Prepare for an appetizer sensation that’s unbelievably easy to make and incredibly addictive! These Bacon Wrapped Dates, needing only 5 simple ingredients, are guaranteed to be the first to disappear at your next gathering. Each succulent date is meticulously stuffed with a harmonious blend of creamy cheese – whether it’s classic cream cheese, tangy goat cheese, or bold blue cheese – subtly enhanced with fragrant thyme. They are then enveloped in a strip of savory bacon and broiled to crispy, golden perfection, creating a symphony of flavors and textures that’s simply irresistible.
This exceptional bacon recipe masterfully marries the rich, smoky notes of bacon with a luscious, creamy cheese filling and the natural sweetness of pitted dates. The result is a sweet-salty appetizer experience that is truly unparalleled. Widely celebrated as Devils on Horseback, this delightful treat is a must-save for your recipe collection and the highlight of any upcoming party or special occasion. Its universal appeal and minimal effort make it a perfect choice for hosts looking to impress with ease.
Irresistible Bacon Wrapped Dates: Your Go-To Sweet & Savory Appetizer
Welcome to the world of Bacon Wrapped Dates, a culinary marvel that effortlessly blends gourmet flavors with ultimate simplicity. Whether you call them Bacon Wrapped Dates or their charmingly intriguing alternate name, Devils on Horseback, this appetizer promises to deliver an explosion of taste and texture that will captivate every palate. It’s more than just a snack; it’s an experience.
Why These Bacon Wrapped Dates Will Be Your New Favorite
Years ago, I introduced these stuffed dates at a party, and my husband, who initially claimed not to like dates, uttered a phrase that has since become legendary in our home: “I don’t like dates, but I like these.” This single sentiment perfectly encapsulates the magic of this dish. Even the most skeptical tasters are won over by its unique charm. This recipe isn’t just easy; it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that consistently vanishes from the plate faster than any other appetizer. Just like our popular Bacon Cream Cheese Roll-Ups, these are truly irresistible!
- An Unbeatable Flavor Profile: There’s a transformative quality to bacon recipes, and these dates are no exception. Each bite offers a delightful interplay of textures and tastes: the satisfying crunch of crispy bacon, the tender chewiness of the date, the smooth, creamy richness of the cheese filling, and a subtle herbaceous hint from the thyme. It’s a captivating balance of sweet, salty, creamy, and crisp – a symphony for your senses that is simply impossible to resist.
- Effortless Elegance: Despite their sophisticated appearance and gourmet taste, these Bacon Wrapped Dates are surprisingly straightforward to prepare. With just 5 core ingredients, this is undeniably an easy appetizer recipe. It requires minimal culinary skills but delivers maximum impact, making you look like a seasoned chef without the stress.
- Versatile for Any Occasion: While often making an appearance on festive Christmas menus, these savory-sweet bites are incredibly versatile and utterly delicious any time of year. They are perfect for holiday gatherings, New Year’s Eve parties, game day celebrations, sophisticated cocktail evenings, or even as a delightful weekend snack. Their adaptability ensures they’ll become a regular feature in your entertaining repertoire.
- Proven Crowd-Pleaser: From my discerning husband to an elementary school-aged guest with surprisingly sophisticated taste, these dates have charmed every person who has tried them. Their universal appeal is a testament to the perfect balance of flavors and textures. You can confidently serve these knowing they will be a hit with guests of all ages.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: For busy hosts, the ability to prepare appetizers in advance is a game-changer. These Bacon Wrapped Dates can be assembled ahead of time and refrigerated, then simply broiled or baked just before serving. This allows you to spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying your guests.
Expert Recipe Tips for Perfect Bacon Wrapped Dates
This “non-recipe,” as my sister Mary affectionately calls it, might seem simple, but a few insider tips can elevate your Bacon Wrapped Dates from good to absolutely phenomenal. Having made these countless times over the past decade, I’ve gathered some invaluable advice:
- Choosing Your Dates Wisely: The first time I made these stuffed dates, also known as Devils on Horseback, we used medium-sized dates. While these work, I highly recommend opting for larger dates, specifically Medjool dates, if you can find them. Their plump, moist texture and generous size provide the perfect cavity for stuffing and create a more substantial bite.
- Bacon Strip Size Matters: If you’re using larger Medjool dates, Mary advises wrapping them with a whole strip of bacon (cut in half to yield two wraps per strip). For smaller dates, a half-strip (or even a third if bacon is very long) usually suffices. The goal is to fully encase the date without excessive overlap, ensuring even cooking and crispness.
- Cheese Filling Innovations: The classic combination of goat cheese or blue cheese with cream cheese is a winner. For those who find blue cheese a bit too piquant, mixing it with an equal part of softened cream cheese will mellow its intensity while retaining its distinctive flavor. Experiment with different ratios to suit your preference. You can also explore other creamy cheeses like Boursin, herbed feta, or even a smoked gouda spread.
- Aromatic Herbs: While thyme is my go-to for its earthy and slightly floral notes, don’t hesitate to experiment with other fresh herbs. Finely minced rosemary or sage can add a wonderful, aromatic twist, especially if you’re aiming for a more robust or autumnal flavor profile.
- The Universal Appeal: This past time, I opted for blue cheese, and they were, as expected, just as delicious. I even took them to a neighborhood gathering where one of the host’s elementary school-aged sons couldn’t stop eating them! This truly speaks volumes about their widespread appeal, demonstrating a rather mature and discriminating palate for such a young connoisseur.
Step-by-Step Guide: Crafting Your Delicious Bacon Wrapped Dates
This easy appetizer recipe is incredibly simple, requiring minimal ingredients and straightforward steps. However, a few key techniques and tips will ensure your preparation process is smooth and your final product is absolutely perfect.
- Pitting the Dates: Begin by carefully removing the pits from your dates. This is easily achieved by making a shallow cut almost through the date, lengthwise, from one long side to just past where you feel the pit. Gently open the date and use your fingers to pull out each pit. Discard the pits and reshape the date slightly.
- Prepare the Cheese Filling: In a small bowl, combine the softened cream cheese with either blue cheese or goat cheese. If using blue cheese, you might consider mixing it with cream cheese for a milder flavor. PRO-Tip: Ensuring your cream cheese is at room temperature is crucial. It will make the blending process significantly easier, resulting in a smooth, uniform filling without lumps. Use a fork or a small spatula to mix until well combined. You can also add your minced thyme at this stage.
- Partially Cook the Bacon: This step is vital for ensuring the bacon cooks thoroughly and crisps up beautifully without burning the dates under the broiler. Cut each bacon slice in half (or in thirds if using very long strips). Use your preferred cooking technique – microwave, oven, or stovetop – to cook the bacon until some of the fat has rendered and the meat begins to darken but is still flexible. It should be semi-cooked, not fully crisp. This pre-cooking ensures the bacon reaches its ideal crispiness during the final broiling stage. Crucial Safety Note: Undercooked bacon can pose foodborne illness risks, such as salmonella, so par-cooking is not just for texture but also for safety.
- Stuff the Dates: Using a small spoon or a butter knife, scoop out a “quenelle” or a small football-shaped mound of the cheese mixture. The amount should be proportionate to the size of your date – typically enough to fill the cavity created by removing the pit. Gently spread open the date and carefully place the cheese filling in the middle. Press the sides of the date back together around the filling to enclose it.
- Wrap and Secure: Take a partially cooked strip of bacon and wrap it snugly around the middle of the stuffed date. The goal is to encase the cheese filling and hold the date together. Secure the bacon wrap by inserting a wooden toothpick straight through the date and bacon. Ensure the toothpick goes through both ends of the bacon strip to hold it firmly in place.
- Broil to Perfection: Arrange the bacon-wrapped dates in a single layer on a baking sheet. Place the baking sheet under your broiler, typically 4-6 inches away from the heat source. Cook as directed in your recipe, but watch carefully under the broiler. Broilers can vary greatly in intensity, and bacon can go from perfectly crispy to burnt in a matter of seconds. Turn the dates once to ensure even crisping on both sides. The dates are ready when the bacon is golden brown and delightfully crisp.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bacon Wrapped Dates
The versatility of Bacon Wrapped Dates is one of their best features! Beyond the classic recipe, you can experiment with different elements to create exciting new flavors. Instead of dates, try using other dried fruits like plump dried apricots or moist pitted prunes for a different base fruit. For the filling, while blue cheese and goat cheese are fantastic, consider cubes of firm cheeses such as Asiago, Jarlsberg, Havarti, Gouda, Fontina, or even a spicy pepper jack. For an added layer of flavor and crunch, you can also tuck a blanched almond or a pecan half inside the date with the cheese before wrapping it in bacon. A drizzle of balsamic glaze or a sprinkle of chili flakes after broiling can also introduce a wonderful contrast.
For the best results when stuffing, I wholeheartedly recommend using Medjool Dates. Their larger size, naturally soft and moist texture, and rich, caramel-like sweetness make them perfectly suited for holding the cheese filling and wrapping with bacon. They are generally much sweeter and plumper than the Deglet Noor variety, which is the other common date found in the US. Deglet Noor dates are typically firmer, drier, and smaller, making them less ideal for stuffing as they can be more challenging to work with and might not offer the same luxurious mouthfeel. Always opt for Medjool for a superior stuffed date experience.
The intriguing name “Devils on Horseback” is believed to be a playful counterpart to “Angels on Horseback,” which traditionally refers to oysters wrapped in bacon and broiled. Given that dates are dark in color, it makes sense that these “dark” dates wrapped in bacon could be called Devils on Horseback. While this is a widely accepted supposition for the origin of the name, historical culinary records do not provide definitive documentation that one dish explicitly predated or inspired the other. Nonetheless, the name adds a touch of classic charm to this already delightful appetizer.
Absolutely! Bacon Wrapped Dates are an excellent make-ahead appetizer, which is perfect for party planning. You can assemble them completely, including stuffing, wrapping with par-cooked bacon, and securing with toothpicks, up to 24 hours in advance. Store them in an airtight container or covered on a baking sheet in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, simply broil as directed until the bacon is crispy and heated through. For reheating cooked leftovers, place them on a baking sheet and warm gently in an oven preheated to 300°F (150°C) for about 10-15 minutes, or until warmed through and bacon is crisp again. Avoid microwaving, as it can make the bacon soggy.
Explore More Delicious Appetizers and Bacon Recipes:
If you’ve fallen in love with the combination of savory bacon and delightful flavors, here are more recipes you might enjoy:
- Bacon Cheddar Crack Dip
- Green Bean Bacon Bundles
- Broccoli Salad with Bacon
- Bacon-Wrapped Scallops
- Cauliflower Bacon Gratin
- Strawberry Bacon Brie Salad
- Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers
- Discover even more Appetizer Recipes
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The Recipe:
Bacon Wrapped Dates
15 minutes
5 minutes
20 minutes
15 servings (2 dates per serving)
A super easy and addictive 5-ingredient recipe for sweet and savory Bacon Wrapped Dates!
Rated 5 stars based on 28 reviews.
Ingredients
- 30 medium to large Medjool dates, pitted
- 15 slices of streaky bacon, cut in half (half a strip per date)
- 4 ounces blue cheese or goat cheese, softened
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, minced (or preferred herb)
Instructions
- Partially cook the bacon slices (halved) until some fat renders and they start to darken but remain pliable. This can be done in the microwave (2-3 minutes on a paper towel-lined plate) or in a skillet. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, mix the softened goat cheese or blue cheese with the softened cream cheese until well combined and smooth. Stir in the minced thyme.
- Carefully slice open each pitted date lengthwise, creating a pocket without cutting all the way through.
- Fill each date with as much of the cheese mixture as possible. Gently press the date back together around the filling.
- Wrap each cheese-stuffed date with a partially cooked half-strip of bacon, securing it with a wooden toothpick.
- Place the wrapped dates on a baking sheet. Broil under high heat (about 4-6 inches from the heat source) for 2-3 minutes per side, or until the bacon is crisp and golden brown. Watch carefully to prevent burning.
- Serve immediately and enjoy these irresistible sweet and savory bites!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 15 servings
Serving Size: 2 dates
Amount Per Serving (approximate):
Calories: 153
Total Fat: 9g
Saturated Fat: 5g
Trans Fat: 0g
Unsaturated Fat: 4g
Cholesterol: 26mg
Sodium: 313mg
Carbohydrates: 12g
Fiber: 1g
Sugar: 10g
Protein: 7g