Maple Glazed Bacon Wrapped Dates with Goat Cheese
These bacon wrapped dates are the epitome of simple elegance. We have plump Medjool dates stuffed with goat cheese, wrapped in bacon, and glazed with rich maple syrup. You have no idea, they’re so good. And you can serve them at room temp, so they’re the perfect party snack!
I don’t think I thought about dates one single time until I was about 28 years old. But now? Wow, they’re so good. If I’m not stuffing them with cheese and wrapping them in prosciutto, I’m spreading them with peanut butter and chocolate chips.
And now that the holidays are upon us, I’m officially in goat cheese mode. I mean, I guess it’s always goat cheese szn, but especially around Thanksgiving and Christmas for some reason? It’s so good whipped into a dip and spread on crostini with fig jam. But goat cheese + dates is chef’s kiss good.
Just to lean into the holiday flavors a little more, I like to brush the bacon with a little bit of maple syrup. If you’ve ever had candied bacon, you know the vibes. I also add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes because ICYMI, ‘swicy’ is in.
What I also love about this recipe is that you can serve it hot or at room temp. Because if there’s anything I learned in culinary school, it’s that a room temp dish can be a lifesaver when you have a hundred other things to cook. Let’s make em!
You need to use thin bacon
I’m usually a thin bacon hater, but in this case, it’s actually pretty key! We’re only baking the dates for about 25-30 minutes. So you want thin bacon that’ll crisp up quickly. It doesn’t have to be paper thin, but you should save the thick-cut stuff for another recipe.
Recipe instructions
Keep a close eye on the dates! You want the bacon to crisp up and get sticky from the glaze. But you don’t want it to burn. Flip the dates often so everything cooks up evenly!
Reheating this app
If you make these in advance and want to reheat them, that’s definitely an option! Just place the dates in a greased baking dish, cover with foil, & bake at 350°F (177°C) for about 10-15 minutes, or until hot. Uncover the pan during the last few minutes of baking to re-crisp the bacon.
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Easy Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates with Bacon
Ingredients
- 16 Medjool dates
- 4 ounces crumbly goat cheese (115 grams)
- 8 thin slices of bacon, cut in half
- 3 Tablespoons pure maple syrup (45 milliliters)
- 1 Tablespoon brown sugar, packed (12 grams)
- 1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary, plus more for garnish
- Red pepper flakes, to taste
- Freshly-cracked black pepper, to taste
Equipment
- Toothpicks,
- 1 sheet pan
- Parchment paper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
- If your dates are not pitted, you will need to pit them before making this recipe. Working one date at a time, slice each date through the middle lengthwise being sure not to cut all the way through. Gently pull the sides apart until you see the pit. Then, use your fingers or the tip of the knife to remove the pit. Repeat with the remaining dates.
- Slice the goat cheese into 16 pieces. Stuff each date with a piece of goat cheese, and gently press the sides of the dates to help everything stick together.
- Roll each date in a half slice of bacon. Tuck the ends of the bacon under the bottom of each date and use a toothpick to secure the bacon. Line the dates about 1 inch apart on the prepared sheet pan.
- Next, whisk the maple syrup, brown sugar, rosemary, red pepper flakes, and black pepper in a small bowl until smooth. Use a pastry brush to brush all sides of the bacon with the glaze.
- Bake the dates for about 10 minutes. Then, flip the dates and bake for another 10 minutes. Flip the dates once more so the bottom is touching the sheet pan. Bake for 5-8 more minutes, just until the bacon is crispy and the glaze has thickened. Keep a close eye towards the end so the glaze doesn't burn!
- Let the dates sit on the sheet pan for about 3-5 minutes to let the bacon crisp up a bit more. Then, transfer the dates to a platter. Garnish with more rosemary and red pepper flakes, if desired. Serve hot or at room temperature.
