These easy cottage cheese bagels are soft and chewy, high in protein, and require no yeast or rising time. I've tested them in both the oven and air fryer, so you can use whichever method works best for you.
Quick Look: Cottage Cheese Bagels
- ⏱ Prep Time: 15 minutes
- 🔥 Cook Time: 25 minutes
- 🍽️ Servings: 4 bagels
- ❤️ Why you'll love this recipe: It's quick and easy with minimal ingredients- and high-protein is a big bonus!
- 🍪 Main Ingredients: cottage cheese, flour, egg and baking powder
- 👌 Difficulty: Easy
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Jump to:
- Quick Look: Cottage Cheese Bagels
- 🧑🍳 Key Ingredients
- 🗒 Substitutions
- 🥄 How to Make the Cottage Cheese Bagels
- Cottage Cheese Bagel Tips
- Can I make cottage cheese bagels in the air fryer?
- 🍲 How to Serve High Protein Bagels
- 🗒 Best Toppings for Cottage Cheese Bagels
- 🤔 Common Questions
- 🗒 Party Menus - Cottage Cheese Bagels for Brunch
- Cottage Cheese Bagels
❤️ I love these cottage cheese bagels for busy mornings because they feel like a real bagel, but they're quicker, easier, and more filling than a traditional version.
After testing both versions, I found these cottage cheese bagels worked equally well with self-rising flour or all-purpose flour and baking powder.Easy no-yeast cottage cheese bagels with 9g of protein each, made with a handful of simple ingredients.
Method: Oven or air fryer
Rise time: None
- Quick & Easy: No yeast, no rising time, and minimal ingredients.
- High in Protein: Each bagel has about 9g of protein, thanks in part to the cottage cheese.
- Totally Customizable: Go sweet with cinnamon and honey or savory with everything bagel seasoning.
- Soft & Chewy: These bagels bake up chewy, flavorful, and satisfying.
Whether you're meal prepping, fueling a workout, or just want an easy homemade bagel without the complicated steps, these are a great option. Serve them with my Ricotta Egg Bites, Make-Ahead Breakfast Strata, Bacon Straws, Cinnamon Roll Hack, or Brioche French Toast Casserole.
🧑🍳 Key Ingredients
If you're a cottage cheese lover, try my Pasta with Cottage Cheese Sauce- (High Protein Alfredo)!
Cottage Cheese - The secret ingredient that makes these cottage cheese bagels high in protein while keeping the dough soft and tender. I recommend full-fat cottage cheese for the best texture and flavor.
Flour - All-purpose flour works perfectly, but self-rising flour can be used for an even easier version. If using self-rising flour, simply omit the baking powder and salt.
Baking Powder - Gives the bagels their lift without the need for yeast or rising time.
Egg - Brushed over the top before baking, the egg wash helps create that beautiful golden-brown bakery-style finish.
Everything Bagel Seasoning - My favorite topping for a savory cottage cheese bagel. It adds garlic, onion, sesame, and poppy seed flavor in every bite.
🗒 Substitutions
• Flour Substitution: You can use self-rising flour and omit the salt and baking powder.
• Flour substitution: I've tested these with a quality gluten-free flour. Use Gluten-free 1:1 flour: I like the King Arthur brand - it's very reliable. Mix it with 2 teaspoons baking powder and ½ teaspoon kosher salt.
• I've also tested Greek yogurt in place of the cottage cheese, and it works well.
🥄 How to Make the Cottage Cheese Bagels
- Blend the cottage cheese. Blend until smooth and creamy with no large curds remaining.
- Make the dough. Stir together the flour, baking powder, salt, and blended cottage cheese until a dough forms. The dough should be soft but manageable enough to shape.
- Shape the bagels. Divide the dough into four equal pieces. Roll each piece into a rope about 6-7 inches long, then bring the ends together and pinch firmly to seal.
- Add the toppings. Brush the tops with egg wash and sprinkle with everything seasoning or your favorite bagel topping.
- Bake. Bake at 375°F for about 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through.
- Cool before slicing. Let the bagels cool for at least 15 minutes before cutting into them. This helps the centers finish setting.
Cottage Cheese Bagel Tips
The dough is sticky: Cottage cheese moisture can vary from brand to brand. The dough should be soft but still manageable enough to shape.
My bagels came apart: Pinch the ends of each dough rope together really well before baking so the seam stays closed.
The center seems gummy: Give the bagels enough time to bake through, then let them cool for at least 15 minutes before slicing. Cutting them while they're very hot can make the centers seem underdone.
Using an air fryer? Start checking early. Air fryer temperatures and cooking speeds vary considerably between models.
Can I make cottage cheese bagels in the air fryer?
Yes, Air fry them at 350°F for 12-14 minutes, checking for doneness since air fryers vary. Reheat the air fryer to 350°F for about 5 minutes.
Air fryer tip: Air fryers can vary quite a bit, so start checking the bagels a few minutes early the first time you make them. They should be golden on the outside and no longer doughy in the center.
🍲 How to Serve High Protein Bagels
I like to serve these Cottage Cheese Bagels with my Ricotta Egg Bite recipe.
Savory
Classic Style: Toasted with a smear of whipped cream cheese or Greek yogurt for extra protein.
Savory Upgrade: Top with avocado, smoked salmon, and a sprinkle of everything bagel seasoning.
Egg & Cheese Sandwich: Layer with scrambled eggs and cheese for the ultimate high-protein breakfast sandwich.
Pizza Bagel: Toast it with marinara, mozzarella, and turkey pepperoni for a fun twist.
Sweet
Sweet Treat: Spread with almond butter and a drizzle of honey for a protein-packed breakfast. And if sweet is your jam (get it:) then try my Brioche French Toast Casserole recipe.
Cinnamon sugar: Combine cinnamon and sugar and sprinkle over a buttered bagel. My favorite when I was little.
Berry cream cheese- And for a fun twist, add fresh berries on top.
These bagels aren't just for breakfast either-they're great for lunch, snacks, or even dinner when paired with a hearty soup or salad! You can even make bagel chips!
🗒 Best Toppings for Cottage Cheese Bagels
My favorite version is the savory garlic onion cottage cheese bagel because it tastes like a bakery-style cheese bagel but has extra protein from the cottage cheese.
Savory Cottage Cheese Bagels
- garlic (minced)
- onion (dried)
- Parmesan
- Cheddar
- Everything seasoning (garlic, onion, sesame, poppy, salt)
- Poppy seeds
- Sesame seeds (white or black)
- Coarse sea salt or pretzel salt
- Minced dried garlic
- Minced dried onion
- Parmesan or Asiago cheese (grated)
- Fresh rosemary + flaky salt
- Shredded cheddar
- Gruyère
- Pepper jack
- Chopped nuts (pecans, walnuts, almonds)
- Cream cheese dollops (for stuffed effect)
Sweet
- Cinnamon sugar
- Turbinado sugar
- Dried blueberries or raisins
- Brown sugar + cinnamon mix
👝 How to Store Leftovers: Cottage Cheese Bagels
Allow the bagels to cool completely and store them in an airtight bag at room temperature (not in the refrigerator, which can make them stale faster) for 3-4 days.
🤔 Common Questions
Yes, freeze them immediately for up to 4 months.
Regular bagels are mostly carbs, while high protein bagels recipes add ingredients like cottage cheese, to boost the protein count.
Nope! Cottage cheese blends seamlessly into the dough, adding moisture and protein without any cottage cheese flavor.
This recipe has approximately 9 grams of protein per bagel when divided into four bagels.
No. These bagels use baking powder for lift, so there's no yeast or rising time.
🗒 Party Menus - Cottage Cheese Bagels for Brunch
These cottage cheese bagels are one of my favorite additions to a brunch spread. They're easy to make ahead, packed with protein, and pair beautifully with both sweet and savory dishes.
For a savory brunch menu, serve them alongside my Ricotta Egg Bites or Make-Ahead Breakfast Strata. If you're craving something sweet, my Brioche French Toast Casserole is always a crowd-pleaser. Add fresh fruit, coffee, and a simple salad, and you've got an effortless brunch that feels special without a lot of work.
Or any of these recipes!
If you make these cottage cheese bagels, leave a star rating and comment below. I'd love to hear how they turned out!
Cottage Cheese Bagels
Ingredients
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup full-fat cottage cheese
- 2 teaspoons baking powder * See notes
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg beaten for egg wash
- Seasoning ideas: everything bagel seasoning shredded asiago cheese, poppy or sesame seeds, coarse salt, dried onion flakes, dried garlic flakes.
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 and position the rack to the top position.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Blend cottage cheese: Add the cottage cheese to a mixing bowl and use an immersion blender until smooth. Alternatively, Place the cottage cheese in the food processor or blender and pulse or blend on high until smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed. Note: If you don't want to blend the cottage cheese they still come out great. The dough may drier but will come together with kneading.
- Add flour: Add the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix until completely combined and the dough starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl. Transfer the dough to a generously floured work surface and knead the dough 8-10 times, until smooth. Add more flour to the work surface as needed until the dough is no longer sticky. But don't over-add the flour.
- Shape and season: Roll the dough into a ball and divide it into 4 equal balls. Roll each ball out into a 6-7-inch rope, about 1-inch thick. Join the ends to make a circle and pinch the seam tightly to seal. Brush the tops with a beaten egg and top with a seasoning if desired.
- Bake in the preheated oven until puffed and golden brown, 25-30 minutes. Allow to cool for 15 minutes before slicing and serving. Bagels stay fresh in an airtight container at room temp for up to 4 days.
Air Fryer Method
- Preheat the air fryer to 350°F for 5 minutes. Air fry the bagels at 350°F for 12-14 minutes, or until golden and cooked through. Air fryer models vary, so begin checking a few minutes early.
Notes
- Flour Substitution: You can use self-rising flour and omit the salt and baking powder.
- Air Fryer Method: Spray the air fryer basket with oil. Transfer the bagels to the air fryer basket in batches without overcrowding and air fry at 350°F for 12-14 minutes, or until golden. No need to turn.
- Oven Method: Preheat oven to 375F. Place parchment paper or a Silpat on a baking sheet. Bake on the top rack of the oven for 25 minutes. Let cool at least 15 minutes before cutting.
- Important: Let cool at least 15 minutes before slicing.
Dayna says
I was so impressed with myself after making these! lol Super easy and delicious too!
Lauren Lane says
Yay! That makes me so happy! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Kari Ivie says
Have made this recipe several times now. My entire family loves them! We don’t eat much meat, so happy to know we are getting the extra protein in as well.
Lauren Lane says
I hope you love these as much as I do. I prefer them to the traditional full-carb version! Enjoy!
Beverly Craven says
I wondered if you could substitute almond flour? I follow a keto diet and can’t have flour. Thank you!
Lauren Lane says
I haven’t tried that yet.
JenQ says
Do you think you could add a bit of fruit as the flavor?
Lauren Lane says
I would think so but I haven't tried that. Let me know if you do!