Salty quality bacon paired with cream cheese and sweet Medjool dates is one truly special appetizer.
Bacon wrapped cheese stuffed dates are probably one of my favorite appetizers ever. They. Are. So. Good.
They're the perfect combo of crispy, bacon goodness paired with gooey, cheesy, creamy and sweet.
The dates almost taste like caramel and they're absolutely amazing with the bacon and cream cheese.
These babies are almost like a sweet treat because they have that beautiful sweet and salty thing going on. Yet they're still savory enough to feel like a hearty, decadent snack.
Be warned though, you're going to want to make lots of these. I often double up the batch because they're so good!
These stuffed dates are perfect for any meal.
They're also great as a date night snack or appetizer and perfect for holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Eve and Valentine's Day.
They also make the best little fun bites for game day snacks!
I usually alternate between these bacon wrapped cheese stuffed dates and sweet and spicy stuffed bacon wrapped dates.
When making the spicier stuffed dates, I like to make something to cool our mouth's off with and my go-to is always real food orange creamsicle smoothies. It might sound like an odd combo, but it's super yummy.
When making these bacon wrapped cheese stuffed dates I highly recommend using a quality bacon - preferably organic or a pasture raised bacon. You can even use organic turkey bacon if you'd like, but my favorite for these is traditional bacon.
Medjool dates are pretty easy to find these days. Pretty much every grocery store carries them with their dried fruits. Natural food stores are almost a sure bet when looking for them. Even some wholesale markets carry them now too! Of course, if you can't find them locally, you can easily find them online.
With the cream cheese, try to use a quality brand too - because it will taste better. There's even a great organic lactose free cream cheese brand available at most natural food stores if lactose is an issue. If dairy is food you have to avoid, you can easily substitute with a quality dairy-free soy-free cream cheese.
These bacon wrapped cheese stuffed dates are the perfect appetizer for holiday parties, game day, dinner parties or for a special dinner date night for two with your honey on Valentine’s Day.
Bacon Wrapped Cheese Stuffed Dates
Bacon Wrapped Cheese Stuffed Dates
Bacon Wrapped Cheese Stuffed Dates are the most delicious small bites. They're the perfect real food snack to enjoy with someone you love.
Ingredients
- 16 organic Medjool dates – pitted (buy pitted or remove pit during prep)
- ¼ cup organic cream cheese, softened
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt (<-- salt)
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon – optional
- 8 pastured or organic bacon slices, cut in half
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Prep dates – open up dates carefully with a paring knife, cut 2 lengthwise slits in the dates, making sure not to cut all the way through the date, remove small piece of date (save to snack on), remove pit if necessary.
- In a small bowl, mix the cream cheese, sea salt and optional cinnamon. Stuff dates with about ½ teaspoon (or more if you like overstuffed dates like my husband and I do) of the cheese mixture.
- Tightly wrap each cheese stuffed date with ½ slice of bacon. Secure with toothpick.
- Place bacon wrapped dates seam side down on baking pan. Place baking pan in oven, set timer for 10 minutes. At 10 minutes, use tongs to flip each bacon wrapped date. PLEASE USE CAUTION, the bacon grease is very hot, use an oven mitt to protect your hand/arm. Set timer for another 10 minutes. Bacon is done when it “looks” crispy and is dark golden brown. Watch the bacon closely, all ovens cook differently, you don’t want the bacon to burn. You should be able to tell at the 10-minute mark about how much longer you will need to cook the bacon. If you’re not sure, just keep an eye on them. You may need a few more minutes after the 20 minute mark to crisp the bacon enough.
- Serve warm or at room temperature. Make sure to wait a couple of minutes before taking a bite, they are super HOT when they come out of the oven.
Notes
Equipment: Toothpicks, Large Baking Pan/Sheet (I use Stoneware), Cutting Board, Small Paring Knife, Small Bowl, Kitchen Tongs
You will need 16 toothpicks. I have made these without toothpicks, but I find it's easiest with toothpicks.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 16 Serving Size: 1 bacon wrapped dateAmount Per Serving: Calories: 79Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 12mgCarbohydrates: 18gFiber: 2gSugar: 16gProtein: 1g
This nutritional information was auto-generated based on serving size, number of servings, and typical information for the ingredients listed. To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in a given recipe, please calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients and amounts used, using your preferred nutrition calculator. Under no circumstances shall the this website and the author be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on the given nutritional information. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
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Renee Kohley
Ohhh yummy! I love this!
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
Thanks Renee! 🙂
Frank
So good! Just made them for our lazy Sunday.
Emily Criswell
Hi Frank, I'm so glad that you enjoyed them! Sounds perfect for a lazy Sunday. 😊
The Food Hunter
I've been drooling over these all week! I need to make them soon!
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
Aww thanks Theresa! xo I hope you get to make some soon 🙂
Carol Little R.H.
This looks delicious! I love wrapping anything in bacon, don't you?
I make a similar dish..with prosciutto. Will get around to posting it someday!
I will try this version next! Thanks for sharing!
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
I agree! Bacon anything 🙂 Prosciutto sounds yummy too!
linda
Drool. Sigh. Swoon!
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
lol thank you!!! xo
ChihYu Smith
These mini finger foods are so perfect for the holiday season. They are sweet and savory with a crunchy texture outside. So delicious!
Kelly Nevins
If I make these ahead of time, would a quick zap in the microwave to warm them up change the constituency? I know the bacon won’t be as crispy but hopefully it wouldn’t otherwise have a bad effect?
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
Hi Kelly, I'm not a fan of microwaves so I'm not sure what the results would be - however I do think you could make them ahead of time and reheat them. I would recommend reheating them on a low setting in the oven or in a toaster oven instead, that will help the texture stay the same. I hope you get to enjoy some, they're so good! 🙂
Joni Gomes
Omg definitely pinning this and making for Superbowl! My friends will devour these!
Jean
Oh wow, this is such a great treat to serve on game day and Super Bowl is just around the corner! The flavors and the textures all sound so amazing.
Raia Todd
Mmm... love that salty and savory combo with the sweetness of the dates!
Tessa Simpson
Little bites of heaven...what a flavor combo! And not too hard to whip up either!
Kelly
I know a lot of people who aren't going to be able to get enough of these. Total crowd pleaser!
Sara
We're hosting a dinner party in a few weeks (as long as we don't have a snow storm that weekend!) and I'm definitely adding these to my appetizer menu! Looks delicious!! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Kari - Get Inspired Everyday!
These are appetizer perfect, I just love the savory sweet combo!
nicole (thespicetrain.com)
These guys look and sound SO yummy! I love the cinnamon in there, what a delicious twist. Thank you for sharing, Emily! 🙂
Megan Stevens
What could be more delicious than savory + sweet caramel?! I love that addition of cinnamon! Such a fun appetizer.
Meredith
How delicious are these?!?! What a perfect game day snack / treat... pinning because EVERYONE will love these!
Zuzana
This combination is unbelievable. I would have never come up with it. Cant wait to try it.
CHIHYU
I love all the delicious flavor in this recipe. What a perfect finger food for every occasion!
Kiran Dodeja Smith
We have company coming over Sunday to watch football, too. Love how easy and perfect these will be to share! Thank you!
STACEY CRAWFORD
The best gifts are wrapped in bacon! The creamy cheese with the smokey bacon and the sweetness from the dates is a joy for the taste buds!
Anne Lawton
I can't think of many things that bacon doesn't taste good with! But this combination sounds incredible!
Catherine Baez Sholl
Such a great appetizer for the upcoming Super Bowl parties! Pinning it for later.
Robin
These are absolutely delicious!! What is the best way to store these? Trying my best not to eat them all in one night!
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
So happy to hear that! 🙂 I just store the leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and we usually heat them up on a low temp in the oven the next day.
Kimber Mann
I had some leftover dates from a dressing recipe. Not a huge fan of dates so I didn't know what I was going to do with them. Came across this recipe and decided to try it. They were so good. Everyone loved them even my husband who at first refused to try them because he doesn't like dates. These were so good. Would highly recommend trying them!
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
I'm so happy to hear that!! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Josh
Just made these with thick cut raspberry chipotle bacon from the meat market. Ill be in trouble because I will eat the whole batch myself.....oh well!
Emily Vidaurri
That bacon sounds amazing! Hope you enjoyed them!
Alex
Can these be prepped in advance and then baked the next day?
Emily Vidaurri
Hi Alex, I've never tried that before so I can't say for sure. I have made up large batches and reheated them the next day and they're still delicious - however, they're not quite the same as freshly baked.
JoJo
Just a quick question can these be stuffed with goat cheese instead of cream cheese? Would like to make them for Christmas Eve I was just wondering I’d like to do the goat cheese. What do you think?
Emily Criswell
Thank you for your patience, I'm just now seeing this. I hope you still made them and enjoyed them - I'm sure they'd be great with goat cheese too. 😊