These cottage cheese bagels taste just like regular bagels but are so much easier to make. The dough is just 2 ingredients. These bagels don’t need any yeast and the dough is ready in less than five minutes. You can have fresh homemade bagels in about 30 minutes.
I’m really excited to share this bagel recipe with you. These bagels are so incredibly easy to make and they taste a lot like traditional bagels. Unlike some of the other cottage cheese trends, this one actually tastes good. These bagels are similar to the popular 2 Ingredient Bagels using Greek yogurt but the bagels are even easier to make with cottage cheese and there is no tangy aftertaste.
Ingredients
- Self-Rising Flour
- Cottage Cheese
Self-Rising Flour: Self-rising flour is all-purpose flour that is already mixed with baking powder and salt. Since these bagels don’t use yeast, they use baking powder as the rising agent. If you don’t have self-rising flour, you can make your own by mixing together all-purpose flour, baking powder and salt.
Cottage Cheese: I’ve made these bagels successfully with both whole milk cottage cheese and low fat cottage cheese. Make sure to use small curds.
How to Make Cottage Cheese Bagels
The self-rising flour and cottage cheese are mixed together and briefly kneaded by hand until a dough forms. The dough should be tacky but not sticky. The dough is then rolled out into 3/4 inch ropes and pinched closed to form round bagel shapes.
If desired, brush bagels with egg wash. While you can make the bagels without the egg wash, the egg wash helps give the bagels a nice golden finish. Sprinkle your favorite bagel toppings (everything bagel seasoning, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, etc) on top and then the bagels are ready to be baked.
More Bagel Recipes
2 Ingredient Cottage Cheese Bagels
Ingredients
Bagel Dough
- 2 cups (250 g) self-rising flour see note before starting
- 1 cup (237 g) + 2 tbsp (29 g) cottage cheese small curds
Toppings (optional)
- 1 large egg whisked, for egg wash finish
- 3 tbsp everything bagel seasoning see note
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (191°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Add self-rising flour and 1 cup of cottage cheese into a large mixing bowl and mix with a spatula until flour is mostly incorporated. Use your hands to knead the remaining flour into the dough. If your dough is dry, add in the remaining 2 tbsp of cottage cheese. I did use all the cottage cheese but because different brands of cottage cheese may vary, I recommend just adding 1 cup first and then adding more if your dough is too dry. Your dough should be tacky but not sticky. This means that the dough should slightly stick to your hands but will easily peel off. If it sticks to your hands and won't come off easily, then it is too sticky.
- Divide dough into six equal balls. Roll out one ball on a very lightly floured surface until it becomes a rope that is 3/4 inch thick. Try to make the rope as even and smooth as possible. Form a circle with the rope and pinch the ends together. Repeat with the remaining dough.
- Place bagels onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them at least 1.5 inches apart. If desired, brush tops generously with egg wash. Sprinkle the surface of the bagels with your favorite bagel seasoning.
- Bake bagels for about 25 minutes or until golden brown in color and cooked through. Let bagels fully cool before eating.
Notes
- Egg wash is optional but your bagels will not have a golden finish without the egg wash and will be paler.
- This recipe was originally tested with White Lily self-rising flour which has a lower protein amount than some other brands of self-rising flour. The amount of protein affects the amount of liquids needed. If you are using a self-rising flour that has 2 grams of protein per 1/4 cup, then you can make the recipe as written.
- If you are using a self-rising flour brand that has 3 grams of protein per 1/4 cup, then remove 4 tbsp of flour from the amount stated in the recipe and replace with 4 tbsp of cornstarch.
- Homemade self-rising flour: Whisk together 1 cup + 12 tbsp all purpose flour + 4 tbsp cornstarch + 3 tsp baking powder + 1/2 tsp salt. Make sure you are using an all purpose flour with 3 grams of protein per 1/4 cup. Most brands of all purpose flour have this amount of protein but there are a few brands like King Arthur Flour and Bob's Red Mill that contain higher protein
- You can top these bagels with your preferred bagel seasoning but I would recommend using low salt ones because the bagels already have salt from the flour and cottage cheese.
- To properly measure flour, spoon the flour into the measuring cup and then level off with a knife. Do not directly dip the measuring cup into the flour because this results in too much flour. Use this method of measuring whether you are measuring self-rising flour or measuring all purpose flour to make your own self-rising flour.
- I used salt-free everything bagel seasoning (Amazon | Walmart)*
- *These product links are affiliate links. This means I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
- Make sure to use small curds cottage cheese. I have made this with whole milk and low fat cottage cheese. You do not need to drain the liquid from the cottage cheese.
- Air Fryer version: The bagels can also be cooked in the air fryer. Preheat air fryer to 280F (138C) and cook bagels for 15 minutes until golden on top and cooked through.
- Estimated nutrition does not include egg wash and seasonings.
Nutrition
The nutrition information provided are only estimates based on an online nutritional calculator. I am not a certified nutritionist. Please consult a professional nutritionist or doctor for accurate information and any dietary restrictions and concerns you may have.
2cups of self rising and 1 cup of cottage how does that combine together? I can’t make it work ? I wanna try these
Make sure to mix with a spatula until flour is mostly incorporated and then use your hands to knead the remaining flour into the dough.
Can I use almond flour? If so how much
We have not tested this recipe with almond flour so we are unsure what the results would be!
Just made these this morning and they are delicious! I used the egg wash and sprinkled onion powder on top and ate with cream cheese. It tasted like a store bought bagel but even better. And having the high protein from the cottage cheese is a plus and very filling. Love it!!
We’re happy you enjoyed the recipe!
These are so amazing! Surprisingly so for only two ingredients. I ended up needing a lot more cottage cheese; about 1:1 ratio, which is what I’ve seen other recipes for this suggest, too. I’m sure the type of cottage cheese matters; I used Good Culture.
I sprinkled “Everything but the Bagel” seasoning for the first batch and then a cinnamon and sugar mixture for the second. They turned out so fluffy on the inside with a nice crisp on the outside.
Will certainly be making again!!
So glad you liked them!
What about boiling the bagels?
These are not regular bagels and the dough is not the same so I don’t recommend boiling them.
Have you tried this with blended cottage cheese?
Sorry I have not
Good morning, I’m just wondering what is bagel seasoning. I live in Australia , I’m not sure where to buy it . Thank you.
In the US, many stores carry something called bagel seasoning. It is usually a blend of dried garlic, black and white sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried onion and salt. You can also make your own blend or just use whatever your favorite bagel topping is.
Thank you for the recipes of making bagels.
My son loves bagels
We will definitely be making them real soon
Thanks again, have a great day
Happy Weekend!!!
We hope you enjoyed them!