Cottage Cheese Bagels (Viral)
on Mar 18, 2025, Updated Jan 29, 2026
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Not all heroes wear capes, and this Cottage Cheese Bagel is living proof 🦸♂️🥯. You already know The Protein Nonna was on the prowl again for some high-protein recipes that make breakfast something to look forward to. Then, I stumbled upon these cottage cheese bagels from my girl Gina over at Skinny Taste, and WOWWW. Mind = blown 🤯. I know it’s a bold claim, but dare I say… these might actually be BETTER than regular bagels?! Soft and chewy on the inside, golden & crisp on the outside—these bad boys had me questioning everything I thought I knew about bagels. Like, how can something this delicious be so easy to make?! And the best part? They help me hit my protein goals while tasting like a cheat meal. This shouldn’t even be legal… 🔥😂
Why You’ll Love Cottage Cheese Bagels
High-protein and highly customizable, my cottage cheese bagels 🥯 are an easy and delicious way to hit your macros! Even though they’re a healthier take on traditional bagels, you still get that signature bite 🫦 – soft and chewy on the inside with a golden-brown crust. You’ll have a blast playing with different flavor profiles from cinnamon and raisins to savory garlic 🧄 and chives. Plus, my air-fryer method means you can have warm, homemade bagels quicker than the time it takes to hit up Panera 🙌. Top these high-protein bagels with sesame seeds, asiago cheese, or everything bagel seasoning for added crunch. And pair them with my Labneh Breakfast Plate for a healthy twist on bagels and lox. Enjoy! 👩🍳
How to Prepare
🥣 In a bowl, add the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix.
🌀 Next, add the cottage cheese to a food processor and blend until smooth.
👩🍳 Add the blended cottage cheese into the dry ingredients and mix until a smooth dough. I like to start mixing with a fork and then switch over to my hands.
🔪 Next, cut the dough ball into 4 equal pieces. Take each piece, roll into a ball and poke a hole in the middle with your finger creating that bagel-like shape.
👐 Shape each one into a bagel by gently stretching it and dust with a little bit of flour if it sticks to your hands as you work with each one.
🥚 Once the bagels are shaped, crack 1/2 egg (or 1 egg white) and beat it well.
🥯 Brush the tops and the sides of each bagel with the egg and optionally, sprinkle each one with sesame seeds, everything bagel seasoning, or poppy seeds.
♨️ Air fry at 300F for 13 minutes or until golden. Enjoy!
Nonna’s Tip 🥯
If at any point the dough feels too sticky, just dust a little bit of flour as you work with it.
Variations and Substitutions for Cottage Cheese Bagels
- For gluten-free cottage cheese bagels 🥯, use a 1:1 flour substitute.
- To make this recipe dairy-free, look for a high-protein vegan cottage cheese.
- Toppings like sesame or poppy seeds add a nice crunch. You can also add your favorite cheese 🧀 for more savory goodness.
- Play with different flavor profiles, like blueberry, garlic and chives, or cinnamon and raisins.
- No air fryer, no problem! Bake these in the oven at 375F on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper for about 25 minutes ⏲️.
- Use this same dough to make Cottage Cheese Pita Bread and Cottage Cheese Pizza Dough.
Other Breakfast Recipes
Tips for Perfect Cottage Cheese Bagels
- Blend the Cottage Cheese Well 🌀 – Make sure to blend the cottage cheese until completely smooth before adding it to the dry ingredients. This helps create a uniform dough without lumps, making the bagels softer and easier to work with.
- Flour is Your Friend 🌾 – If the dough feels too sticky, lightly dust it with flour as needed. But don’t overdo it—too much flour can make the bagels dense instead of soft and chewy.
- Knead with Care 🤲 – Start mixing with a fork, but once it begins to come together, switch to your hands to form a smooth, elastic dough.
- Bagel Shape Hack 🔄 – When making the hole in the center, give the dough a gentle stretch instead of just poking through. This prevents it from closing up while baking and keeps that classic bagel shape.
- Egg Wash for the Win 🥚✨ – Don’t skip the egg wash! It gives the bagels that beautiful golden-brown color and helps toppings like sesame seeds or “Everything But the Bagel” seasoning stick better.
- Let Them Cool Slightly 🌬️ – Resist the urge to dive in right away (I know, it’s hard 😅). Let the bagels cool for a few minutes—this helps them set and improves the texture.
Best Served With
- These high-protein bagels 🥯 and my Labneh Breakfast Plate are a nice twist on bagels and lox.
- Slather your bagel in layers of butter, cream cheese, and The Healthiest Jam.
- Make an exceptional breakfast sandwich with a fried egg, avocado 🥑, and my Breakfast Sausage Recipe.
- Enjoy with a hot cup of coffee ☕️, a side of fluffy scrambled eggs, and crispy bacon.
Common Questions
Yes! Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour substitute instead of all-purpose flour.
Of course! Look for a dairy-free cottage cheese alternatives. Be sure to check the protein content on the nutrition label, as dairy-free alternatives have varying amounts.
Absolutely! You can customize your bagels with different flavor profiles, like garlic and chives or cinnamon and raisins.
Feel free to experiment with toppings like sesame seeds, everything bagel seasoning, cinnamon/sugar, asiago cheese, and more!
It will work, but there are a couple of things to keep in mind. Low-fat and fat-free cottage cheese is a lighter option, but full-fat cottage cheese makes a for a richer flavored bagel – not to mention a higher protein count.
Your dough may have too much moisture. A light dusting of flour will make the dough easier to work with.
If you don’t have an air fryer, you can bake these in the oven at 375F on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper for about 25 minutes.
Cottage Cheese Bagels (Viral)
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup cottage cheese, blended
- ½ egg , beaten
- optional, sesame seeds, everything but bagel seasoning
Instructions
- In a bowl, add the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix.
- Next, add the cottage cheese to a food processor and blend until smooth.
- Add the blended cottage cheese into the dry ingredients and mix until a smooth dough. I like to start mixing with a fork and then switch over to my hands.
- Note: if at any point the dough feels too sticky just dust a little bit of flour as you work with it.
- Next, cut the dough ball into 4 equal pieces. Take each piece, roll into a ball and poke a hole in the middle with your finger creating that bagel-like shape.
- Shape each one into a bagel by gently stretching it and dust with a little bit of flour if it sticks to your hands as you work with each one.
- Once the bagels are shaped, crack 1/2 egg (or 1 egg white) and beat it well.
- Brush the tops and the sides of each bagel with the egg and optionally, sprinkle each one with sesame seeds, everything but the bagel seasoning or poppy seeds.
- Air fry at 300F for 13 minutes or until golden. Enjoy!
Nonna’s Notes
- Other ways to bake: You can also use this dough to make Cottage Cheese Bagels or Cottage Cheese Pizza Dough.
- Flour alternatives: This recipe works with unbleached all purpose flour, whole wheat flour, or gluten-free flour such as Cup4Cup.
- Dairy-free: To make this recipe dairy-free, look for a high-protein vegan cottage cheese.
- Mix-ins: Play with different flavor profiles, like garlic and chives or cinnamon and raisins.
- Toppings: Sesame seeds or poppy seeds add a nice crunch. You can also add your favorite cheese for more savory goodness.
- Oven Method: If you don’t have an air fryer, bake these in the oven at 375F on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper for about 25 minutes.
- Nutrition note: Each bagel is about 200 calories with 10 grams of protein.
My Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
1000/10. Made these today in the toaster oven and turned out fantastic. Perfectly fluffy in the middle crisp on the outside. I need to double the recipe next time because they have disappeared instantly.
I love it! Enjoy! ❤️
I just made the recipe and they came out great. I didn’t have enough cottage cheese so I added a bit of yogurt and it worked just fine. Baked in a regular oven for the time she suggested ~25 min.
Thank you for sharing! I’m so happy you enjoyed them! ❤️
Do you think these would work if the cottage cheese was replaced with ricotta?
Yes! Just keep in mind the nutritional values will be different. Enjoy! ❤️
Thank you for sharing this recipe. We loved it.
I’m so happy you loved it, Katie ❤️!
These are delicious 😋 I want to have company all the time, just so I can make them!
I quick question- can I make the bayter the night before?
Yes, you can! However, don’t store it as a ball of dough. Go ahead and shape your bagels and refrigerate them overnight. Do not let them proof before refrigerating for best results. ❤️
My family loves these! So yummy and we love a healthier option!
The grams for ingredients do not adjust properly when clicking 2x or 3x.
Thank you for bringing this to my attention, Coco! I have updated the recipe card. If you click on Metric below the Ingredients, it will show the amount in grams. Then, you can click 2x or 3x and it should adjust automatically. Hope this helps! ❤️
I love making Montreal Style Bagels. But when I saw this quick healthier version, I had to give it a try. I was not disappointed!!! They will be something I will make often and try different variations.. GF is a plus for my friends who have an intolerance
Thankyou for sharing Nonna
You’re so welcome, Esther! ❤️
Delicious and simple!!
You did a great job, Anj! These look like they came from a bakery! 😍
Loving the flavor and the “chew.” I made them with gf 1-to-1 flour. They do seem a little moist though. Wondering if I needed more flour or more cook time. I pulled them when they were golden. I also made them in my toaster oven/air fryer, so maybe I should be went with a higher temp. I’ll have to play around with it.
I’m so happy you’re loving the bagels, Helene! ❤️
I haven’t made bagels or baked anything in a long time and I kind of forgot how much things expand. I did not make my holes big enough and so I got bagel balls? My mistake, I’ll own it!
Everything else worked seamlessly. I don’t have an air fryer so I did it in my oven on the convection setting at 350 for about 25 minutes. Turned out great!
Next time I make, hopefully I remember how much these expand so I can have bagel-shaped bagels.
Hahaha! Thank you for sharing, Saralyn! You’ll get them next time! 😉 Otherwise, I’m so glad the flavor turned out great!!