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 and you have an appetizer that will fly off the plate.
Spicy Stuffed Dates Wrapped in Bacon are the Best
You can never have enough appetizer recipes, whether you love game days, tailgates, or entertaining family and friends, nothing sets the tone like some decadent starters. Naturally sweet dates are stuffed with blue cheese and then wrapped in bacon. It just doesn’t get any better than that.
While I enjoy football season, having lived in Kentucky growing up, I’m really more of a basketball fan. When Kentucky is playing, we want to watch the games at home, so appetizers are a must. Spiced stuffed dates are always on my rotation.
You can go traditional and serve buffalo wings, potato skins, or candied bacon, 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. Grilled dates with goat cheese are another alternative if you’re grilling out.
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.
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.
You’ll Love this Bacon Wrapped Dates Recipe
- 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
Ingredients You’ll Need for Stuffed Dates Wrapped in Bacon
- 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 type of soft cheese 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: Stuff the dates
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.
Step 2: Wrap in bacon
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 baking 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: Brush with syrup
Combine maple syrup and sriracha and brush it on the dates.
Bake until you have bacon strips that 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.
FAQs About Stuffed Dates
Are devils on horseback the same as bacon wrapped dates?
Yes, devils on horseback appetizers are the same as bacon wrapped dates.
What kind of cheese goes well with dates?
Soft cheeses like goat cheese, boursin cheese and blue cheese pair well with sweet dates.
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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Stuffed Dates Wrapped in Bacon
Ingredients
- 24 Dates pitted
- ¼ cup blue cheese up to ½ cup
- 12 slices Bacon
- 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon sriracha
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400º. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and place a wire rack inside the baking sheet.
- Fill each date with blue cheese and press together. Wrap with ½ a bacon slice depending on the size of your dates. Secure with toothpick and place on wire rack.
- Combine maple syrup and sriracha and brush over each date. Bake for 15 minutes, until bacon is cooked, remove and brush with remaining sauce. Continue to cook for about 5 minutes until bacon is crisp.
Barbara’s Tips + Notes
- Use Medjool dates which are larger than other varieties and easier to stuff.
- Let the blue cheese come to room temperature so it’s easier to stuff into the dates.
- Thinner bacon slices will be easier to wrap around the dates.
- If using thick bacon, you may need to secure with a toothpick
- You can use goat cheese or boursin cheese instead of blue cheese.
Nutrition
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