Cottage Cheese Bagels
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My cottage cheese bagels require just two ingredients and yield crispy and chewy bagels every time. They can be made in the oven or the air fryer and are SO good toasted with some cream cheese or made into a bagel sandwich.
Table of Contents
Why I love these cottage cheese bagels
Is everyone still adding cottage cheese to everything? I hope so, because I sure have. Inspired by my two-ingredient bagels and air fryer bagels, I’ve created my new obsession—cottage cheese bagels. They are just as easy and delicious, but each one packs extra nutrition. Here are some reasons to make them ASAP:
- Quick and easy. No yeast means from prep to plate, these bake up in under 20 minutes.
- Healthy. Like my protein bagels, each bagel packs in at least 15 grams of protein and has very little fat.
- The BEST texture. You get that gorgeous, crispy exterior while being soft and fluffy in the middle.
- Use them like real bagels. Toast them, then stuff them with cream cheese, smoked salmon, or even my famous cottage cheese egg salad!
If you want more cottage cheese recipes, try my cottage cheese pizza crust, cottage cheese muffins, cottage cheese cookies, and cottage cheese brownies next.
★★★★★ REVIEW
“This is an easy and delicious way to add protein to a breakfast snack. I’ve made a double batch 4 times since I found this viral recipe.” – Laura
Key Ingredients
- Cottage cheese. I like to use whipped cottage cheese because it mixes into the dough easily. Standard cottage cheese will work, but you’ll need to knead it into the dough a little bit.
- Self-rising flour. A combination of flour, salt, and baking powder. Using this flour skips the need to add your leavening agents and salt. Skip the expensive pre-mixed kind and make my homemade self-rising flour.
- Egg. Optional, but I like to brush the tops of the bagels with an egg wash to give them that golden crust.
- Toppings. Everything but the bagel seasoning, sesame, and poppy seeds are my go-tos.
How to make cottage cheese bagels
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
Step 1- In a mixing bowl, add the flour and whipped cottage cheese and mix until a smooth dough remains.
Step 2- Transfer the dough onto a floured surface and shape into 8 balls of dough. Shape the balls of dough into a bagel shape.
Step 3- Transfer the bagels onto a baking sheet, brush with egg wash, and add toppings.
Step 4- Bake in the oven at 180C/350F for 20 minutes or in the air fryer for 12 minutes.
Arman’s recipe tips
- Mix with your hands. I know that sounds messy, but I find the best way for the dough to form is to use your hands. This is especially important if you don’t blend or whip the cottage cheese first.
- If the dough is too crumbly, I will add some cottage cheese or water to rectify it.
- If the dough is too wet, adding a pinch or two of flour will solve it. Avoid going overboard with it to prevent it from being too dense.
- Sub out the egg wash. I know not everyone wants to use eggs, so feel free to swap them out for some milk or a dash of olive oil mixed with water.
Storage instructions
To store: Leftover bagels are best stored in the fridge, covered, for up to five days.
To freeze: Place the baked and halved bagels in a ziplock bag and store them in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Reheating: Slice the bagels in half and toast them as you would any bread.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, I recently tested this out after receiving several comments asking if it could. You’ll need to use equal parts almond flour, but add 1 teaspoon of baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. The bagels won’t rise just as much, but still turn out tender on the outside and fluffy in the middle.
If you tried this Cottage Cheese Bagels recipe or any other recipe on The Big Man’s World, please rate the recipe and let me know how it went in the comments below. It really helps others thinking of making the recipe.
Cottage Cheese Bagels {2-Ingredients}
Video
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cups self-rising flour
- 1 cup whipped cottage cheese
Optional toppings
- 1 small egg whisked
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 1/2 tablespoon poppy seeds
Instructions
- Preheat the oven or the air fryer to 180C/350F.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and whipped cottage cheese and mix/knead them together to form a dough. If the dough seems dry and won’t come together, add more cottage cheese or a little water.
- Transfer the dough onto a floured surface and shape into eight balls. Roll into a bagel shape.
- Place the shaped bagels onto parchment paper and brush with the whisked egg. Sprinkle the toppings of choice.
Air fry
- Place the bagels in the air fryer basket and air fry for 10 minutes or until golden brown.
Oven
- Place the bagels on a baking sheet and bake for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown.
I haven’t had bagels with cream cheese in a long time. These turned out really well. I cooked them in the oven for 20 minutes @350 degrees. They are easy to make and tasted good.
My air fryer only works on 400 degrees. How long should I air fry them at that temperature?
Hi Angela- thanks for the lovely review and star rating. For the air fryer, I recommend air frying at that temp for about 8 minutes, flip, and air fryer for another 2 to 3 minutes until golden brown.
The cottage cheese bagels were a hit! Super easy to make and really tasty. I am so impressed that you consistently reimagine every day recipes to create simple, healthy fare. This is my go to site for better recipes. Thank you.
Thanks so much for your lovely review and kind words! I’m glad you enjoyed these bagels, too 🙂
Is this recipe for 4 or 8 bagels ? It says 8, but you only made 4. And then theserving size is for just one bagel is that correct?
It makes 8 bagels, Cindy! In photos and videos, we sometimes halve the amount for shooting purposes, usually for breads or rolls 🙂
Can you replace almond flour for the All purpose
Hi Lynn- I just added this in the FAQ’s, after so many readers asked it so I tested it. Yes, it does and you’ll need to add one teaspoon baking powder and half a teaspoon salt.
I would love more high-protein breakfast ideas as well as dinner dinners and easy to make bread.
Hi Kimberly- of course! I have an entire category page for high protein recipes, which mostly includes dinners, or my mains category. In terms of bread, I really like cottage cheese flatbread or low calorie bread, otherwise air fryer bread is super easy, too.
Hi Arman, can I make them with almond flour?
Hi Cathy- yes, you can. I addressed it in an earlier comment, but add one teaspoon of baking soda and half a teaspoon of salt 🙂 I’ll also make a note in the recipe post about it. 🙂 Let me know how you go!
Could you use whole wheat flour?
Hi Sharon- you can, but you’ll need to add one teaspoon of baking powder and half a teaspoon of salt. You may also need to add a touch more cottage cheese, as whole wheat flour is a tiny bit more absorbent than standard self rising flour 🙂
These are amazing and so easy! The texture is similar to boiled bagels, which I love. Any ideas on making them diabetic-friendly?
Thanks Julie! You can experiment with a low carb alternative in place of the self-rising flour, perhaps some almond flour and a little baking powder?
Can you maybe tell me the Grams not Cups if possible? THX
Hello Sylvia! My team and I are testing out each and every recipe to include metric measurements for every single recipe- it’s just taking some time haha! I’ve done it for this recipe though- Flour: 210 grams. Whipped cottage cheese: 225 grams 🙂
Oh my gosh, absolutely wonderful. These are dangerously good. Even my husband liked them and he isn’t a bread person.
This is an easy and delicious way to add protein in a breakfast snack. I’ve made a double batch 4 times since I found this viral recipe.
So delicious and easy. I love the whipped cottage cheese component.
Are these supposed to make 8 or 4 bagels? The video shows 4, recipe defaults to 8. I made 8 and they are very small. 😔
Hi Lynette- it makes 8. We did a half batch for the video 🙂
These are so good and help with cravings for me!! I’m wondering how I could add more fiber? Oat flour? WW flour?
Can almond flour be substituted for self rising flour?
Thank you.
Hi Lidia- I did recently test this with almond flour, and it is the same amount as the flour- just be sure to add 1 teaspoon baking powder and 1/4 teaspoon of salt 🙂
Very good! Tastes great. Easy to make!
Tried this and it came out perfect and tasted great! Very easy to make as well. Definitely saving this recipe!!
These were amazing!! The air fryer gave them such a good texture, 10/10 recommend
Thanks, Molly!
These cottage cheese bagels are a game changer using blended cottage cheese. I can’t say I like using straight-up cottage cheese for it.
We found them to be a little crumbly when recipe testing!
Could these be made with whole wheat flour?
Yes! Or whole wheat self rising flour 🙂
Can the almond flour replace the white flour?
Yes, just tested this using almond flour and it works!!!
Is the amount of almond flour the same as the self-rising flour? Do I need to add baking powder & salt? Can’t wait to try it!!
Yes, it is. And yes!!
How much Baking Powder and Salt do you add when using Almond Flour? Can’t wait to try this!! 🙂
one teaspoon baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt
Have you tried boiling them before baking like ‘normal’ bagels?
I haven’t, but please let me know if you do!
So delicious 😋 will make it again, definitely a keeper
Why not use everything bagel seasoning?
Yes, feel free to use that. I sometimes omit it because my siblings are allergic to garlic 🙂
Can these be made gluten free. I have celiacs
Just made this and they are soo good!
Love that!!!
Just made these cottage cheese bagels using the air fryer method and it was fabulous. I added some parmesan cheese (love cheesy bagels) and everything but the bagel seasoning.