Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Dates
I was really hesitant to post these when I first decided to make them because seriously, they are so easy to make that you don’t really need a recipe, so I figured you didn’t exactly need me to show you how it’s done.
Besides, they are all over the Internet already so chances are you’ve seen them a gazillion times before. There’s no need for a gazillion and first time, is there?
But then I tasted them. O.M.G. My face did a double back flip and my feet suddenly slipped from under me, causing me to fall heavily butt first on the hard surface of the floor, leaving me helpless and practically out of breath from the gustatory experience I’d just had.
What I’d just put in my mouth was so insanely good, it no doubt was a mistake that it could be found anywhere on earth. Surely, it belongs exclusively in heaven!
So I thought I had to post it, if only to reach that ONE person who might not be aware of the existence of this exquisite treat as of yet.
And by all means, if you ARE aware of its existence but never really cared to give it a try, DO IT and do it now!
I swear, your life may never be the same…
First, you’ll need to pit those dates… no one likes to bite into a rock hard pit. Not a pleasant experience, to say the least!
To do that, delicately slice the dates with a sharp paring knife, from one end to the other; Then carefully pry that pit out with the tip of your knife. You’ll see, it’ll come right out for ya.
Now that the pits are out of the way, stuff the cavities with whatever nut or cheese tickles your fancy. I chose to use blue cheese, Brazil nuts and jumbo raw cashews. However, if you don’t care for any of these, I’m sure that goat cheese, macadamia nuts, hazelnuts, pecans, walnuts or even pistachios would work deliciously well.
Or, you could even leave that cavity empty, if you preferred to. But I think you would be missing out, honestly. This empty cavity begging to be filled with something yummy is way too great an opportunity to pass, if you ask me!
Plus, a cavity left empty is such a sad thing, don’t you think?
Once the dates are good and stuffed (or not, if you chose to leave them bare…) wrap a piece of bacon around them. I used thirds of slices because my strips were really long, but if yours are on the shorter side, you might need to use halves. You need to make sure that the strips will completely wrap around the dates and that there will be a bit of an overlap where the 2 ends meet. Oh, and make sure you keep that seam under the dates, of course…
Set your dates on a baking sheet that you will have previously lined with parchment paper.
One word of advice, here: do not skip the parchment paper! Just tilt your eyes down one inch and you’ll see why!
I thought you’d prefer not having to clean that mess… Plus, parchment paper will prevent your dates and bacon from sticking to the baking sheet. Believe me: you want to use it!
Now, I know some of you crispy bacon lovers out there may be looking at that bacon thinking it’s way undercooked, but trust me on this one. You don’t really want to cook these for too long. You want that bacon to remain nice and supple and your dates to stay all soft and plump. Oh, and you wouldn’t want that bacon to shrink on you so much that it just sits on top of your dates, now, would you?
Hear me out: I’m a real crispy bacon lover myself and I found these to be absolutely perfect!
Now for the really hard part. You need to let these babies cool down some. The next 10 to 15 minutes will probably be the longest minutes of your life. Ever!
But be patient. These taste much better when they don’t burn your tongue, gums and roof of your mouth as you bite down on them. Yeah! True story, unfortunately. Only once they were given a chance to cool down a bit will they reveal the whole amplitude of their extraordinary flavor. Plus, something magical seems to be taking place during that time: the dates, stuffing and bacon sort of meld together and kind of become one. I don’t know how to explain it, but I guarantee you it’s a good thing and VERY well worth waiting for.
So go do something, keep your mind occupied. The last thing you want to do now is stay there and stare at them. It would only be pure torture. Put them safely away from eager kids, spouses, guests or dogs and walk out of the room.
Trust!
After the dates have had ample time to cool down, transfer them to a serving plate and offer them to your hungry guests at once.
You should probably serve them with a serious warning as a side: it might be a good idea for them to sit down before they indulge, just in case their feet would be tempted to pull a crazy stunt on them like they did on me and send them flying straight to the floor.
Hey, it *could* very well happen, you know! 😉
Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Dates
Ingredients
- 24 large medjool dates
- 8 Brazil Nuts
- 16 jumbo raw cashews
- 75 g blue cheese
- 8 slices pastured bacon, cut in 3 crosswise (make sure that your pieces are large enough to completely wrap around the dates. Use a few more strips if necessary and cut then in half instead)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F
- Remove the pits from the dates by slicing them across the top from one end to the other with a paring knife and carefully prying the pit out with the tip of your knife.
- Stuff the cavities with a Brazil nut, 2 jumbo cashews or about half a teaspoon of blue cheese (goat cheese is also fab, if you don't like blue cheese)
- Wrap a strip of bacon around the date, making sure that both ends of the strip overlap some and to keep the seam neatly tucked under the dates.
- Set the finished dates on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake in a 375°F for about 8 to 10 minutes, or until bacon starts to turn golden and gets slightly crispy on the edges.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool for at least 10 to 15 minutes before serving.
- These stuffed dates are at their best warm but are also delicious cold.
- You can also make them in advance and reheat them in the microwave (if you prefer to serve them warm) for a minute or two.
Nutrition
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41 Comments on “Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Dates”
These are equally good with just nuts and cheese (and slightly healthier sans bacon!). I use walnuts and a small piece of feta cheese and then just enjoy when that sweet hunger desire hits in the afternoon!
can we use turkey bacon?
I was the same way when I made bacon wrapped pineapple…it was so good but so easy, maybe too easy to post. Did it anyway.
So glad you did too! I love bacon wrapped things. I want all the bacon wrapped things. I’ll eat anything if it’s covered in bacon. BUT, with cheese? And dates? This is my “every day all day” kinda food!
These have that perfect flavour combo of salty, sweet….and cheese. and bacon.
yes.
BACON WRAPPED PINEAPPLE!? Okay, heading to your blog now..
Sonia, I use to work at a restaurant that had bacon wrapped dates with a balsamic reduction. Safe to say that if I was working, the kitchen would be getting an order for these. The balsamic reduction just sent them over the edge.
The way you described these just brought back those beautiful bacon wrapped memories. Now I MUST have them. I would make them now if my kitchen wasn’t dismantled and wet from the burst pipe 🙁 guess I’ll just have to come eat yours!
OMG, Jordan, I hate you now. You just gave me the biggest craving ever. OMG. OMG. OMG. This has to be sooooooo good. Balsamic reduction I can eat by the spoonful. I like it that much. But to pair it with dates and crispy bacon? OMG, I think my imagination just died. Oh, and it has to be amazing with the pineapple and bacon, too! OK, I’ve got to meet myself a man now so I can get married and serve this at my wedding. 😉
Bacon wrapped pineapple? OMG, that sounds amazing! Please, please, share the link to your post! I absolutely NEED this in my life! Imagine a tray of bacon wrapped stuffed dates sitting side by side with bacon wrapped pineapple wedges. Oh, the dream. I want this to be served on my wedding day. IF I ever get married, that is!
There is so much bacon wrapped goodness in this thread right now that I don’t know what to do with me life. But, here’s the link: http://www.foodfaithfitness.com/sweet-n-sour-bacon-wrapped-pineapple/
Maybe you can make them paleo! 😉
Oh my, these look AMAZING! And they can be made Paleo in a heartbeat, too! Just don’t use any sauce, that’s it! 😉 Mind you, that sauce looks great… probably too great to pass. I’ll have to think of something! 😀
I am so going to get blue cheese in the morning and add to the menu for the Pats’ play-off party tomorrow night. Thanks!
Enjoy, Susan! Hope you and the gang like ’em!
Hahaha, my boyfriend brings them to every party 😀
I prefer to put the babies on an oven rack and a baking tray with parchment paper beneath it. The grease and water will run down and they will be even crispier.
Good idea, that! Thanks, Marty. I’ll give it a try next time!
I have made these many times recently after coming across it on the internet. However, your description of the taste had me roaring so I read through the entire process you posted. I have not used cheese yet, I will try that next. These are a huge hit at any party and they even taste awesome cold!!
Cheese is fantastic, although Brazil nut was my favorite. And you are so right about them tasting awesome even cold. I think they are my new ultimate favorite treat in the whole wide world. They even outranked chocolate! 😉
You know that I’m not huge on bacon, but dates…I’m addicted, big time.
I might give this a try but I already know that I’ll eat half (if not all) of the dates while pitting them.
I can already predict that very few will make it to the oven…
I know right? Dates are the bomb! Every single time I bite into one, ESPECIALLY a medjool, I comment to myself (and sometimes out loud) how I can’t believe that such a delicious thing grows naturally like that, on trees, without any form of human intervention or processing whatsoever. They’re so sweet and creamy, unbelievable. They taste just like caramel.
Now imagine adding warmth, crispiness, crunchiness and saltiness to that. Seriously man, you die. The prospect of that alone has to give you the strength you need to resist the naked dates before they make it to the oven.
And when all else fails, just buy a huge bucket. They go for a very decent price at Costco. 😉
Ok, holy yum! Totally trying this, in fact, I see it as an appetizer at our superbowl party. Normally I make bacon wrapped waterchestnuts but time to change it up! 🙂 Another great recipe Sonia, pinning! Thanks girl!
P.S. I hope your butts not sore from falling.. hehe.
Uh oh. I get the feeling that you will be the official Superbowl host for years and years to come if you do that, and the crowd will probably grow a little bit every year, too! I’m telling you Krista, these things are the bomb. The entire neighborhood will want to get their share…
ps just make sure every one is sitting down when they get their first bite! Either that, or check if your insurance covers your guests for butt injury! 😉
haha… butt insurance.. check! 🙂 We are usually the superbowl hosts anyways because my hubbie is obsessed with football. {ok.. i am too} But with these dates the party will grow. Thats for sure! 🙂
Not really a lover of dates, but cashew nuts and blue cheese is more me. I’m going try this recipe just to see if I can get over my dislike of dates, perhaps mixed with the bacon, nuts and cheese I might surprise myself!
Have you ever tried medjool dates, Carol? They are in a category of their own, let me tell you that! Pair them with the nuts, cheese and bacon and you suddenly find yourself in heaven!
You’re right! These are amazing. A friend of ours makes these as her go-to appetizer whenever she has a party and they always dissappear! Who cares if they’re posted everywhere, the whole world should know the wonders, right??
Hi!
I just have to say that your blog is amazing! Love your recipes, they are such an inspiration.
Keep up the good work.
– Eveline
Thank you so much for your kind words, Eveline. I really appreciate your taking the time to tell me this. You just put a great big smile on my face. 😀
I was first introduced to these using maple flavored bacon. Yum! But when we were unable to find flavored bacon one day we just basted the wrapped dates with a dollop of maple syrup. Talk about having your feet go our from under you ( if you’re the maple fanatic I am). Either way you just can’t go wrong with bacon and dates. Thanks for the stuffing suggestions.
You got that one right, Marsha! Bacon and dates, no way you can go wrong with that combo. Bacon and maple is pretty awesome too. I think I oughta create a dessert with that flavor combination… 😀
Thanks for my first .’laugh outloud of the day’. 🙂 Anxiously awaiting the dessert.
Just made these but grilled them over mesquite chips instead of baking, deliciousness!
Awesome! So happy to hear, Bob. Thanks a bunch for taking the time to let me know. You have no idea how much I appreciate that! 🙂
Could one use Manchego cheese? I don’t like feta, blue or goat cheese. Kinda picky!
Absolutely, Rita! You can basically use any cheese that you want!
I made these (roasted almonds, no cheese) as an app for Christmas. Added a dollop of red pepper jelly to the plate for dipping and watched them fly off the table! I used pre-soaked toothpicks, which helps hold things together and provides a convenient handle later!
I’ll definitely make them again, and that version with pineapple… Yum!
Ooooh, I love the addition of red pepper jelly! Must’ve been delicious indeed. Glad you and your guests enjoyed the stuffed dates and thanks a bunch for taking the time to let me know, Nan. I always truly appreciate that! 🙂
i make mine with a goatcheese/honey/crushed almond mixture with a soy sauce maple syrup glaze :p
Great recipe. Are dietary facts available? Including calorie counts. These are delicious. Thanks.
Sorry, I haven’t crunched in the numbers for that recipe… There are many great tools available online, though, if you wanted to calculate them yourself.
I am going to make this for our Christmas party this year, Prunes wrapped in Maple bacon !!!!!!! Yummy!!! (I may put Goat cheese in them…)
YUM! Goat cheese!!
My family makes these for every holiday; they are delicious! It’s the one thing everyone always looks forward to in our holiday food festivities! Super Yummy!
For those of you that mentioned your affinity for dates, try incorporating them into scrambled eggs…..amazing! You get the sweet with the salt and fat, perhaps even bacon on the side and voila!
My manager from many years ago got me hooked on these. I serve them with either a side, or brushed on, apricot glaze. Delish!