The Best Strawberry Cottage Cheese Bagels (High-Protein & No Yeast!)
Hello, my friends! If you’re as obsessed with the current cottage cheese trend as I am, and you’re always on the hunt for a quick, healthy, and high-protein breakfast, then you are in for a serious treat today. Get ready to meet your new morning favorite: these incredibly easy and delicious Strawberry Cottage Cheese Bagels. I want you to imagine a warm, chewy bagel with a beautiful, soft interior and a lovely golden crust, bursting with the sweet flavor of strawberries. Now, what if I told you that this bagel is packed with 10 grams of protein, requires absolutely no yeast, and is ready in under 30 minutes?
It sounds like magic, but I promise you, it’s real! The secret is a simple but brilliant dough made from blended cottage cheese and flour. It creates a wonderfully tender and chewy texture that is so satisfying. This is a recipe that will completely change your mind about homemade bagels. It’s fun, fast, and the perfect, wholesome start to any day.
Why You Will Be Obsessed with This Bagel Recipe
This isn’t just a recipe; it’s a breakfast revolution. Here’s why it’s a guaranteed home run.
- Packed with Protein: Thanks to the genius of cottage cheese, each one of these delicious bagels boasts 10 grams of protein, making it a truly satisfying breakfast that will keep you full for hours.
- No Yeast, No Waiting: This is the best part! There’s no yeast, no complicated proofing, and no long waiting times. This is a true quick bread-style bagel that’s ready in a flash.
- Incredibly Quick & Easy: From mixing the dough to pulling them out of the air fryer, this entire recipe is done in under 30 minutes. It’s perfect for a weekday morning!
- Air Fryer or Oven Friendly: Whether you’re an air fryer enthusiast or prefer your oven, this recipe works beautifully both ways.
- A Beautiful, Fruity Flavor: The use of freeze-dried strawberry powder infuses the entire bagel with a wonderful, concentrated strawberry flavor and a beautiful pinkish hue.
Gather Your Simple, High-Protein Ingredients
Let’s get our ingredients ready for this quick and easy bagel adventure.
- 1 cup Blended Cottage Cheese: It’s important to blend the cottage cheese first until it’s completely smooth to ensure the best dough texture.
- 1 cup All-Purpose Flour: Plus a little extra for your work surface.
- 1 ½ teaspoons Baking Powder
- ¼ teaspoon Sea Salt
- 3 tablespoons Freeze-Dried Strawberry Powder: The secret to incredible strawberry flavor!
- 3 tablespoons Brown Sugar
- 1 Large Egg, for the egg wash
Crafting Your Bagels: Step-by-Step Guide
Let’s make these incredibly easy and delicious bagels.
- Prep and Mix the Dough: First, if you’re using an air fryer, preheat it to 350°F. In a large bowl, add the blended cottage cheese, flour, baking powder, sea salt, freeze-dried strawberry powder, and brown sugar. Using a silicone spatula or a wooden spoon, stir everything together until a shaggy dough begins to form. Then, use your hands to press the dough together in the bowl until a cohesive ball has formed.
- Knead the Dough: Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface. Knead the dough gently for a minute or two until it’s smooth. The dough will be a little sticky, so don’t be afraid to sprinkle a little flour on the top and bottom of the dough and on your hands as you work.
- Shape the Bagels: Divide the dough into 4 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball and then lightly flatten it with the palm of your hand. To create the hole, you can use your finger or the rounded end of a wooden spoon to poke a hole directly through the center. Gently stretch the hole to about an inch in diameter to ensure it doesn’t close up while it bakes.
- Egg Wash and Cook: Brush the tops and bottoms of each bagel with the beaten egg. This will give them a beautiful, shiny, golden-brown crust.
- Air Fry or Bake: For the air fryer, line the basket with parchment paper and air fry the bagels for 6 minutes, then flip them and air fry for 6 more minutes. For the oven, preheat it to 400°F, place the bagels on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and bake for about 12 minutes.
- Cool and Serve: Let the bagels cool for about 5 minutes before slicing and serving. They are fantastic with a smear of cream cheese and some fresh sliced strawberries!
Tips & Notes for Success
- Oven Instructions: If you don’t have an air fryer, no problem! Just preheat your oven to 400°F and bake the bagels on a parchment-lined baking sheet for about 12 minutes.
- Making Strawberry Powder: The easiest way to make freeze-dried strawberry powder is to blitz whole freeze-dried strawberries in a clean coffee grinder or a small, powerful blender until they form a fine powder.
- Fresh or Frozen Berries: If you don’t have freeze-dried strawberries, you can substitute them with 1 cup of finely diced fresh or frozen strawberries. Just be aware that the dough will be wetter, so you may need to add a little extra flour.
- Yogurt Swap: You can easily substitute the 1 cup of blended cottage cheese with 1 cup of a thick, strained yogurt like Skyr or a full-fat Greek yogurt.
- Adjusting Sweetness: If you prefer a less sweet, more savory bagel, feel free to reduce the amount of brown sugar.
High-Protein Strawberry Cottage Cheese Bagels
These strawberry cottage cheese bagels are chewy, delicious and made in under 30 minutes in either the oven or the air fryer. With 10g of protein per bagel, this easy, no-yeast recipe can’t be beat!
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the air fryer to 350°F. In a large bowl, stir together the blended cottage cheese, flour, baking powder, sea salt, freeze-dried strawberry powder, and brown sugar until a dough ball forms.
- Transfer the dough to a floured work surface and knead until smooth. Divide the ball into 4 equal pieces. Roll each into a ball, flatten slightly, and use your finger or the end of a spoon to poke a hole in the center. Stretch the hole so it does not close while cooking.
- Brush the tops and bottoms of each bagel with egg wash. Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper and air fry the bagels for 6 minutes, flip, and air fry for 6 more minutes. (Or bake at 400°F for 12 minutes).
- Remove from the air fryer and allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving with your favorite toppings.
Notes
Oven instructions: Preheat the oven to 400℉, follow steps 2 through 5, and bake for 12 minutes.
Strawberry Variations: You can replace the freeze-dried strawberries with 1 cup of finely diced fresh or frozen strawberries, but you may need to add a bit more flour to the dough.
Sweetness: You can make this recipe less sweet by using less brown sugar.
Making Strawberry Powder: Grind whole freeze-dried strawberries in a clean coffee grinder or small food processor to make your own powder.
Yogurt Swap: You can also use 1 cup of skyr or thick Greek yogurt in place of the blended cottage cheese.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Strawberry Cottage Cheese Bagels
- Why do I need to blend the cottage cheese first?
Blending the cottage cheese until it’s smooth is the secret to a perfect dough texture. It removes the curds and creates a smooth, creamy base that incorporates beautifully with the flour, similar to a Greek yogurt dough. - Can I make these gluten-free?
Yes! You can substitute the all-purpose flour with a good quality 1-to-1 gluten-free baking flour blend that contains xanthan gum. - Can I use a different fruit powder?
Absolutely! Freeze-dried raspberry or blueberry powder would also be incredible in this recipe. - How do I store these bagels?
Store the completely cooled bagels in an airtight container or bag at room temperature for up to 3 days. They are fantastic toasted!
Conclusion
These Strawberry Cottage Cheese Bagels are a true breakfast game-changer. They prove that you don’t need yeast or a lot of time to create a delicious, chewy, and satisfying bagel at home. Packed with protein and bursting with sweet strawberry flavor, they are a fun, healthy, and incredibly delicious way to start your day. I hope you love them!
