Yesss, I said it.
I was not going to post a recipe for this because it is so simple you really can’t even call it a recipe. But this is one of my favorite foods of all time. Like, ever. And I cannot in good conscience keep this to myself if there is even one person out there in the world that doesn’t know how to make them.
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As I’ve mentioned before, the hubs and I are big fans of happy hour. We generally keep happy hour staples in the house for the nights that we can’t get it together to make dinner, otherwise known as every Friday. These goat cheese stuffed bacon wrapped dates are on heavy rotation.
Can you make them without the goat cheese? Yes, you can, and they are still good, but goat cheese just makes them BETTER.
This is kind of a cheater appetizer because when you serve these to people they will love you forever and think that you are a genius. They don’t have to know that it took you 3 ingredients and 10 minutes to throw them together.
If you follow me on snapchat you saw the little tutorial I did on how to make these. Not that you really need a tutorial because they are so, so easy. And, yes, I’m still talking about snapchat because I kind of love it. Sometimes I post little videos of whatever I’m cooking, behind the scenes photos, and also lots of cat pictures. Yesterday there was a cat incident when one of them really wanted some bacon wrapped dates and knocked over my photo “set”. No bacon wrapped dates or kitties were harmed in the process. But that is the kind of intrigue and drama that you get if you follow me on snapchat. Add me by searching foxandbriar, who knows what will be next? (Answer – photos of food and cats, for sure).
| Goat Cheese Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Dates | Print |
- 10 Medjool dates
- 5 slices bacon, cut in half.
- about ¼ cup soft goat cheese (chevre)
- If your dates have pits, slice the date down one side and open up like a book, remove the pit.
- Fill the date with enough goat cheese to fill it up without too much spilling out (about a teaspoon, depending on the size of your dates)
- Close the date, wrap with a half slice of bacon. Secure with a toothpick.
- Arrange dates on a foil lined baking sheet, place in a cold oven and turn oven to 400 degrees.
- Bake for 20-30 minutes, until bacon is crispy. Time will depend on the thickness of the bacon. Thicker bacon requires more time.
**Starting the dates in a cold oven allows the bacon to render more fat and become crispier.
***I usually use a thick cut bacon, so the cooking time is a little longer, about 27 minutes.
****Be sure to line your sheet with foil or something else because these make a big mess of the baking sheet.
It is Thanksgiving eve, what are you cooking tonight? I’m off to make some pies and MORE cranberry sauce – because I have not had enough cranberry sauce in my life yet.
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MICHELLE HART says
Two Questions:
Can you make these ahead of time?
Do you serve them warm or cold?
Meghan says
Hi Michelle, I only serve them warm. For making ahead, I have had a reader make assemble them ahead of time for a party and then just bake them right before serving. I think they taste best right out of the oven, so I would do that rather than baking them ahead and reheating. Hope you enjoy them!
Casey says
Do you have to use medjool dates… what’s the difference?
Meghan says
Hi Casey – I prefer medjool dates because they are generally larger and have a beautiful, caramely taste that I enjoy. But feel free to use whichever dates you prefer.
Stephanie | The Foodie and The Fix says
Aaahh!! These might be my very favorite thing ever in life. My husband and I had them once in a tapas restaurant and fell so in love with them that I made some soon after for New Years Eve last year. How, oh HOW did I forget about them since then? Maybe I’ll make them this New Year’s Eve, too. Thanks for posting, Meghan 🙂
Meghan says
Yes, make them, make them! We will FOR SURE be making these New Years Eve, so join me in bacon wrapped date bliss! Thank you Stephanie!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
I’m glad you said it and posted it, girlfriend! 😉 Sometimes the best recipes are the simplest ones! Goat cheese + bacon + dates = DELISH! I’m a huge fan of appetizer night too and I’m totally adding these to mine! Honestly I kind of forgot about cheese stuffed and bacon wrapped dates, so thank you for posting this! Cheers, doll! P.S. I need to check out snapchat, huh? I’m always last to the party. 😉 <3
Meghan says
You should! I was actually wondering the other day if you were on snapchat, ha! I really only joined because I saw some other bloggers that I follow were on there, and I thought at the least I should reserve my username. But then I actually really liked using it! Thanks Cheyanne!
Meagan @ The F&B Department says
These are my all-time favorite happy hour snack!!!! I can’t get enough. I need to go make them. Like right now. The craving has hit HARD (not that it ever goes away)!
Meghan says
Yes! Once you start craving these the only solution is to make and eat them ASAP. Thanks so much Meagan!
Liora @ Allthingsloveli.com says
My favorite recipes are often simple combinations and suggestions. These looks so fun to serve!
Meghan says
Thanks so much Liora! I agree, simple is often best.
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl says
I actually enjoy goat cheese and I’ve never even thought to create something like this! Totally genius and inexpensive – thanks for sharing. 🙂
Meghan says
Oh, if you love goat cheese you will love this! Thank you so much Pamela!
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop says
These look so delicious. Sometimes the simplest recipes make the best dishes! I’d say that is true with this appetizer! Beautiful idea!
Meghan says
Thank you so much Kathy! Easy appetizers make the world a better place, I think 🙂
Jess @ Sweetest Menu says
You can MOST definitely call this a recipe! The simpler the better! And these are perfect for Christmas – gorgeous pics too!
Meghan says
Thank you so much Jess! That is so kind of you. Yes, simple and delicious is my favorite kind of recipe 🙂
Linda | The Baker Who Kerns says
Ohhh goat cheese bacon-wrapped dates are amazzinnngg. Even if we’ve already made them before, this is just a reminder that I have to make them AGAIN, and very soon. It’s literally a shame that it’s been so long cause they are soooo easy to make. And omg I have to get in on these cat pictures!
Meghan says
So, so easy, 3 ingredients. Do it, do it now! Also, yes plz join me on snapchat – food, cats, what more could you want??
My Dish is Bomb says
Have you ever tried making these on a cooling rack on top of a baking sheet to drip the grease, or is it not that much grease that it’s a problem? I’d really love to try these soon, it looks delicious and I am always looking for new ways to eat bacon…and new recipes that allow me to spend Friday nights on the couch and not in the kitchen! 😉
Meghan says
You know, I have never tried that. I do make my bacon that way (in the oven on a rack) but with these I just always lay them on the sheet. On one hand, it might make them crispier to put them on a rack out of the grease, but on the other hand, I do like how the bacon that is laying on the sheet gets all brown and crispy. The bacon does render quite a bit of fat. It has not been a problem there they get too greasy though. I think either way you can’t go wrong!
E.A. says
Y’all are SO cute!! I ALMOST picked up dates on my last-minute shopping expedition this
afternoon~~TOTALLY would have if I’d seen this first!
Just Yummmm!!!! This sounds so awesome!
I, too, am making pies & cranberry sauce tonight! LOL! Do you think we may be related!?!
Thanks for the great idea~Enjoy your day tomorrow with family & friends~?
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Meghan says
I’ll be thinking of you while baking tonight!
Mr Briar says
Dayummmm! Those are some hot dates.
Meghan says
🙂 🙂 🙂