Description
Delicious Bacon Wrapped Dates stuffed with creamy goat cheese and drizzled with honey, baked to perfection for a sweet, savory, and crispy appetizer.
Ingredients
Scale
Dates & Filling
- 20 pitted Medjool dates
- 6 ounces goat cheese, softened
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
Bacon & Toppings
- 10 slices of bacon, cut in half
- 1/4 cup honey
- Fresh rosemary or thyme for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to get it ready for baking the bacon-wrapped dates.
- Prepare Filling: In a medium bowl, combine the softened goat cheese with black pepper and sea salt, mixing until smooth and well blended.
- Stuff Dates: Using your fingers, fill each pitted date with about a teaspoon of the goat cheese mixture, pressing gently to secure the cheese inside.
- Wrap with Bacon: Take a half slice of bacon and wrap it around each stuffed date, ensuring the date is completely covered; use a toothpick if needed to secure the bacon.
- Arrange on Baking Sheet: Place the bacon-wrapped dates seam side down on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them evenly to allow proper cooking.
- Bake Dates: Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes until the bacon is crispy and golden brown.
- Warm Honey: While the dates bake, gently warm the honey in a small saucepan over low heat until slightly runny for easy drizzling.
- Cool Slightly: Remove the dates from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes to prevent burning when eating.
- Drizzle Honey: Drizzle the warm honey evenly over the bacon-wrapped dates to add sweetness and shine.
- Garnish and Serve: Optionally garnish with fresh rosemary or thyme to enhance flavor and presentation before serving.
Notes
- For spicier dates, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the goat cheese mixture.
- Use toothpicks to secure bacon to prevent unwrapping during baking.
- Medjool dates are preferred for their large size and sweetness but any pitted date can work.
- Make sure to allow dates to cool slightly before eating to avoid mouth burns from hot filling.
- Honey can be substituted with maple syrup for a different flavor profile.
