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Cottage Cheese Bagels

Easy cottage cheese bagels made with blended cottage cheese and self-rising flour. Chewy, golden and ready in 35 minutes with no yeast.

  • 11g protein
  • 176 calories
  • 35 minutes
  • 4 servings

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By The Protein First Kitchen Team. Published

Golden everything and sesame bagels on a cooling rack
Photo by @robertogar on Unsplash

Cottage cheese bagels use the same idea as the viral yogurt bagels, swapping Greek yogurt for blended cottage cheese. The result is a soft, golden bagel with 11 grams of protein and about 175 calories, made without yeast or boiling.

Blend first

Unblended cottage cheese leaves curds in the dough and makes it wet in spots. A quick blend gives a smooth, even dough that shapes easily.

Make them your own

  • Cinnamon raisin: 1 tsp cinnamon and 1/4 cup raisins in the dough, no seasoning on top.
  • Cheddar jalapeño: 1/4 cup shredded cheddar and a diced jalapeño.
  • Plain or sesame: just egg wash and sesame seeds.

Make a high-protein sandwich

Split and toast, then fill with cottage cheese scrambled eggs for a breakfast sandwich with about 36 grams of protein.

Ingredients you’ll need

  • Cottage cheese: blended smooth. It replaces the Greek yogurt in viral two-ingredient bagels and adds protein.
  • Self-rising flour: flour with leavening and salt already in it, so you don’t need yeast.
  • Egg wash: gives the deep golden, shiny bagel crust.
  • Everything bagel seasoning: or sesame, poppy seeds or flaky salt.

How to make cottage cheese bagels

  1. Blend the cottage cheese until smooth.
  2. Mix with the flour into a shaggy dough, then knead 1 minute.
  3. Shape four ropes and pinch them into rings, or poke a hole through a ball of dough and stretch it.
  4. Egg wash and season generously.
  5. Bake until deep golden; pale bagels are still doughy inside.

Cottage cheese bagels with almond flour

For a lower-carb bagel, combine 1 cup blended cottage cheese, 1 1/2 cups almond flour, 1 tsp baking powder and 1 egg. Shape with wet hands and bake at 350°F for 25 to 28 minutes. They are softer and more delicate, with about 8 grams of carbs each.

Air fryer cottage cheese bagels

Air fry at 330°F for 12 to 15 minutes, checking after 10. They brown faster than in the oven.

How to store cottage cheese bagels

They are best the day they are baked. After that, slice and toast them. See the FAQ for fridge and freezer times.

Cottage Cheese Bagels

Prep 10 min. Cook 25 min. Makes 4 servings of 1 bagel.

Servings

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment.
  2. Blend the cottage cheese until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the flour until a shaggy dough forms.
  3. Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead for 1 minute until smooth. It will be soft; flour your hands as needed.
  4. Divide into 4 pieces. Roll each into a rope about 8 inches long and pinch the ends together to form a ring.
  5. Brush with beaten egg and sprinkle with everything seasoning.
  6. Bake for 22 to 25 minutes, until deep golden. Cool 10 minutes before slicing.

Notes

  • No self-rising flour? Mix 1 cup all-purpose flour with 1 1/2 tsp baking powder and 1/4 tsp salt.
  • Store in an airtight bag for 2 days or freeze up to 2 months. Toast before eating.

Questions people ask

Do cottage cheese bagels taste like real bagels?

They are softer and less chewy than boiled New York bagels, closer to a soft bagel or English muffin, and very good toasted.

Why is my dough so sticky?

Cottage cheese brands vary in moisture. Add flour a tablespoon at a time until the dough holds its shape.

How do you store cottage cheese bagels?

Keep them in an airtight bag at room temperature for 1 day or in the fridge for up to 4 days. For longer storage, slice and freeze for up to 2 months, then toast from frozen.

Can I make cottage cheese bagels with almond flour?

Yes, but you need a binder. Use 1 1/2 cups almond flour, 1 tsp baking powder and 1 egg with 1 cup blended cottage cheese. They are lower in carbs and more tender.

Are cottage cheese bagels healthy?

Each one has about 175 calories and 11 grams of protein, compared to roughly 270 calories and 10 grams for a typical bakery bagel.

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