Simple 3 Ingredient Protein Bagels Recipe

Simple 3 Ingredient Protein Bagels Recipe

Make Simple 3 Ingredient Protein Bagels Recipe in your air fryer for quick, protein-packed breakfasts.

Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time17 minutes
Total Time32 minutes
Yield4

Ingredients

Instructions

Step 1: Combine the dry ingredients

In a medium mixing bowl add the all-purpose flour and sprinkle in the baking powder; add a small pinch of salt if you like a little lift in flavor. Use a small whisk or fork to evenly distribute the baking powder through the flour so there are no streaks of leavener — you want a light, homogenous dry base with a faint dusting of flour left on the bowl rim.

Step 2: Add the cottage cheese and start the dough

Make a shallow well in the center of the flour and spoon in the cottage cheese. Using a fork or a small rubber spatula, begin folding the wet into the dry, breaking up the curds so the mixture turns from powdery to a chunky, tacky mass. This is a gentle, tactile stage: the cottage cheese curds should still be visible but incorporated enough that the mixture clumps together when pressed.

Step 3: Bring the dough together into a ball

Turn the rough dough onto a well-floured work area and knead briefly for 1–2 minutes until it gathers into a semi-smooth ball. The exterior should feel slightly tacky but manageable; if it clings, sprinkle a little more flour or dust your hands. You’re aiming for a uniform dough with small flecks of cottage-cheese curd rather than a glossy, fully-hydrated bread dough.

Step 4: Divide and shape into bagels

Gently divide the dough into four equal pieces and roll each into a 6–7 inch log about ¾ inch thick. Curve each log and join the ends to make classic bagel rings, smoothing the seam with your fingers so they hold their round shape. Place the formed raw bagels on the floured surface or a piece of lightly dusted parchment as you work — they should look plump, slightly rustic, and ready for an egg wash.


Step 5: Egg wash and toppings

Crack the egg into a small bowl, whisk it with a splash of water or milk, and very lightly brush each bagel’s surface to create a glossy finish that will become golden in the air fryer. Sprinkle toppings as desired: everything seasoning and poppy or sesame seeds cling nicely to the egg-washed surface; press gently so they adhere without flattening the bagels.

Step 6: Air-fry until golden and puffed

Preheat the air fryer to 300°F and place the bagels in a single, even layer in the basket (work in batches if needed). Cook for 15–17 minutes, checking around 10 minutes since times vary — you want an evenly golden exterior and a light, slightly springy feel when pressed. The finished bagels are golden-brown, not overly dark, with a thin, slightly crisp crust.

Step 7: Cool, slice, and serve

Remove the bagels from the air fryer and allow them to cool on the painted wood surface or a cooling rack for at least 15 minutes so the crumb sets. Once cooled, slice or serve whole with a small bowl of creamy spread alongside. The interior should be soft and fluffy with a gentle chew, the exterior glossy where egg-washed and dotted with seeds on the topped ones.


Notes