Stuffed Dates Wrapped In Bacon- Butter & Baggage

Name: Stuffed Dates Wrapped in Bacon
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Ingredients: 24 Dates (pitted); ¼ cup blue cheese (up to 1/2 cup); 12 slices Bacon; 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup; 1 tablespoon sriracha

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Spicy blue cheese stuffed dates with a spicy glaze will get your attention. Sweet, salty, spicy and DELICIOUS. Throw these dates wrapped in bacon together in 15 minutes.

A white platter with baked stuffed dates.

March Madness is here! While I enjoy football, having lived in Kentucky growing up, I’m really more of a basketball fan. When Kentucky is playing, my husband wants to watch the games at home, so appetizers are a must.

You can go traditional and serve buffalo wings, or potato skins, but throw in some stuffed dates to change things up a bit, a little bite of heaven.

They’re a quick and easy appetizer that you can eat hot or at room temperature that will have people raving. Dates stuffed with goat cheese are fabulous, but blue cheese stuffed dates wrapped in bacon are so much better than I was expecting.

When cooked, the dates develop a caramel like sweetness that’s hard to resist. Even folks that don’t love blue cheese, are amazed at how scrumptious bacon wrapped stuffed dates are. They are a great small finger food for a holiday party, or causal gathering with friends.

Crispy bacon and creamy cheese along with naturally sweet dates are one of my most popular recipes.

If you want to take these to the next level, add a slightly spicy glaze. The first time I made these, I didn’t make nearly enough, these will be gobbled up so quickly. I increased the recipe proportions so that it makes 24. I promise, you won’t have any left over.

They’re pretty hard to resist. In fact, the stuffed dates are so good, that you can leave off the bacon, but you would miss out on the salty smoky flavor it adds. Did you know that dates have all kind of vitamins and nutrients and while high in calories, are naturally sweet and contain fiber. So don’t miss out on this amazing snack.

Why you’ll love them

Spicy and savory
Sweet dates are a great snack
Delicious fresh out of the oven and at room temperature
You can make these ahead of time
Perfect finger food and appetizers for tailgate parties and gatherings
Anything’s better with bacon

What you’ll need

Dates – use large medjool dates when stuffing dates. You will need to remove the pit, but it’s no big deal since you have to stuff them anyway. Medjool are the most common dates that you will find at the grocery store they have a more caramel like flavor than Deglet Noor dates. These are the two most available dates you’ll find at the grocery.
Blue cheese – if you love blue cheese, get one that has a strong flavor so that it comes through with everything else that’s going on. Let it come to room temperature it’s easier to stuff the dates if the cheese is soft. You can use any of soft cheeses instead, like boursin cheese or goat cheese.
Bacon – thin sliced makes it easier to wrap, if using thick-cut bacon, you will need to increase the time they cook so that the bacon is crispy.
Pure maple syrup – this is not the same as pancake syrup, it’s very thin and runny.
Sriracha – you can use your favorite hot sauce

Where can you find dates in the grocery store?

Did you know that dates are fresh and not a dried fruit. Because of this, they are often found in the produce section, but sometimes you’ll find them in the dried fruit section.

They can be stored at room temperature for about 1-2 months and in the refrigerator for up to 6 months. You can also freeze them in an airtight container.

How to choose the best dates

Look for dates that are shiny and plump and not shriveled. As they dry they will shrivel, you can still eat them, but they won’t be as soft and will be harder to stuff.

How to make bacon wrapped dates

While you might think stuffing dates is complicated, it’s actually very easy.

Step 1:

Using a small paring knife, cut a slit in the dates down the long side without cutting all the way through and remove the pit. Add as much blue cheese as you can fit in the hole you’ve created.

Dates being stuffed with cheese and wrapped in bacon.

Step 2:

Cut the bacon into pieces large enough to go around the dates, about a ½ slice,. Wrap the piece of bacon around the stuffed date. Some bacon slices will stay in place, but the easiest way to make sure they stay wrapped is to secure each with a toothpick. Then place on a wire rack inside a rimmed backing sheet lined with parchment paper.

By baking them on a wire rack, the bacon fat will drip through and you won’t have a greasy appetizer.

Step 3:

Combine maple syrup and sriracha and brush it on the dates, bake until you have bacon strips are crispy. Let them cool a little before serving.

If you don’t want them spicy, leave out the hot sauce, they will still be delicious. You can also leave off the bacon, and just heat them until warm.

These are great to serve for a March Madness or any party because you can make them in advance and they’re just as good once they’ve reached room temperature.

Blue cheese next to a plate of bacon wrapped daes.

FAQs and tips

Are devils on horseback the same as bacon wrapped dates?

Devils on horseback appetizers are the same as bacon wrapped dates.

What kind of cheese goes well with dates?

Almost any cheese will go well with dates, the most common is goat cheese.

Are there different kinds of dates?

There are 100’s of different kinds of dates, Medjool and Deglet Noor are the most common in the US.

What type of bacon strips should you use to wrap dates?

You can use a smoky bacon, or pepper bacon, or stick to a traditional salty bacon. All will add flavor to this delicious recipe.

MORE easy appetizers

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