Bacon Wrapped Dates with Goat Cheese & Rosemary

I made these for a get together with friends and they went crazy for them! Our recipe keeps the flavor profile high by stuffing dates with goat cheese, wrapping them in bacon and topping them off with a little bit of brown sugar and fresh rosemary. The end result is a savory, sweet appetizer with a high end flavor.

Date Appetizer

Dates are a dried, sweet fruit that come from date trees. We actually live just down the street from the Date Capital of the World! Living in the desert of California, we’re lucky to have access to some of the best quality dates but you can find just as great ones in your local grocery store. I like Medjool dates for most of my date recipes. You can read about different date varieties here.

Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates

This recipe is so easy! Start with cutting the stem off of the date, then split it down the middle, leaving it whole with just a slit down the middle. If you accidentally cut through, it’s only, you can stick it back into a whole date with the goat cheese (it acts like glue!). Stuff the date with about a teaspoon or two’s worth of goat cheese, and gently seal closed.

Bacon Wrapped Dates

After the dates are stuffed with goat cheese, wrap them in bacon, and place them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.

I used applewood smoked bacon from Trader Joe’s. I really recommend using a thick cut back for the best flavor and structure to wrap the date with. Cut the bacon in half, so you have about a 4-5 inch piece of bacon to wrap the date with.

Seasoning Bacon Wrapped Dates

To really amp up the flavor, I like to sprinkle these little date appetizers with brown sugar, salt, pepper and fresh chopped rosemary. Your house will smell amazing once you bake these with the fresh rosemary, I’m not kidding. The sweet, savory, and salty combination is chef’s kiss- so good.

Bake them with the seasoning at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 15-20 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy and browned.

Holiday Date Recipe

Because the dates have natural sugar content, they will be very hot once out of the oven. Allow them to cool for about 10 minutes before serving them. I like to serve them on a bed or arugula for color (and if you get a bite of arugula with it, it’s pretty yummy, too!).

Making & Serving Stuffed Dates

• You can make these ahead of time! Assemble them up to 2 days prior to baking them.
• If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days after baking them.
• Serve these as an appetizer on a large platter. You can drizzle with a little bit of hot honey for added spice, or even some balsamic glaze for tang.
• These are very sticky. I recommend serving with toothpicks for your guests sake.
• You can serve stuffed dates warm, cold, or room temperature. I like them. best a little warm right out of the oven, they almost melt in your mouth!
• Have vegetarian guests? Simply skip the bacon. Mix the goat cheese with the brown sugar and rosemary and just bake them as goat cheese stuffed dates.

If you like dates, check out this recipe for date snickers!

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Cheers to easy, festive recipes! – Kathi and Rachel