Bacon-wrapped dates with goat cheese! Creamy, savory, and sweet, this EASY appetizer will wow your guests!
This is probably my all-time favorite appetizer. Naturally gluten-free and great to make ahead. Add a drizzle of hot honey to take these to the next level!
If you’ve never had bacon-wrapped dates, you’re in for a treat.
While it may seem like an interesting combo at first, these ingredients come together to create a real flavor and texture explosion: creamy goat cheese, sweet and chewy dates, crispy, smoky bacon, and a drizzle of honey on top…the result is one crowd-pleasing appetizer that everyone will go crazy for!
This is the perfect appetizer for a Thanksgiving, a Christmas holiday party, or New Year’s eve. But don’t just save this finger food for the holiday season — it’s also great for Super Bowl parties, game nights, or family gatherings.
These stuffed dates are one of my favorite snacks to put together anytime I’m craving something sweet and savory!
Trust me, if you take these bacon wrapped dates to your next gathering, be sure to make a generous portion. They will disappear in seconds!
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Sweet and salty appetizer
- EASY to make
- Simple ingredients
- Great for parties
For another favorite appetizers, try this crowd-pleasing hot artichoke dip. You also might like these gluten-free stuffed mushrooms and gluten-free breadsticks.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here’s everything you’ll need to make this tasty appetizer:
- Dates: Be sure to pick fresh dates for this recipe—they’re softer, chewier, and have better flavor. You can use pre-pitted dates to save time! I like to use Medjool dates.
- Hot honey: Hot honey isn’t a necessity, but I think a drizzle of it really takes bacon-wrapped dates to the next level! You can also use regular honey, if you’d like. We use Mike’s Hot Honey!
- Goat cheese: Choose a creamy, plain goat cheese that is easy to spread.
- Bacon: I recommend using pork bacon over turkey bacon. You want thinner sliced bacon so it cooks up nice and crispy. Avoid thick-cut bacon!
- Toothpicks: Toothpicks help hold the appetizer together and make the bacon-wrapped dates easier to serve.
How to Make Bacon Wrapped Dates with Goat Cheese
- Preheat the oven to 350F.
- Slice each date lengthwise on one side (not all the way through!) to create a pocket for the cheese. Remove the pits from the dates if needed.
- Fill each date pocket with a little goat cheese.
- Cut the slices of bacon in half so you have ~5-inch long slices of bacon. Place a date in the center of a slice of bacon and wrap the bacon around the date. Secure the bacon with a toothpick.
- Place on a rimmed baking sheet and repeat with the remaining dates.
- Bake the dates for 10 minutes. Then, flip and cook on the other side for 5 minutes. Flip the dates one more time and bake for a few more minutes so the bacon is crisp all the way around.
- Let the dates cool for 5 minutes before serving. Drizzle with regular or hot honey if desired! Enjoy!
Storage Instructions
To store: Bacon-wrapped dates taste best right after baking, but you can store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. They will keep for a few days.
To make ahead: This appetizer can be made up to two days in advance. Simply assemble the bacon-wrapped dates as directed, then refrigerate them until you’re ready to bake.
FAQs
Bacon-wrapped dates are a great appetizer or afternoon snack. If you’re serving it as a side dish, the tangy goat cheese, chewy date, and savory bacon pair well with a salad, brussel sprouts, potatoes, and rolls. Consider making pork tenderloin, grilled chicken, or salmon to go along with it.
Sweet dates go well with creamy, savory cheeses like plain goat cheese, herbed goat cheese, blue cheese or cream cheese.
Fresh, soft dates don’t need to be soaked before baking. If your dates are hard and dry, soak them in warm water for 20-30 minutes.
Expert Tips & Tricks
- Do not use thick-cut bacon for this recipe. Regular, thinner sliced bacon is what you want so it cooks up nice and crispy.
- Be sure to pick fresh dates for this recipe. You can use pre-pitted dates to save time! I like to use Medjool dates.
- These bacon-wrapped dates can be made in advance and baked just before serving. Simply assemble them as directed and refrigerate them until you’re ready to bake. The dates can be assembled up to two days in advance.
MORE FAVORITE APPETIZERS
I hope you love this recipe as much as we do! If you try these bacon-wrapped dates with goat cheese, be sure to leave me a comment/rating below. I’d love to hear from you!
Bacon Wrapped Dates with Goat Cheese (and Hot Honey!)
Ingredients
- 4-6 ounces goat cheese
- 12-16 ounces dates I like to use medjool dates
- 6-8 oz center cut bacon regular sliced NOT thick sliced
- Toothpicks
- Hot honey or regular honey for drizzling we use Mike’s Hot Honey, optional but delicious!
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F.
- Slice each date lengthwise on one side (not all the way through!) to create a pocket for the cheese. Remove the pits from the dates if needed.
- Fill each date pocket with a little goat cheese.
- Cut the slices of bacon in half so you have ~5-inch long slices of bacon. Place a date in the center of a slice of bacon and wrap the bacon around the date. Secure the bacon with a toothpick.
- Place on a rimmed baking sheet and repeat with the remaining dates.
- Bake the dates for 10 minutes. Then, flip and cook on the other side for 5 minutes. Flip the dates one more time and bake for a few more minutes so the bacon is crisp all the way around.
- Let the dates cool for 5 minutes before serving. Drizzle with regular or hot honey if desired! Enjoy!
Notes
- Do not use thick-cut bacon for this recipe. Regular, thinner sliced bacon is what you want so it cooks up nice and crispy.
- Be sure to pick fresh dates for this recipe. You can use pre-pitted dates to save time! I like to use Medjool dates.
- These bacon-wrapped dates can be made in advance and baked just before serving. Simply assemble them as directed and refrigerate them until you’re ready to bake. The dates can be assembled up to two days in advance.
What type of cheese would be a good substitute for goat cheese?
My family loves these!! We had never been big date fans, but we have date trees now & these have become a family favorite!! So much flavor in one small bite!
Such an elegant appetizer. We have a cool family tradition where these are made for every New Year’s eve party and every year, we stuff the dates with different cheeses. Have you ever tried stuffing them with brie cheese?
I bet they would be delicious stuffed with brie! I will have to try that myself sometime!
The combination was absolutely perfect! Loved the hot honey drizzled over top!