Bacon Wrapped Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates. Perfect party food, holiday snack, or appetizer. These are a big step up from dates stuffed with peanut butter! These are naturally gluten-free, nut-free, and grain-free, so they’re a safe, allergy-friendly crowd-pleaser!
Until I made these bacon wrapped goat cheese stuffed dates, I thought the best way to enjoy a date was to stuff it with peanut butter. Boy was I wrong! Funny story about how these came about. A friend of mine on Facebook was pregnant (she’s since had the baby) and posted this status
“Spent an hour making bacon-wrapped goat cheese dates with a balsamic reduction. JUST FOR ME. My pregnancy cravings are fancier than your pregnancy cravings.”
Well that was about a month ago, and I haven’t stopped thinking about these dates ever since. Apparently, my non-pregnancy cravings are pretty fancy too!
Bacon Wrapped Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates
This is so typical of me. I do it with shopping too. I see something I like and I never buy it. If I’m still thinking about it a month later, I got back to buy it. If it’s no longer available, I tell myself it just wasn’t meant to be.
I guess that’s a good thing?? Think before I act? Make sure whatever I’m acting on really matters? Does this mean I’m sensible?
I suppose things could be worse.
You know I swore up and down that this year I was not going to let the holidays stress me out. I said no a ton, I didn’t go crazy with gift giving, and I kept my obligations to a minimum.
I could not, however, curb the insane amount of cooking and baking that generally pours from my kitchen this time of the year. Don’t worry though, I did it all with the same self-imposed resentment as usual. What’s the opposite of “made with love”?
There is one holiday party each year that I actually enjoy going to. It’s at my bestie Val’s house on Christmas eve, and she always invites a ton of people so it’s easy for me to say, “I’m coming and I’m not bringing anything”. Val understands that I get burned out this time of year, and there’s always a ton of food, so I don’t feel bad.
If I was going to put forth even the tiniest bit of effort, I would totally bring these bacon wrapped, goat cheese stuffed dates. Instead, I’m going to wait until after the holidays when everything goes back to normal, then I’m going to make a huge batch and bring them to Val’s house for the two of us to eat together. Val’s pregnant again so since she can’t drink, she might as well indulge in crispy bacon and creamy goat cheese.
Now, THAT is real love.
Bacon Wrapped Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates
Bacon wrapped dates are an awesome party snack. You can stuff them with all kinds of things from water chestnuts to cream cheese.
Ingredients
- Pitted dates
- Goat Cheese
- Bacon
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
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Carefully cut a slit in as many dates as you're preparing. Stuff each date with goat cheese. Do not overstuff or the cheese will melt out in the oven.
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Slice bacon strips into thirds. Wrap each stuffed date with 1/3 strip of bacon and secure with a toothpick.
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Place prepared dates on a baking sheet lined with foil then topped with parchment. Bake for 20-25 minutes, turning halfway through until bacon is crispy.
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Remove from oven and place on a paper towel for 2 minutes to absorb excess grease.
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Enjoy!
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Val says
December 19, 2014 at 2:31 pmWill you please bring these on Christmas Eve?? This is a request from baby #2…
Nancy Buchanan says
December 21, 2014 at 2:39 pmI know exactly how you feel Betsy… but for these?? I don’t think I’ll be able to resist making them either!!!!
Coleen says
November 17, 2015 at 10:37 pmSilly question but where does one find pitted dates? I’ve never cooked with them before! I see I can purchase a bag of dried pitted dates, like Craisins, would that be what I need? Thanks!!!
betsy says
November 20, 2015 at 10:27 amI found them in a container at Sprouts Market. You could maybe find them at Trader Joes
Lou Anne says
November 22, 2016 at 1:10 pmDefinitely, Trader Joe’s
Janine says
November 9, 2018 at 11:04 pmTypically you can find them in any main grocery store in the produce aisle. You can also order from the date farms in CA.
Tama says
November 30, 2015 at 3:57 pmJust wondering if these can be made ahead and frozen? reheated later?
betsy says
November 30, 2015 at 7:35 pmI have never tried to make them in advance. If you do try it, please let me know how it goes!
Shawn says
October 26, 2016 at 4:30 pmThese are the ultimate appetizer. I take mine out and put some maple syrup on it and put it back in the over for a bit longer. Its sticky, sweet, and savory! I love them. I have always used manchego cheese from a recipe I got from food network, but goat cheese sounds AMAZING. I will be making these soon! Thanks Betsy!
Lou Anne says
November 22, 2016 at 1:11 pmHave you ever tried duck bacon with these?
betsy says
November 24, 2016 at 1:10 amI have not but I’m so curious as to how it would work. If you try it, please let me know!
Helen says
November 29, 2016 at 2:29 pmCan you use something besides goat cheese? Cream cheese?
betsy says
November 30, 2016 at 11:09 pmdefinitely! Any kind of soft cheese would be great
Felicia says
December 14, 2016 at 8:33 pmBetter even is stuffed figgs with goat cheese and wrapped in bacon. Use dry figgs, cut the pointed end, force your finger inside to create a cavity and fill it with goat cheese.
I make tons of them, and freeze batches of 12 or whatever number is convenient and I bake them when I need. The frozen ones last for months.
betsy says
December 14, 2016 at 10:44 pmI like how you think! I’ve done fresh figs stuffed with blue cheese and wrapped in prosciutto before which was also a party pleaser!
Nancy says
April 12, 2017 at 2:23 pmHow do u cook them if frozen? Many thx.
betsy says
April 12, 2017 at 4:28 pmI wouldn’t recommend freezing these. If you do, I would cook them completely and allow them to cool before freezing, then completely defrost and reheat in the oven when ready to eat
Chris says
November 16, 2017 at 8:48 pmI think I am going to bring these for an appetizer for Thanksgiving. If I bake them at home, how should I reheat when I get there? Or can they be served room temp?
betsy says
November 16, 2017 at 9:18 pmYes! You’re going to love them! you can absolutely serve them at room temp. If I was going to travel with them, ideally I would prep them ahead of time, cover with plastic wrap and then bake once I arrive somewhere. If you want to reheat, I would suggest undercooking them by about 5 minutes, and then finishing the cook at your location
Chris says
December 4, 2017 at 12:00 amThey were a huge hit with my cousins! Thanks!
Jessica says
November 26, 2017 at 8:48 amWe make these all the time, so delicious! A yummy addition to the goat cheese is crushed/chopped walnuts and a hefty drizzle of maple syrup, mix it together and stuff – heavenly!