Strata is the weeknight cook's friend: cube a bagel, lay it in a baking dish, pour over an egg custard, refrigerate or bake straight away. The cinnamon and raisins already in the bagel do half the flavoring for you, so you get a spiced bread pudding that feels special without fussing.

Serves 2. 50 minutes, 10 at the stove.

About 520 calories a serving, 15 g protein, 85 g carbohydrate, 17 g fat. From USDA figures for 100% of the ingredients; amounts are the recipe's.

Cook mode

1. Heat your oven to 350°F [175°C]. Butter a small baking dish with 1 tablespoon butter. Cube both Tops bagels into 1-inch pieces and spread them in the dish.
2. Crack 3 eggs into a bowl, add 1 cup milk and 1/4 teaspoon salt, and whisk until the custard is smooth.
3. Pour the custard over the bagel cubes and let them soak for 5 minutes so they start to absorb the liquid.5 min
4. Slide the dish into the oven and bake until the custard is set and the top is light brown, 30 to 35 minutes, until a knife inserted in the center comes out nearly clean.33 min

Note A splash of vanilla extract or bourbon swapped in for a spoon of milk deepens the flavor. Leftovers keep two days covered and reheat gently in a 300°F oven. Serve warm with yogurt or crème fraîche and a simple green salad on the side.