If you’ve never had a date stuffed with cheese and wrapped in bacon, you are missing out. Bacon Wrapped Dates are one of the easiest, most delicious appetizers you will ever enjoy or serve to your family or friends. Is there anything that isn’t better with bacon? Dates have a special affinity for bacon. For example, I also used dates and bacon in these delicious Bacon, Molasses & Date Bran Muffins.
Why This Recipe Works
These yummy appetizer bites have it all going on. Sweet, creamy Medjool dates stuffed with tangy goat cheese (I used one with cracked black pepper). A little pop of cranberry is tucked in there for a fruity burst of tartness. Then, you wrap them up in smoky, salty bacon and pop them in the oven to get crisp and caramelized. (The bacon crisps, the date caramelizes). And that’s it. So simple yet so delicious.
Here’s What You Need
These bacon wrapped dates have just a few ingredients, and all of them are items that will keep for a while in the fridge. Which makes having them on hand easy for throwing together a last minute appetizer. Here they are:
- Medjool dates: you can buy these pitted or you can pit them yourself, which is easy to do.
- Goat cheese: some of the flavoured ones are wonderful. I used a cracked black pepper goat cheese here, but plain is good too.
- Bacon: A thinner cut bacon works best for these
- Cranberries: Fresh or dried cranberries work equally well.
How To Pit Your Dates
If you buy Medjool dates with pits intact, you can easily pit them yourself. With a small paring knife, cut a slit the length of each date, gently open it and remove the pit. Be sure not to cut the date completely in half. You just want a nice pocket that will contain the filling. If you bought pitted dates that pocket will already be there, and you can skip this step.
How To Make These Bacon Wrapped Dates
Making Bacon Wrapped Dates is so easy! Now that they are pitted, the first step is to fill the dates with cheese. Use about a teaspoon of cheese per date. You don’t want to overfill them because the cheese will just ooze out when they are baking.
Next, push a cranberry into the center of each date. You can skip the cranberry altogether, or you can try one of the variations listed later in this post.
Now, gently push the edges of each date together to close up the pockets full of filling. One by one, lay each date on the end of a bacon slice and roll until each one is encased in a bacon blanket.
Secure the bacon wrapped dates with toothpicks and bake until the bacon is crisp and browned.
Some Tips For Making This Appetizer
You can prepare these ahead and store them in the fridge, covered in plastic until you’re ready to bake them.
You can also bake them ahead and store them in the fridge fully cooked, then reheat them in a 350° oven for 5-10 minutes.
Toothpicks are not required. However, they do make the dates easier to turn while they are baking for more even browning. Toothpicks are also handy for serving. If you don’t have toothpicks, just put each bacon wrapped date with the seam side down.
Turn your dates often while they are baking to get them browned and crisp on all sides.
Use parchment or foil to line your baking sheet for easy cleanup.
Variations For Bacon Wrapped Dates
Try using prosciutto or pancetta instead of bacon for the wrapping.
Medjool dates are especially delicious wrapped in bacon because they are softer and sweeter than regular dates, (also called Deglet Noor). But, feel free to use regular dates. They will still be delicious and they will still disappear fast. If you’re interested in the difference, check out Medjool Dates vs Deglet Noor
You can omit the cheese for a non-dairy option, filling the dates with nuts, or even not filling them at all.
If you do want to fill the dates, almost any soft or crumbly cheese will work. Try blue cheese, cream cheese, ricotta, feta or manchego.
Other additions to the filling that works in place of cranberries: apple slices, especially tart apples like a Granny Smith. Pears that aren’t overly ripe are great, too.
More Appetizer Ideas
Looking for more delicious appetizers? Try these:
- Classic Stuffed Mushrooms
- Merlot Meatball Appetizers
- Pear Gorgonzola Appetizer Bites
- Mini Quiche Appetizers
Bacon Wrapped Dates
Ingredients
- 12 Medjool dates pitted
- 1/4 cup goat cheese
- 12 cranberries
- 6 slices bacon cut in half, crosswise
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment or foil
- Using a small spoon, stuff each date with cheese (about 1 tsp per date)
- Push a cranberry into each date
- Gently push the edges of each date pocket closed around the filling
- Wrap each date in a half slice of bacon, rolling to completely enclose
- Secure each bacon wrapped date with a toothpick
- Bake for 20 minutes, turning halfway through until bacon is brown and crisp.
- Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes before serving
Notes
Nutrition
what a great idea. The recipe looks lovely. I see myself trying this soon.
I would love to hear how it goes for you, Aditi!
Such an easy and delicious appy. The step by step photos are so helpful. It looks easy to prepare and perfect for the upcoming holidays.
Hi Sam. I’m so happy that you find the photos helpful, and I hope you do enjoy these over the holidays!
These look so good! I always loved rum-soaked prunes wrapped in bacon but I havent tried dates yet!
In love with this new way to enjoy dates. It looks absolutely delicious! The cheese stuffing and bacon! Bacon definitely makes everything so much better.
Hi Jo! It’s always better with bacon, and these are delicious!
Ok, full disclaimer, I can not resist these! As far as I am concerned they are the perfect appetizer, snack, amuse bouche whatever you want to call them, they are perfect. Made some as a test drive because I wanted to try them and OMG they were so good. I am making them again today for game night appetizer. Fantastic recipe!
Hi Jenny. I’m so happy that you tried these out and loved them. They really are so hard to resist! Thanks for letting me know, and enjoy these and game night!
These bacon-wrapped dates were sooooo sooooo darn good! I could have eaten every single one of them myself. My entire family raved about your recipe and we will be making this over and over. If I could rate this recipe a solid 10 I would!!!
That’s so awesome, Heidy! Thanks so much for letting me know that you & your family loved these!
You know when you see an appetizer at a party and you think to yourself “Oh man, I’m going to have to make sure I don’t just stand here and hoover all of these into my face”? Yeah, that’s me right now. These look SOOOO good, and the flavour combination is absolutely on point. And they’re so simple! Love it love it love it.
Thank you Sean! Yes, these are one of those appetizers! 😋
These look too good to even be real! I love the salty/savory bacon, plus the sweet dates. Really, wrapping something in bacon is never going to NOT improve it! Such a great appetizer to share when we can finally have parties again!
Hi Shelley, so true, bacon wrapping improves everything 😋 And no need to wait for a party, your family will gobble them up!
Oh my, I’m loving all those flavours, sweet, salty, and the tangy zip from the goat cheese and cranberry. A perfect bite to chew on while you wait for dinner!
Glad you’re loving them Kristen!
This looks like such a great holiday appetizer! I’m definitely going to put these on my recipe list for Thanksgiving.
These are my fave holiday appetizer, Valerie! Enjoy.
never thought of bacon and dates but i can totally see how the sweet savoury works together!
Nancy, you need to make these to know how well it works! Hope you make them. 😋
These dates have everything I love in them especially sweet and salty! Definitely book marking for our next wine night!
Hi Wanda! These are perfect for a wine night. Enjoy!
Wow…the flavor combination sounds so good! Medjool dates, cheese, bacon…what else is there to say! Definitely pinning so I don’t forget!
Hi Lisa, I know you’ll enjoy these, I’ve never met anyone who didn’t!😊
These are amazing! My mom makes plain old bacon wrapped dates every year for Christmas. I’m either going to pass along your version or make them myself. I have to try them!
Thanks Bernice, I think you will love these!
These look fantastic – what a cool twist on the traditional bacon wrapped fig!
Thanks Marie!
I have mad ebacon wrapped dates before but yours are next level. I mean, black pepper goat cheese and a fresh cranberry! Delightful, and simply perfect for the holiday season!
Hi Eva! Thanks so much, these turned out really great. I hop you give them a try!
Bacon makes everything better. I love the sound of this easy and delicious recipe. I know my guests would love this at my next party.
Agreed, Gloria! I know your guests will love this too.
Oh yum! Definitely the perfect appetizer for the upcoming holidays. I love that they can be prepared ahead of time.
Hi Tara! These are perfect for holiday entertaining, even if it’s on a smaller scale. Enjoy!
What a great fall recipe! I haven’t had these with cheese before so I’ll have to try it!
I hope you do give these a try Liz!
I love anything wrapped in bacon! And this salty/sweet combo? Yes please!
This is such a tasty and indulgent appetizer option! I’d struggle not to eat the lot myself, I’m not going to lie!
And that’s OK, Bintu, nobody’s judging! 😊