Can I use low-fat cottage cheese?

Absolutely! The texture might be slightly different, but they'll still be delicious. I've used everything from full-fat to fat-free with great results.

Do I have to boil them?

Not at all. The boiling step gives you that traditional chewy bagel texture, but skipping it still gives you wonderful, bread-like results that are perfect for breakfast.

Why are my bagels dense?

This usually happens from over-mixing or using old baking powder. Keep your mixing gentle and make sure your leavening agents are fresh.

Can I make mini bagels?

Yes! Divide the dough into 8 pieces instead of 4, and reduce the cooking time by a few minutes. They're perfect for kids or parties.

Easy 2-Ingredient Cottage Cheese Bagels

Name: Easy 2-Ingredient Cottage Cheese Bagels
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 ¼ cups self-raising flour (approximately 180g), or use all-purpose flour and 1 teaspoon of baking powder; 1 cup cottage cheese (approximately 250g), blended or unblended; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 egg, whisked (for the egg wash if you’re not boiling the bagels); Toppings of your choice (everything bagel seasoning, pickled jalapeños and grated cheddar, sesame seeds, chili crisp, za’atar or even cinnamon sugar are great ideas)

Description

Soft, chewy, and protein-packed — these quick no-blend cottage cheese bagels are made with just a few simple ingredients and no fancy equipment needed!

Ingredients

Scale

1 ¼ cups self-raising flour (approximately 180g), or use all-purpose flour and 1 teaspoon of baking powder
1 cup cottage cheese (approximately 250g), blended or unblended
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg, whisked (for the egg wash if you’re not boiling the bagels)
Toppings of your choice (everything bagel seasoning, pickled jalapeños and grated cheddar, sesame seeds, chili crisp, za’atar or even cinnamon sugar are great ideas)

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Instructions

Add 1¼ cups self-raising flour (or all-purpose flour and 1 teaspoon of baking powder), 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 cup of cottage cheese to a mixing bowl. Stir with a spoon until a shaggy dough forms, then knead with your hands in the bowl until it comes together.
Set the dough on a lightly floured surface. Slice it into four (roughly) equal pieces. If you have a scale, they should weigh about 105g each. Use your hands to shape the dough pieces into balls.
Use your finger to poke a hole in the center of each ball, then gently stretch it into a bagel shape. Make the holes a little larger than you’d expect – they’ll puff up during cooking. Repeat with the rest of the dough balls.
Boil the bagels (optional). I like to do this when I have time – it gives the bagels a more authentic, chewy texture. Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat, then drop the bagels into the water. Depending on the size of your pot, you might need to do this in stages (I usually do two at a time). Let them boil for about 1 minute, then flip them over and boil for another minute. They should float to the top. Use a slotted spoon or spatula to remove the bagels from the water and place onto a board or tray.
If you’ve not boiled your bagels, brush them with the whisked egg, then sprinkle on your toppings. If you did boil them, skip the egg wash and top them straight after boiling, while they are still damp.
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F/200°C (just run it empty for 2 minutes). Place your topped bagels into your air fryer and air fry for nine minutes until lovely and golden. Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F/200°C. Place your topped bagels onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, then pop them into the oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until deeply golden all over.
Let the bagels sit for at least 10 minutes before you slice into them if you can – they can be a little gummy if you slice them straight away. Fill with whatever you’d like, and enjoy.

Notes

Try mixing your favorite toppings for fun flavor combos — sweet or savory, both work perfectly!

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bagel
Calories: 209
Sugar: 1.8g
Sodium: 564.7mg
Fat: 1.1g
Saturated Fat: 0.5g
Unsaturated Fat: 0.6g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 36g
Fiber: 1.2g
Protein: 12.4g
Cholesterol: 0mg