Soft Chewy Cottage Cheese Bagels (Printable)

Soft, chewy bagels made with cottage cheese and self-rising flour offer a protein-rich start or snack.

# Components:

→ Dough

01 - 1 cup cottage cheese, full-fat or low-fat
02 - 1.5 cups self-rising flour

→ Toppings

03 - 1 large egg, beaten for egg wash
04 - 2 tablespoons everything bagel seasoning, sesame seeds, or poppy seeds

# Method:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine cottage cheese and self-rising flour, stirring until a shaggy dough forms.
03 - Transfer dough to a lightly floured work surface. Knead gently for 1 to 2 minutes until smooth, avoiding over-kneading.
04 - Divide dough into 4 equal portions. Roll each portion into a rope shape, form into a bagel ring, and pinch the ends to seal completely.
05 - Place bagels on the prepared baking sheet. Brush tops with beaten egg wash and sprinkle with desired toppings such as everything bagel seasoning, sesame seeds, or poppy seeds.
06 - Bake for 18 to 22 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
07 - Remove from oven and allow bagels to cool slightly before slicing and serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Zero yeast means zero waiting around—from bowl to breakfast table in 30 minutes flat.
  • Each bagel packs 11 grams of protein thanks to cottage cheese, so you're actually full until lunch.
  • The dough is forgiving enough that even tired morning hands can shape it without stress.
02 -
  • Don't skip the parchment paper—these stick to baking sheets without it, and fishing them off is frustrating and wasteful.
  • The dough won't feel like traditional yeast bagel dough, and that's not a mistake; it's softer and wetter, which is exactly what makes these work.
03 -
  • If your cottage cheese looks watery, drain it in a fine-mesh strainer for a minute before mixing—excess liquid can make the dough sticky.
  • Room temperature cottage cheese mixes into the flour more smoothly than cold, so let it sit on the counter for ten minutes if you remember.
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