Only 4 ingredients! These bacon wrapped goat cheese stuffed dates are baked until golden then brushed with sweet maple syrup! They’re rich, creamy & the perfect decadent appetizer for holiday parties!
I first brought these bacon wrapped stuffed dates to a family Christmas party a few years ago and they were a huge hit! Soft dates are filled with creamy goat cheese then wrapped in smokey salty bacon, baked until crispy and brushed with sweet maple syrup! By the end of the night, everyone was asking me for the recipe.😉
These stuffed dates have it all – rich, creamy, slightly sweet, smokiness from the bacon… it’s all just so good together! And they can easily be prepped ahead of time too so they’re perfect for appetizer parties. Even those guests who don’t like dates are going to love these!
Ingredients For Your Bacon Wrapped Dates
- Medjool dates: Medjool dates work the best because they’re bigger and “meatier” than other date varieties. (The bigger the date – the more you can stuff it!😉)
- Bacon: Use thinner bacon for the best results. (It crisps up much better in the oven!)
- Goat cheese: Use your favorite brand! (Sometimes I’ll use plain and a flavored goat cheese to give some variety.)
- Maple syrup: Always use real maple syrup! You’ll need enough to lightly coat the dates while they bake and some to brush over them right before serving.
- Salt: Just a sprinkle over the top helps bring out your flavors!
How To Make Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Dates
1. Preheat your oven. Turn your oven on to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Pit your dates. Slice each date in half length-wise but not all the way through. Then remove the pit and discard it.
3. Stuff your dates. Take a small amount of your goat cheese and stuff it into your sliced dates. Then give them a gentle squeeze to “seal” the dates.
4. Wrap them! Place one date at the end of one side of your bacon slice and roll the date until you complete 1½ rolls. (It helps to “stretch” your bacon slightly while roling to create a thinner layer.) Then take a sharp knife and cut the bacon so the “seam” is underneath the date. Continue the process until the rest of your dates are wrapped. (You can also secure the dates and baon together with toothpicks if you’re nervous about the bacon unraveling.)
5. Bake. Place the wrapped dates on your prepared baking sheet with the “seam-side” down and give them a light sprinkle of salt. Bake for 15 minutes then take them out of the oven and brush them with a little maple syrup. Then place the dates back in the oven and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes or until the bacon is crispy. (They should bake for a total of 20-25 minutes.)
6. Serve! Remove your dates from the oven and let them sit for 5-10 minutes to cool. (The bacon will crisp as they cool.) Then brush them with a little more maple syrup and serve immediately!
Variations
- Switch up the goat cheese! Try a flavored goat cheese to really amp up the flavor! I love using cranberry cinnamon, honey or even blueberry vanilla! Something fruity or sweet would pair great with the rest of your flavors!
- Use a flavored maple syrup! Runamok has some great options and can be a fun way to elevate your dates. Our favorite flavors are their bourbon barrel-aged and cinnamon-vanilla!
- Swap the bacon! Use proscuitto instead!
- Add some nuts! Place one small pecan or almond inside your date before filling it with your goat cheese. (They add texture and give a little crunch to your dates.) Or sprinkle some crushed pistachios over the top once they’re done baking too!
Tips For Making The Best Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Dates
- Buy whole dates, not pitted dates! (They’re much cheaper!)
- Let your goat cheese soften to room temperature before stuffing your dates. It’s more pliable this way and won’t crumble in your hands.
- Try to not overstuff your dates or the filling with spew out while they bake.
- Use thinner bacon, not thick-cut!
- Stretch the bacon while you roll the dates to create a thinner layer. This helps the bacon crisp up more while it’s baking. (I can usually roll 3 dates per bacon slice depending on their size. Sometimes I’ll trim my bacon slices too if they’re wider than my dates.)
- Secure your dates and bacon together with a toothpick if you’re nervous about them unraveling.
- If you notice the top of your dates aren’t browning as much as you would like, move your oven rack to the upper third of your oven. (I usually cook mine on the second from the top rack.)
Why you’ll love this goat cheese stuffed bacon wrapped date recipe!
- Only 4 ingredients! Dates + goat cheese + bacon + maple syrup!
- A party favorite appetizer! These stuffed dates are always the first appetizer gone at parties! Even guests who don’t like dates will love these!
- So flavorful! Baking the dates makes them incredibly plump & delicious! (Plus it brings out their natural sweetness!) Pair that with some tangy goat cheese & bacon & you’ve got a sweet & salty lover’s dream!
More appetizer recipes you might like:
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Bacon Wrapped Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates
Ingredients
- 24 medjool dates
- 6 oz. goat cheese, regular or flavored
- 8-12 bacon slices
- ⅓ cup maple syrup
- Salt, to taste (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven on to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Then slice each date in half length-wise, but not all the way through. Remove the pit and discard it.
- Next take a small amount of your goat cheese and stuff it into your sliced dates. Gentley squeeze the date together to "seal" it.
- Then place one date at the end of one side of your bacon slice and roll the date until you complete 1½ rolls. (It helps to "stretch" your bacon slightly while rolling to create a thinner layer.) Then take a sharp knife and cut the bacon so the "seam" is underneath the date. Continue the process until the rest of your dates are wrapped. (You can also secure the dates and bacon together with toothpicks if you're nervous about the bacon unraveling.)
- Place the wrapped dates on your prepared baking sheet with the "seam-side" down and give them a light sprinkle of salt.
- Bake for 15 minutes then take them out of the oven and brush them with a little maple syrup. Place the dates back in the oven and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes or until the bacon is crispy. (They should bake for a total of 20-25 minutes.)
- Once done, remove your dates from the oven and let them sit for 5-10 minutes to cool. (The bacon will crisp as they cool.) Then brush a little more maple syrup over the top and serve!
