Strawberry and Cottage Cheese Bagel Recipe

These strawberry cottage cheese bagels are chewy, naturally pink, and packed with protein. They’re quick to make with no rise time or boiling required — perfect for busy mornings. Using blended cottage cheese in the dough gives each bagel about 10 grams of protein while keeping the texture soft and tender. You can make them in the air fryer for a fast batch or bake several at once in the oven.

Recipe Highlights

• High-protein breakfast or snack: Each bagel delivers roughly 10 g of protein thanks to blended cottage cheese.
• Vibrant natural color: Freeze-dried strawberry powder gives these bagels their pink hue and concentrated strawberry flavor that kids love.
• Air fryer or oven: Both methods work well. The air fryer is fast for small batches; the oven is best for larger batches.

Featured Ingredients

• Cottage cheese: Blended cottage cheese replaces part of the liquid and fat while boosting protein and creating a soft, tender crumb.
• Freeze-dried strawberries: These are ground into a powder to flavor the dough and produce a pretty pink color. If you don’t have freeze-dried, the recipe notes alternatives below.
• Brown sugar: Adds sweetness and a slight caramel note — you can reduce it if you prefer a less sweet bagel.

The complete ingredient amounts and instructions are included in the recipe section below.

Tip

Use the oven for larger batches

If you plan to make more than a few bagels at once, bake them at 400°F for consistent results.

Want to Make These in the Oven?

Yes — the oven produces excellent results and is ideal for larger batches. Preheat the oven to 400°F, follow the dough and shaping steps, and bake the bagels for 12 minutes or until lightly golden.

Don’t Have Freeze-Dried Strawberries?

No problem. You can substitute 1 cup of diced fresh or frozen strawberries in place of the freeze-dried powder. Fresh or frozen strawberries will provide moisture and flavor, but the color will be less concentrated than using freeze-dried powder.

Storage

Store cooled bagels in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. For best texture, slice just before serving.

How to Freeze and Reheat

These bagels freeze and reheat very well. Let them cool completely, then wrap tightly or place in an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months.

Reheat: Air fry at 400°F for 1–2 minutes or warm in a toaster oven until heated through.

Strawberry Cottage Cheese Bagels Recipe

These bagels are chewy, flavorful, and ready in under 30 minutes when made in an air fryer or oven. Makes 4 bagels, about 25 minutes total time.

Ingredients

• 1 cup blended cottage cheese
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1.5 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 3 tablespoons freeze-dried strawberry powder (or 1 cup diced fresh/frozen strawberries)
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar (adjust to taste)
• 1 large egg (for egg wash)

Instructions

1. Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (or preheat the oven to 400°F if baking).
2. In a large bowl, combine the blended cottage cheese, flour, baking powder, sea salt, freeze-dried strawberry powder, and brown sugar. Stir until the mixture begins to come together, then use your hands to press into a dough ball.
3. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth. Add a dusting of flour to the top or bottom of the dough if it feels sticky.
4. Divide the dough into 4 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball, then lightly flatten. Use the end of a rounded spoon or your finger to poke a hole in the center of each piece and gently stretch the hole so it remains open during cooking.
5. Brush the tops and bottoms of each bagel with beaten egg.
6. If using an air fryer, line the basket with parchment and air fry at 350°F for 6 minutes. Flip the bagels and air fry for another 6 minutes, working in batches if needed. If using the oven, bake at 400°F for about 12 minutes until lightly golden.
7. Remove the bagels and let cool for 5 minutes, then serve with your favorite toppings.

Tips & Notes

• To make freeze-dried strawberry powder, grind sliced freeze-dried strawberries in a clean coffee grinder or small food processor.
• If you prefer less sweetness, reduce the brown sugar amount.
• Skyr yogurt can be substituted for the blended cottage cheese 1:1 for a slightly different texture and similar protein.
• If using fresh or frozen strawberries, the dough will be more moist — add a touch more flour if needed during kneading.

Nutrition (per bagel)

• Calories: 259 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 45 g
• Protein: 10 g
• Fat: 4 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Sugar: 18 g

Nutrition information is an estimate and should be used as a general guideline.