Bacon wrapped dates are soft, sweet Medjool dates stuffed with creamy goat cheese, wrapped in a strip of bacon, baked until the bacon is crisp and finished with a drizzle of honey. Each one is a single bite of sweet, salty, smoky and tangy. They need only four ingredients and about 35 minutes, and they are one of the easiest appetizers to make for a party, a holiday table or a cheese board. This batch makes 18 pieces.
How to make bacon wrapped dates: Heat the oven to 375°F. Slit 18 pitted Medjool dates lengthwise and spoon a little goat cheese into each. Wrap each date in one-third of a bacon slice and secure it with a toothpick. Bake in a single layer for 10 minutes. Drizzle with 1 1/2 tablespoons of honey and bake about 10 minutes more, until the bacon is crisp. Rest 5 minutes.
Why You’ll Love It
- Four ingredients. Dates, goat cheese, bacon and honey.
- Sweet and salty. Every bite has both.
- Easy to assemble. Stuff, wrap and pin.
- Finger food. The toothpick is the handle.
- Party-friendly. They can be put together ahead of time.
Ingredient Notes
Medjool dates. Eighteen medium dates, pitted. Medjools are large and soft, so they are easy to open and fill.
Goat cheese. Three and a half ounces of the soft, creamy kind. Its tang balances the sweetness of the fruit.
Bacon. Six slices, each cut crosswise into thirds. Regular-cut bacon crisps more quickly than thick-cut.
Honey. One and a half tablespoons, drizzled on halfway through baking.
Ingredients
- 6 slices bacon, cut crosswise into thirds
- 18 medium Medjool dates, pitted
- 3 1/2 ounces creamy goat cheese
- 1 1/2 tablespoons honey
How to Make Bacon Wrapped Dates
1. Heat the oven. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
2. Open the dates. Slit each date lengthwise without cutting all the way through, so it opens like a clamshell. Remove any pits.
3. Stuff and wrap. Spoon goat cheese into each date. Wrap each with one-third of a bacon slice and secure with a toothpick.
4. Arrange and begin baking. Place the dates in a single layer in a baking dish or on a baking sheet, without crowding. Bake for 10 minutes.
5. Add honey and finish baking. Remove the dish, drizzle the honey over the dates and return them to the oven for about 10 more minutes, until the bacon is as crisp as you like it.
6. Rest. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes.
How to Get Crisp Bacon and Keep the Cheese Inside
Two things can go wrong with this appetizer: the bacon stays soft, or the cheese melts out onto the pan. A few small habits take care of both.
| Do this | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Use one-third of a slice per date | A short strip wraps once with a small overlap, so no thick double layer is left soft |
| Cut a slit, not all the way through | The date stays in one piece and holds the filling like a pocket |
| Do not overstuff | A small spoonful stays put. Too much cheese bubbles out |
| Set the slit facing up | The cheese sits in a cup and does not run out the side |
| Tuck the bacon ends underneath | The weight of the date holds the wrap closed |
| Leave space between the pieces | Hot air reaches every side, and the bacon crisps and does not steam |
The honey goes on partway through, not at the start. Sugar burns quickly, and adding it after the first 10 minutes lets the bacon render before the glaze goes on.
How crisp is crisp enough is up to you. Start checking at the end of the second 10 minutes. If you like your bacon very crisp, give the dates a few minutes more and watch that the honey does not darken too far.
Can You Make Them Ahead?
Yes, and it is the best way to handle them for a party. Stuff and wrap the dates, put them in an airtight container and keep them in the refrigerator. Assembled goat cheese dates like these are commonly held for up to 2 days before baking. Bake them shortly before guests arrive, and add the honey partway through as usual.
Once they are on the table, treat them like any other meat and cheese appetizer. Do not leave the platter out for more than 2 hours, or more than 1 hour if the room or the patio is hotter than 90°F.
Tips for Success
What type of date is best?
Medjool dates. They are large, soft and easy to stuff.
Do I need to pit them?
Yes. Buy pitted dates, or pull the pit out through the slit. Check each one, because a stray pit is hard on teeth.
How do I fill them without a mess?
Use a small spoon or a butter knife, or put the cheese in a small plastic bag, snip off a corner and pipe it in.
Should I line the pan?
Foil or parchment makes cleanup much easier. Honey and bacon fat bake onto a bare pan.
Can I use an air fryer?
This recipe is written for the oven, and I do not have reliable air fryer settings to give you.
Storage and Reheating
Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours, in a covered container, and eat them within 3 to 4 days. Reheat in the oven until hot all the way through, to 165°F. The bacon will crisp up again as it warms.
What to Serve With It
Set the dates out on a board with nuts, crackers and fruit. For a bacon lover’s menu, add the bacon brown sugar chicken tenders, a chicken bacon ranch stromboli and a spinach salad with warm bacon dressing. For the main course, there is the slow cooker bacon wrapped sirloin roast, the cream cheese and bacon stuffed Doritos chicken or the slow cooker Amish bacon chicken pasta.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of date is best for bacon wrapped dates?
Medjool dates, for their size and soft texture.
Can I assemble them ahead, and how do I keep the bacon crisp and the cheese inside?
Yes. Keep them covered in the fridge, then bake in a single layer with the slit facing up and only a little cheese in each.
When does the honey go on?
After the first 10 minutes of baking.
Can I use another cheese?
Goat cheese is used here. Blue cheese and cream cheese are popular fillings too, and each one changes the flavor.
Final Notes
I count the toothpicks out before I start, one for each date, so none is missed. If you make it, leave a comment to tell me how it turned out or ask a question.
Bacon Wrapped Dates
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Ingredients
- 6 slices bacon cut crosswise into thirds
- 18 Medjool dates medium; pitted
- 3 1/2 ounces goat cheese creamy
- 1 1/2 tablespoons honey
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Slit each date lengthwise without cutting all the way through, so it opens like a clamshell. Remove any pits.
- Spoon goat cheese into each date. Wrap each with one-third of a bacon slice and secure with a toothpick.
- Place the dates in a single layer in a baking dish or on a baking sheet, without crowding. Bake for 10 minutes.
- Remove the dish, drizzle the honey over the dates and return them to the oven for about 10 more minutes, until the bacon is as crisp as you like it.
- Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
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