Bacon Wrapped Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates

Bacon Wrapped Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates are the perfect combination of sweet, savory, slightly tangy all in one bite. They look very fancy, but are actually super simple to prepare! Plus, made with just 7 ingredients, they are perfect for any holiday gathering, dinner party, or just a casual get-together with friends!

This crowd-pleasing dish starts with plump, naturally sweet dates, filled with a tangy rosemary and goat cheese mixture. They are then wrapped with bacon and baked until crispy. The result is a perfectly balanced bite that’s indulgent yet takes little effort to prepare.

These goat cheese stuffed dates are great appetizer to bring to any party. If you want a fancy snack, you can make these as well. Looking for a few other easy, show-stopping appetizers? We love goat cheese around here, so I love to serve my Whipped Goat Cheese with Honey. It pairs well with roasted carrots or your favorite gluten free cracker. You could also whip up a batch of my Lemon and Thyme White Bean Hummus.

What are the Ingredients for Bacon Wrapped Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates?

• Goat cheese - The tanginess of goat cheese pairs really well with the sweet dates and crispy and salty bacon.
• Cream cheese - Cream cheese adds to the creaminess of this recipe, but also helps to tame the goat cheese just a bit.
• Fresh rosemary - I love using fresh herbs in just about everything! Fresh rosemary adds a delicious layer of flavor to this recipe.
• Garlic powder - Garlic powder is a must for flavor. I prefer to use powder instead of fresh garlic in this recipe so that it's just a bit more subtle.
• Chili flakes - Chili flakes are completely optional, but I love getting just a hint of spice every few bites.
• Dates, pitted - The dates are obviously a key ingredient in this recipe. I love the sweetness of the dates next to the saltiness of the bacon.
• Bacon - If you wanted to make this dish vegetarian friendly, you can omit the bacon. However, the crispy texture is so delicious with the sweet dates. Be sure to use regular bacon, and not thick cut bacon. Thick cut bacon will overpower the flavor of the dates and goat cheese. I also prefer to use a more subtle bacon. There are some that are so smokey that it will also overpower the other flavors.

How do I make Bacon Wrapped Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates?

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil and set aside.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the goat cheese, cream cheese, chopped rosemary, chili flakes, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

1. Before stuffing the dates, be sure all the dates have been pitted and split in half lengthwise. Ensure the bacon is cut in half (either lengthwise or crosswise).
2. Using a small spoon, stuff each date with about 2 teaspoons of the goat cheese mixture.

1. Wrap each date with bacon, ensuring that the end of the bacon is at the bottom of the date.

1. Line the bacon wrapped dates on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

1. Place the dates in the oven, and bake for approximately 15-18 minutes, or until the bacon is browned.
2. Once the dates are removed, brush each date with bacon grease on the baking sheet.

1. Place the dates on a platter, and enjoy!
2. NOTE: if you are making this recipe ahead of time, you may want to leave the dates on the baking sheet. Shortly before serving, preheat the oven to 325°F. and place the dates in the oven for approximately 5-8 minutes to re-crisp.

Recipe Substitutions

• Goat cheese substitution: I use a bit of cream cheese in this recipe, to help cut down on the tanginess of goat cheese. Some people who cannot eat traditional dairy are able to tolerate goat cheese, so feel free to use all goat cheese. On the other hand, if you are not a goat cheese fan, you could use all cream cheese in this recipe.
• Rosemary substitution: If you would like to substitute another herb, like thyme or sage, in this recipe, feel free. You could even do a little bit of each! The flavors of these three herbs are delicious on their own or when combined!
• Bacon substitution: I have not tested it this way, but you could substitute prosciutto for the bacon! It will be a little bit saltier, so just be aware!

Ways to Serve Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates

• As an appetizer - These are a perfect appetizer for any event! They are a proven crowd pleaser, and have been requested time and time again. You could even leave a few without bacon to make them vegetarian friendly.
• In lunchboxes - I'm lucky that half my kids (I have 4!) are pretty adventurous eaters. My daughter loves to find these in her lunchbox!

Tips for Perfecting This Recipe

• Do not overfill the dates. It's normal for a bit of the cheese to melt out of the dates when they are baking, but overfilling will result in a lot of the cheese melting out of the sides. It is not only wasteful, but then you will not end up with as many dates as the recipe calls for!
• Watch the bacon! All ovens run at slightly different temperatures, so be sure to keep an eye on the bacon so it doesn't burn. If this happens, it throws off the texture of the entire date, goat cheese, bacon combination!

Storage and Reheating

To store: Store dates in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

To reheat: If you are reheating these goat cheese stuffed dates with bacon from room temperature, then place on a parchment lined sheet pan in a 325°F oven for about 5-8 minutes. If they are being reheated after being refrigerated, you will need to increase your time to 12-15 minutes.

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Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates Wrapped in Bacon

Erica Hopper

Bacon Wrapped Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates are the perfect combination of sweet, savory, slightly tangy all in one bite. Made with just 7 ingredients, they are perfect for any holiday gathering, dinner party, or just a casual get-together with friends!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 24 dates

Calories 86 kcal

Equipment

• 1 Cutting board
• 1 Chef's knife
• 1 Set of measuring spoons
• 1 Set of dry measuring cups
• 1 small baking sheet
• Parchment paper

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 4 ounces goat cheese room temperature
• 2 ounces cream cheese room temperature
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• ⅛ teaspoon chili flakes
• 24 dates pitted
• 12 pieces bacon cut in half

Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil and set aside.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the goat cheese, cream cheese, chopped rosemary, chili flakes, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
• Before stuffing the dates, be sure all the dates have been pitted and split in half lengthwise. Ensure the bacon is cut in half (either lengthwise or crosswise).
• Using a small spoon, stuff each date with about 2 teaspoons of the goat cheese mixture.
• Wrap each date with bacon, ensuring that the end of the bacon is at the bottom of the date.
• Line the bacon wrapped dates on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Place the dates in the oven, and bake for approximately 15-18 minutes, or until the bacon is browned.
• Once the dates are removed, brush each date with bacon grease on the baking sheet.
• Place the dates on a platter, and enjoy!
• NOTE: if you are making this recipe ahead of time, you may want to leave the dates on the baking sheet. Shortly before serving, preheat the oven to 325°F. and place the dates in the oven for approximately 5-8 minutes to re-crisp.

Nutrition

Calories: 86kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 3gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 98mgPotassium: 73mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 89IUVitamin C: 0.03mgCalcium: 12mgIron: 0.2mg

Keyword appetizers with goat cheese, bacon wrapped dates, easy appetizer recipes, easy appetizers, recipes with bacon, recipes with goat cheese

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