Cottage Cheese Bagels
These Cottage Cheese Bagels are soft, chewy, golden brown, and packed with protein, making them the perfect homemade breakfast or snack. Made with just a few simple ingredients and no yeast, they're ready in about 30 minutes and require no boiling or rising time. Blending the cottage cheese creates an incredibly smooth dough that bakes into fluffy, bakery-style bagels with a tender interior and perfectly crisp exterior. Top them with everything bagel seasoning, sesame seeds, cinnamon sugar, or your favorite cheese for endless flavor combinations. Whether you're meal prepping for the week, building breakfast sandwiches, or simply craving fresh homemade bagels, this easy cottage cheese bagel recipe is one you'll make again and again.
Ingredients
- 2 cups self-rising flour
- 1 cup full-fat cottage cheese blended
- 1 large egg for the wash
- everything bagel seasoning optional
Optional Bagel Flavor Toppings
- Sesame seeds
- Poppy seeds
- Flakey sea salt
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Asiago cheese
- Parmesan cheese
- Cinnamon sugar
- Garlic fkales
- Dried onion
Homemade Self-Rising Flour (if needed)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Add the cottage cheese to a blender or food processor and blend until completely smooth, about 20–30 seconds.
- Transfer the blended cottage cheese to a large mixing bowl. Add the self-rising flour and stir until a shaggy dough begins to form.
- Lightly flour your countertop. Turn the dough out and knead gently for about 2–3 minutes until smooth. The dough should be slightly tacky but not sticky. Avoid adding too much extra flour.
- Divide the dough into four equal portions. Roll each portion into an 8-inch rope. Bring the ends together and pinch tightly to form a bagel.
- Arrange the bagels on the prepared baking sheet, leaving a couple inches between each one. Brush the tops and sides with the beaten egg. Generously sprinkle with your favorite toppings.
- Bake for 22–26 minutes, or until the bagels are deeply golden brown and cooked through.
- Remove from the oven and cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and allow the bagels to cool another 10 minutes before slicing. Serve warm with cream cheese, butter, avocado, smoked salmon, eggs, or your favorite sandwich fillings.
Notes
Tips for Success
- Blend the cottage cheese until silky smooth for the softest texture.
- Full-fat cottage cheese produces the richest flavor and best crumb.
- Don't over-knead the dough or the bagels can become dense.
- The dough should feel slightly tacky—avoid adding too much flour.
- Bake until the tops are a deep golden brown for the best chewy crust.
- Let the bagels cool before slicing so the centers finish setting.
Storage
Store cooled bagels in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Refrigerate for up to 1 week. Freeze individually wrapped bagels for up to 3 months.Reheating
Toast in a toaster until warm and crispy. For frozen bagels, toast directly from frozen or microwave for about 20 seconds before toasting.Flavor Variations
- Everything Bagel
- Jalapeño Cheddar
- Asiago Cheese
- Garlic Parmesan
- Cinnamon Sugar
- Honey Oat
- Blueberry
- Rosemary Sea Salt
- Italian Herb
- Pizza Bagels
Nutrition Information (Estimated Per Bagel)
- Calories: 210
- Protein: 13g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Cholesterol: 52mg
- Sodium: 430mg
- Potassium: 120mg
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 2g
- Calcium: 10% DV
- Iron: 8% DV