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This bacon wrapped dates recipe features sweet Medjool dates filled with creamy goat cheese, wrapped in bacon, and finished with a honey drizzle. Perfect for cocktail parties, holiday dinners, or any elegant occasion!
Need an easy yet elegant appetizer to impress your guests? These bacon wrapped dates recipe is your answer.
Bacon-wrapped anything makes life better (hello, bacon wrapped asparagus, bacon wrapped chicken, and bacon wrapped filet mignon!).
They make such a fun, sweet, and savory dish. They cook in minutes and are seriously addictive.
Table of Contents
- Why this recipe works
- Ingredients needed
- How to make bacon wrapped dates with goat cheese
- How to make air fryer bacon wrapped dates
- Tips to make the best recipe
- Flavor variations
- Storage instructions
- More crowd-pleasing party appetizers
- Frequently asked questions
- Bacon Wrapped Dates With Goat Cheese (Recipe Card)
Why this recipe works
These dates may look incredibly fancy, but they are ridiculously easy to whip up.
- Incredible flavor and texture. With every bite, you’ll experience an irresistible explosion of sweet, savory, and creamy flavors.
- Quick and easy. Stuffed dates wrapped in bacon are not only show-stopping, but also one of easiest and fastest appetizers you can throw together on a whim.
- Versatile. You can easily swap the creamy goat cheese filling and the golden honey drizzle with a wide range of fillings and toppings to make this recipe your own.
Ingredients needed
These bacon wrapped dates with goat cheese are so easy and besides the name saken ingredients, there isn’t much else needed to make. Here is what you’ll need:
- Medjool dates. These dates are large and sweet with a soft, pliable texture, making them the best type for stuffing. You can use deglet noor dates if that’s what you already have at home, but just know they’re smaller, drier, and less sweet.
- Bacon. Use regular, thin-cut bacon with a higher ratio of meat to fat. I don’t recommend thick-cut bacon, as it’s not as easy to wrap around the dates and takes longer to get crispy.
- Goat cheese. This is the best cheese for stuffed dates! Its spreadable consistency makes it easy to stuff while its tangy, slightly salty flavor complements the caramel-like sweetness of the dates beautifully.
- Honey. It adds an extra layer of sweetness while creating a caramelized, sticky glaze during baking.
How to make bacon wrapped dates with goat cheese
Dates wrapped in bacon are easy to make: just remember to choose dates that are fresh, firm, and larger if possible.
Stuff with goat cheese: Make a small incision down the center of each date and remove the pits. Stuff each one with goat cheese.
Wrap in bacon: Gently pinch the dates closed and wrap each one with a half-slice of bacon. Secure the bacon with a toothpick, then place the dates on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Bake until crispy: Drizzle honey over the top of each date, then bake until the bacon is crispy.
How to make air fryer bacon wrapped dates
Did you know you can make bacon wrapped dates in the air fryer? Here’s the process to do so:
- Prepare the dates as instructed.
- Place them in a greased air fryer basket.
- Air fry at 200C/400F for 10 minutes.
Be sure to air fry the dates in a single layer to ensure even cooking.
Tips to make the best recipe
- Soften the goat cheese. Take the goat cheese out of the fridge and set it on the kitchen counter for 30 minutes before making this recipe. The softened goat cheese will be much easier to work with!
- Consider par-cooking the bacon. If you want the bacon around the dates to be extra crispy, pan-fry or bake it until it’s just starting to brown but is still pliable.
- Cool before serving. The goat cheese filling will be very hot fresh out of the oven, so it’s best to let the dates cool slightly before serving.
Flavor variations
Change the fillings and toppings in this sophisticated snack to find your perfect flavor:
Cheese. Feel free to substitute the goat cheese for blue cheese, cream cheese, mascarpone, brie, or ricotta.
Nuts. For a warm nutty flavor and a pleasant crunch, leave room inside each date for an almond, walnut, pecan, or pistachio.
Dairy free alternatives. To make dairy free stuffed dates, experiment by filling the dates with vegan cream cheese, peanut butter, or almond butter.
Topping ideas. Try drizzling maple syrup or sprinkling brown sugar over the assembled dates before baking. After baking, sprinkle shredded coconut or orange zest on top for an enhanced taste, texture, and presentation.
Storage instructions
To store: Allow the leftovers to cool before storing them in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
To freeze: The leftovers also freeze well for up to 2 months. Just thaw them in the refrigerator before reheating.
To reheat: Lay the dates on a baking sheet and reheat them in a 350ºF (175ºC) oven until they’re heated through and the bacon is crispy.
More crowd-pleasing party appetizers
Frequently asked questions
The baking time may vary based on the dates’ size and the bacon’s thickness, but generally, they take around 20 to 25 minutes to bake at 400ºF (200ºC).
Yes, this is a great make-ahead snack or appetizer. Once they’re stuffed and wrapped in bacon, place the dates in an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to 1 day. You can also freeze the uncooked bacon wrapped dates by flash-freezing them on a baking sheet until they’re solid. Transfer them to a freezer-safe container or bag and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw them in the refrigerator overnight before baking.
Bacon Wrapped Dates With Goat Cheese
Ingredients
- 20 Medjool dates
- 10 slices bacon sliced in half
- 3/4 cup goat cheese
- 2 tablespoons honey
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200C/400F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Slice each date down the center, ensuring the knife doesn’t cut it in half. Remove the pits and stuff each one with the goat cheese.
- Close the slits and wrap each one with half a slice of bacon. Stick a toothpick in each one to secure them. Place them on the lined baking sheet.
- Drizzle some honey over each date and bake in the oven for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through. These are done when the bacon is crispy.
