This Stuffed Dates Recipe is the ultimate sweet and salty finger food! They’re incredibly delicious and only require three simple ingredients.
This post is all about how to make this Stuffed Dates Recipe.
Stuffed Dates are insanely delicious, addicting, and one of the BEST appetizer recipes! Each sweet date is stuffed with goat cheese and then wrapped with a savory piece of bacon. A tangy balsamic glaze is brushed on top of each one and then they’re baked in the oven for 20 minutes.
While the balsamic topping and fresh chopped chives are optional ingredients, they elevate the taste of these heavenly appetizer bites. In the pictures, you’ll notice the color of the glaze is black, and as it bakes with the fatty bacon, it becomes a flavorful caramelized coating.
If you’re wondering what these delectable date appetizers taste like, they’re sweet with creamy cheese insides and wrapped with crispy bacon for salty and smokey components, making them one of the most exquisite appetizers you’ll ever taste!
Check out all the tips and options below for this recipe so you can serve an unforgettable small dish that EVERYONE will rave about for years to come.
Stuffed Dates Recipe
What Cheese Goes Best With Dates?
Any soft cheese will work great for stuffing dates! For contrasting flavors, stick with tangy cheeses like blue cheese or goat. Use ricotta or cream cheese if you’re not a fan of sharp-tasting cheeses.
Ingredients You’ll Need:
It’s important to mention again that you can make this appetizer with three simple ingredients (dates, bacon, and cheese), which will taste AMAZING. However, adding the creamy balsamic glaze topping and fresh chives is highly recommended!
- Dates – You’ll need 15 pitted dates. If you want to make more, double the recipe.
- Goat Cheese – I purchased a 4-ounce log of goat cheese. You’ll need two ounces of cheese for stuffing the dates. Crumble the leftover cheese onto the serving platter.
- Bacon – You’ll need 7.5 thin slices of bacon. Avoid using thick bacon. Each strip is cut in half, making 15 bacon-wrapped dates.
- Balsamic Creamy Glaze – Brush approximately one teaspoon of glaze onto each date (optional). You can also add more glaze to the serving platter.
- Fresh Chives – Chopped, 2 tablespoons (optional).
Equipment Needed For This Stuffed Dates Recipe:
- Sharp Knife – Cut the bacon slices in half and add lengthwise slits to each date. You’ll also need to chop the (optional) fresh chives.
- Toothpicks – You’ll need 15. I purchased longer toothpicks so my guests could visibly see them, and it’s easier to grab them off the serving tray.
- Oven
How To Make This Stuffed Dates Recipe, Step-By-Step
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Step 2: Cut lengthwise slits into each date and remove the pits if needed.
Step 3: Generously stuff each date with goat cheese. Approximately one teaspoon of cheese or more per date.
Step 4: Cut each bacon slice in half. This will give you 15 half slices of bacon.
Step 5: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and wrap a half slice of bacon around each stuffed date. Use a toothpick to secure things together.
Step 6: Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 15 minutes at 400 degrees F. If you’re not brushing your dates with balsamic glaze, bake them in the oven for 20 minutes at 400 degrees F and skip step seven.
Step 7: After 15 minutes, remove the sheet from the oven and brush approximately one teaspoon of (optional) balsamic glaze onto each date. Place the dates back in the oven for an additional five minutes at 400 degrees F.
Step 8: Remove the dates from the oven and let them sit on the hot baking sheet for five minutes. Next, place the stuffed dates on paper towels to drain excess grease.
Step 9: Place the dates onto a serving platter and sprinkle the (optional) fresh chopped green chives on top of the stuffed dates. Add more crumbles of goat cheese to the platter and dots of balsamic glaze for extra dipping if desired.
Tips For Stuffed Dates
- Use thinly sliced or regular sliced bacon. Thin bacon ensures it’s cooked thoroughly during the 20 minutes and that it gets crisp and crunchy. AVOID using thick slices.
- Add extra crumbles of goat cheese and balsamic glaze to your serving tray. It’s delicious and looks beautiful next to the baked stuffed dates.
- Use 4-inch toothpicks so guests can visibly see the toothpick. Also, these make it easier to grab off of a serving tray.
FAQs For This Stuffed Dates Recipe
What Else Can You Stuff In A Date?
You can use creamy ricotta cheese, cream cheese, or any soft cheese. Some like to stuff chopped nuts and drizzle the date with honey. Also, you can stuff the date with almond butter, peanut butter, or pretzel nuggets and then cover the date with chocolate. The possibilities are endless and delicious!
Are Bacon-Wrapped Dates Healthy?
Dates are packed with health benefits and antioxidants. Adding bacon and cheese to the dates isn’t considered “healthy,” but if you can enjoy these finger foods for special occasions and in moderation, what’s the harm?!
What Pairs Well With Dates?
Because dates are sweet, they pair well with cured meats, tangy cheeses, citrus, and warm spices like cinnamon and cardamom. They also go great with fruits like pears and bananas.
Are Peanut Butter Stuffed Dates Healthy?
They are many health benefits found in dates, and there’s also nutritional value in peanut butter. But again, enjoy them in moderation. Dates are high in natural sugars, and peanut butter is high in fat, so keep that in mind.
Is This A Traditional Stuffed Dates Recipe?
Yes! Dates are traditionally stuffed with cheeses, nuts, and even fruit.
Are Cream Cheese Stuffed Dates Delicious?
So delicious! But if you’d like to use a cheese that contrasts with the sweet dates, use a tangy, sharp cheese like goat or blue cheese.
What’s A Middle Eastern Stuffed Dates Recipe?
This stuffed dates recipe would be considered middle eastern because those recipes often stuff their dates with cheese or even spicy hummus.
Does This Stuffed Dates Recipe Taste Sweet?
These appetizers taste sweet from the dates, creamy from the cheese, and salty from the bacon. You couldn’t ask for a better combination of flavors!
Are Medjool Dates Best To Use For Stuffing Dates, And Where Can I Buy Them?
Many prefer Medjool dates because they’re often larger and softer. You can purchase them here.
How Do You Serve Stuffed Dates?
You can serve Stuffed Dates as an appetizer, snack, or small dish. There are no rules here because they’re incredibly delicious and obsessively addicting!
How Do You Store Stuffed Dates, And Can They Be Reheated?
If you have leftover Stuffed Dates, store them in an airtight container and keep them in the refrigerator. To reheat the dates, place them on a lined baking sheet and then in the oven for 5 to 7 minutes at 375 degrees F.
Best Stuffed Dates Recipe
Equipment
- Sharp Knife – Cut the bacon slices in half and add slits to each date if they’re not already pitted. You’ll also need to chop the (optional) fresh chives.
- Toothpicks – You’ll need 15. I purchased longer toothpicks so my guests would visibly see them, and it’s easier to grab one off the serving tray.
- Baking Sheet
- Parchment paper
- Paper Towels
- Oven
Ingredients
Ingredients You'll Need For This Stuffed Dates Recipe
- 15 Dates (pitted) – If you want to make more, double the recipe.
- 4 ounces Goat Cheese – I purchased a 4-ounce log of goat cheese. You’ll need two ounces of cheese for stuffing the dates. Crumble the leftover cheese onto the serving platter.
- 7.5 slices Bacon – Avoid using thick slices. Cut each slice in half to make 15 bacon-wrapped dates.
- Balsamic Creamy Glaze – Brush approximately one teaspoon of glaze onto each date (optional). You can also add more glaze to the serving platter.
- 2 tbsp Fresh Chives, chopped (optional).
Instructions
How To Make This Stuffed Dates Recipe, Step-By-Step
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Cut lengthwise slits into each date and remove the pits if needed.
- Generously stuff each date with goat cheese. Approximately one teaspoon of cheese or more per date.
- Cut each bacon slice in half. This will give you 15 half slices of bacon.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and wrap a half slice of bacon around each stuffed date. Use a toothpick to secure things together.
- Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 15 minutes at 400 degrees F. If you’re not brushing your dates with balsamic glaze, bake them in the oven for 20 minutes at 400 degrees F and skip step seven.
- After 15 minutes, remove the sheet from the oven and brush approximately one teaspoon of (optional) balsamic glaze onto each date. Place the dates back in the oven for an additional five minutes at 400 degrees F.
- Remove the dates from the oven and let them sit on the hot baking sheet for five minutes. Next, place the stuffed dates on paper towels to drain excess grease.
- Place the dates onto a serving platter and sprinkle the (optional) fresh chopped green chives on top of the stuffed dates. Add more crumbles of goat cheese to the platter and dots of balsamic glaze for extra dipping if desired.
Nutrition
Final Thoughts On This Stuffed Dates Recipe
These salty and sweet appetizer bites will win over everyone, even the picky eaters! They’re insanely delicious and soooo addicting.
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