.
Yes. A gluten-free flour blend designed for baking works well.
They are great with:
cream cheese
smoked salmon
eggs and avocado
butter and jam
turkey and cheese
More Similar Recipes You May Like
- Keto Bagels With Almond Flour
- Cottage Cheese Pizza
- Keto Hot Dogs
- Cottage Cheese Stuffed Peppers
- Lemon Cottage Cheese Mousse
- Cottage Cheese Chocolate Mousse
Cottage Cheese Bagels
Ingredients
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt, optional
- 1 beaten egg, or egg yolk
- Toppings: Everything Bagel seasoning, sesame seeds, poppy seeds
Video
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) or air fryer to 280°F (140°C).
- In a food processor, blend cottage cheese until smooth. Transfer to a bowl.
- Add flour, baking powder, and salt to the bowl. Stir until a sticky dough forms.
- Lightly flour hands and divide dough into 4 pieces. Shape into bagels.
- Place bagels on a parchment-lined baking sheet or air fryer basket.
- Brush with egg wash and add toppings.
Bake:
- * Oven: 25 minutes on the top rack until golden brown.
- * Air Fryer: 15 minutes until golden and puffed.
- Cool slightly before slicing, toasting, or making sandwiches.
Notes
* Use gluten-free flour for a gluten-free version.
* Almond flour can be used for a low-carb option.
* Freeze after baking and reheat by slicing and toasting.
* Top with butter, cream cheese, or use as a sandwich base.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
