Bacon Wrapped Dates with Goat Cheese (and Hot Honey!)

Meaningful Eats

Bacon Wrapped Dates with Goat Cheese (and Hot Honey!)

8 servings

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!

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Diet Gluten Free

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 20

Total Time 35

Author Erin Collins

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

RECIPE 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.

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