Description
These Cottage Cheese Bagels are a quick and easy homemade treat combining creamy full-fat cottage cheese with flour and baking powder to create soft, fluffy bagels without yeast. They can be cooked in an air fryer or oven within minutes, making them perfect for a delicious breakfast or snack topped with your favorite seasonings.
Ingredients
Bagel Dough
- 1 cup full fat Good Culture Cottage Cheese
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (or whole wheat flour, or gluten-free all-purpose flour)
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 egg (whisked, for egg wash)
Toppings
- Everything Bagel Seasoning (to taste)
- Optional: sesame seeds or poppy seeds
Instructions
- Blend Cottage Cheese: Add the full-fat cottage cheese to a blender or food processor and blend it until completely smooth and creamy. This step is crucial for achieving a smooth dough texture.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder until the mixture is evenly combined.
- Form Dough: Add the blended cottage cheese to the flour mixture and stir until a shaggy dough forms. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead gently for 1 to 2 minutes until the dough is smooth and cohesive. It should be soft but not overly sticky; add a little flour if necessary.
- Shape Bagels: Divide the dough into 4 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a rope shape and connect the ends to form a bagel. Make the center hole slightly larger than usual as it will shrink during cooking.
- Apply Egg Wash and Season: Brush the tops of the bagels with the whisked egg wash, then sprinkle generously with everything bagel seasoning or your preferred toppings like sesame or poppy seeds.
- Cook in Air Fryer: Place the shaped bagels in a single layer inside the air fryer basket. Air fry at 325°F (163°C) for about 15 minutes or until the bagels are golden brown and fully cooked through.
- Alternatively, Bake in Oven: Place the bagels on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for approximately 25 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
- Cool and Serve: Let the bagels cool for at least 15 minutes before slicing. Cutting too soon can cause a doughy interior. Once cooled, toast if desired and enjoy your homemade cottage cheese bagels.
Notes
- Blending the cottage cheese until perfectly smooth helps create a better dough consistency and softer bagels.
- Make sure the hole in your bagels is larger than you think; it will shrink during cooking.
- Use a light dusting of flour when kneading if the dough feels too sticky.
- The bagels can be cooked in either an air fryer or conventional oven depending on your equipment and preference.
- Allow the bagels to cool completely before slicing to avoid a gummy texture.
- Feel free to customize toppings with different seeds or seasonings to your liking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes (air fryer) or 25 minutes (oven)
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
