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These dates with goat cheese wrapped in bacon are a delicious appetizer recipe that everyone will love. Sweet yet salty they’re full of flavor! AND easy!
If you’re entertaining for the holiday season or even for a Sunday football game, everyone needs to have a few delicious and easy appetizers that can be go-tos. For me dates with goat cheese wrapped in bacon are that appetizer, and one of my favorite ones at that!
Sweet and salty
I think what everyone loves most about dates with goat cheese wrapped in bacon is that they really get that beautiful sweet and salty flavor all in one bite.
Bacon is always a great way to add a salty flavor to any dish and it compliments the sweetness in the dates so well!
Adding goat cheese to the mix only ups the flavor profile. It’s a smooth and sweet cheese that many people love. If you don’t love it, you can leave it out all together or substitute feta.
My ingredient additions to Bacon Wrapped Dates
In addition to making dates with goat cheese wrapped in bacon with the usual ingredients, I like to add a few things to really make this appetizer sing.
First, I like to drizzle the dates with honey after they’re done baking. It adds another layer of flavor that is just incredible and goes so well with the crunchy bacon.
Next, I like to add on some salt and pepper. Why if the bacon is already so salty? Well, there’s a lot of sweetness going on here with the other ingredients and I’ve found adding just a bit of salt to taste helps to round out the flavor profile. The fresh cracked pepper gives it a little bit of kick too so you’re not overwhelmed by sweet.
Lastly, I like to top the bacon wrapped dates with fresh thyme and parsley. Thyme has become my go-to spice this fall and winter and I’ve been incorporating it into almost everything. When you get a bite of these dates with goat cheese wrapped in bacon with a little bit of fresh thyme on top…just incredible taste.
Tips for making dates wrapped in bacon
- My dates that I used here were huge. Generally you might not find them this big, but no worries. In fact, sometimes the smaller ones are nicer for straight finger food.
- Base the size of your bacon on the size of your dates. If your dates are larger, use half a piece of bacon to wrap with. If they’re smaller use 1/3 piece of bacon to wrap with.
- To get the bacon crispy, you want to do two things. 1. Cook this dish at a lower temperature for longer. I like 350 for 20-25 minutes. 2. Use a baking rack on top of the baking sheet so that air can flow around the bacon. You can also rotate it halfway through cooking if you want. {HERE} is a nice baking sheet and baking set rack that will work.
- I beg of you to not skip the fresh thyme! It’s so lovely on these!
Thank you so much for visiting today, friends! You can find the full recipe for the dates with goat cheese wrapped in bacon below. I hope you’ll come back and see us soon!
If you’re looking for more easy and delicious appetizers, check out these Mussels in White Wine Sauce or these easy Roasted Carrot Fries.
Get in touch!
If you have any comments or questions you can leave them below. If you have a question you need answered ASAP, you can direct message me on Instagram @rachelquenzer or @sugarmaplefarmhouse. I check there more often and will probably get back to you faster!
Dates with Goat Cheese Wrapped in Bacon
These Dates with Goat Cheese Wrapped in Bacon are delicious and easy! They're an appetizer that almost everyone love and have a great sweet and salty flavor.
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Equipment
- Tooth picks
- Baking sheet
- Baking cooling rack
Ingredients
- 14 oz. dates The ounces will be listed on the container.
- 4 oz goat cheese
- 1 package bacon, cut either in half or in thirds depending on the size of the dates.
- 4 Tbsp. honey
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh thyme leaves and parsley for topping.
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350.
- Slice dates in half and remove any pits that are there. Most dates you find will already have the pit removed but check anyways.
- Stuff each date with 1/2 to 1 tsp. of goat cheese.
- Wrap 1/3 - 1/2 piece of bacon around each date and secure with a toothpick.
- Add the wrapped date to a baking rack on top of a baking sheet.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the bacon is crispy. If you want to ensure that all parts of the bacon are crispy, turn halfway though bacon.
- Once they are done, immediately drizzle with honey and top with salt and pepper to taste.
- Let cool a little bit and then serve with fresh parleys and fresh thyme leaves.
Amber Myers says
Heck yes. What a tasty appetizer. I tend to love all things with bacon.
Mitch says
These look delicious! What a great way to enhance the eating of dates! Plus, anything with bacon is always good!
Marta says
These dates with goat cheese look like a great appetizer to serve for NYE! I can’t wait to try them out.
Tara Pittman says
These sound so delicious. I will have to make them for my next get together.
Heather Castillo says
I’m super curious about this. I haven’t had dates since I was a kid, so I don’t really remember how they taste. I imagine this combo would be delicious.
Wren says
These look like a great addition to a fancy holiday feast! I love most things wrapped in bacon!
Mandee says
These look delicious! I would’ve never thought to combine these things. Thanks for sharing!
Karen says
These dates look delish!! I can’t wait to try this recipe!
Terri Steffes says
This is such a good one. My son in law likes it with cream cheese but the rest of us like it with goat cheese.
Celebrate Woman Today says
Very creative and worth the effort for Holidays. Something new for an appetizer this season.
Richelle Milar says
Wow! This looks absolutely delicious! I would really love to try this awesome recipe!
Rose Ann Sales says
Oh my! This is so perfect and so yummy! This is such a really amazing recipe!
MELANIE EDJOURIAN says
These sound really tasty and combine three foods that I like too. It’s a great party food idea.
Tammy says
I just printed out this recipe. It looks so good and I needed an appetizer for an upcoming party.
Alita Pacio says
They’re full of flavors! This turned out really well and my family loved it
Jenn @ EngineerMommy says
I think this app would be amazing for a Christmas party. I love bacon with anything!
Jenn @ EngineerMommy says
These dates sound so delicious and flavorful. I love that you added goat cheese and bacon. So yummy
Angeline says
This is a great appetizer to please guests, love it!
Catalina says
Such a delicious appetizer. Bacon makes everything irresistible.
vidya says
while we are vegetarians, i am sure i can find something to substitute the bacon to wrap the dates with!! for they definitely look good
Tisha says
I don’t think I’ve ever had dates before! These look great
Sarah says
This is the best appetizer. Unique and so delicious!
Danielle says
This is mouth watering. Looks so good.
Beth says
So many delicious flavors in one bite! It seems like you’ve perfected this recipe!
Marjie Mare says
I can imagine how delicious these are. I will make them as appetizers.
Ann Quinn says
Wondering can you prep them the night before for baking the next day ?
Dianne says
These look delicious! Can these be made ahead and then reheated and dresses with the honey and herbs just before serving?
Rachel says
I think you could. I would reheat them in the oven at 350 for 10 minutes if you want to try it. My only concern with the reheating is that the cheese will melt a touch on the first cook and then there’s a chance the bacon might become a little soggy if it sits after it is cooked.
Kim S says
Can you prepare them the night before then pop them in the oven?
Rachel says
You can try. I think if it were me making them, I might stuff them the day before and then wrap them just before popping them in the oven.