Skip the morning bagel run, and whip up a batch of our quick and easy Farmer Cheese Protein Bagels instead! This simple recipe comes together quickly and powers your body up with protein from Lifeway Farmer Cheese.
Similar to our Farmer Cheese Bagels, this recipe is a great option to make at home for a DIY bagel, but it varies slightly since it uses baking soda instead of an egg in the base recipe to help the bagels rise. No matter which recipe you go with, both are a terrific option high in protein for better bagel satisfaction.
Lifeway Farmer Cheese is a creamy, gut-friendly cheese that’s high in protein like cottage cheese, but smoother in texture, slightly richer in flavor, and has a mild, versatile flavor base making it easy to use in recipes like this one. Since it’s cultured with live probiotics, our farmer cheese is easy on digestion making it a terrific go-to option multiple types of recipes.
The dough for these protein bagels is made from regular all-purpose flour, but can easily be made gluten-free by swapping that out for a gluten-free all-purpose flour. You can also change up the seasonings and add whatever you want, such as blueberries or cinnamon and raisins for sweet bagels, everything bagel seasoning or garlic and chives for savory options, or you can stick to a basic plain bagel to allow your toppings to shine.
Whatever bagel flavors you fancy most, this recipe makes the perfect base and is one you can feel good about treating yourself to day in and day out. Make over your mornings with Lifeway Farmer Cheese, and you’ll never go back!
Tip for Next-Level Bagels: Top your bagels with our Homemade Kefir Cream Cheese for the ultimate bagel experience your gut will love!
The Benefits of Cultured Dairy for Better Health:
Research continues to show the importance of eating healthy foods, including cultured dairy such as kefir, for optimal digestion and gut health, a strong immune system, and to support the microbiome. Fermented foods like kefir hold important value in this line of research due to the link between the gut-brain axis and overall health. Specifically, kefir has been shown to help diversify the microbiome, improve digestion, reduce inflammation, support healthier blood sugar levels, and improve satiety since the bioavailable protein it contains triggers the release of GLP-1.
Lifeway Kefir is packed with a variety of vital nutrients important for overall health, including bone and muscle health; these include vitamin D3, K, calcium, and vitamin B12. Along with our probiotic-rich kefir, Lifeway also offers artisan-made Farmer Cheese,a creamy, high-protein cheese made with live and active cultures to support healthy muscles and a healthy microbiome. Lifeway Farmer Cheese is easy to spread, free of gums and thickeners, and contains no added salt or sugar for optimal health benefits.
Prep Time: 40 mins Servings: 4
Ingredients
For the Bagels:
- 1 cup (1/2 a container) Farmer Cheese
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (or use gluten-free all-purpose flour)
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. baking soda
Other Ingredients:
- 1 egg for an egg wash or use Lifeway Kefir Butter for brushing*
- Any add-ins you like (mixed seasonings, dried fruit, nuts or seeds, spices, herbs, etc.). Note: amounts will vary
Directions
- Set aside a large baking sheet covered in parchment paper, and set aside. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Combine the flour, salt, and baking soda in a bowl, and toss to combine. Add the Lifeway Farmer Cheese, and mix together with a spatula or large spoon to thoroughly combine everything. You can also mix everything together in a food processor if it's easier. Be sure to mix in any add-ins you want at this point (like spices and seasonings, herbs, dried fruit, nuts or seeds, etc.).
- Once clusters of dough start to form, take the dough using your hands, and form it into one large ball of dough. Lightly coat a counter or clean space with a little flour, and roll the dough out on the counter and knead with your hands to pat it down in a large square. Using a bench scraper or knife, cut the dough into 4 long pieces. Roll each piece up in the shape of a bagel.
- Place the shaped bagels on your prepared pan, and brush with our kefir butter, or whisk an egg and brush that over the tops for an egg wash. If adding any seasonings on top, add them now.
- Bake the bagels for 25-27 minutes or until the tops are golden brown. Remove from the oven, add any toppings you prefer, let cool, and enjoy!
