These bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with blue cheese are crunchy, smoky and sweet. They make perfect appetizers for holiday gatherings, relaxed get-togethers and potlucks.
Bacon-Wrapped Dates
Updated on Nov. 13, 2024
Bacon-wrapped dates are a classic party food, and for good reason: The intense combination of smoky bacon, sweet dates and funky blue cheese creates a punchy package. These bacon-wrapped stuffed dates originated in the Victorian era and are sometimes called devils on horseback, probably a counterpoint to angels on horseback (bacon-wrapped oysters). As far as bacon-wrapped recipes go, we love this one for its ease and sweet-savory taste.
Because there are only three ingredients, you want to use the best bacon, dates and cheese so all the flavors shine. Make this bacon-wrapped dates recipe for any elegant grown-up gathering, festive holiday get-together or throwback cocktail party. Serve the bacon-wrapped stuffed dates as part of a robust spread of bite-sized nibbles, and watch your guests swoon.
Ingredients for Bacon-Wrapped Dates
- Bacon strips: Choosing the best bacon to wrap your dates is essential to the taste and texture of this bacon-wrapped dates recipe. The best bacon for wrapping anything is a thinner cut; thick-cut bacon takes longer to thoroughly cook and crisp up and won’t lend the same texture to the wrapped dates.
- Pitted dates: When learning how to make bacon-wrapped dates, seek out Medjool dates. They are large and softer than other varieties, making them great for stuffing. Because they’re gooey and sweet, they mesh well with the bacon and blue cheese.
- Blue cheese: For this bacon-wrapped dates recipe, use good-quality blue cheese, like artisan blue cheese from the United States, France or Italy. You can use any leftover cheese in other blue cheese recipes.
Directions
Step 1: Cook the bacon
Cut each strip of bacon into thirds.
Editor’s Tip: You’ll want to cut the bacon short so that each piece is the width of the original bacon strip but not as long.
In a large skillet, cook the bacon in batches over medium heat until partially cooked but not crisp. Drain on paper towels and keep warm.
Editor’s Tip: If you wish, you can bake bacon on a rack atop a cookie sheet in a 375°F oven instead of in a pan. That way, you can cook all the strips at once and much of the fat will drip off the pieces as they cook. Reserve the fat and save it for other cooking projects.
Step 2: Prep the dates
While the bacon is cooking, cut a slit in the center of each date.
Fill each date with blue cheese.
Wrap a bacon piece around each stuffed date and secure it with a wooden toothpick.
Step 3: Bake the dates
Place the dates on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 375° for 10 to 12 minutes or until the bacon is crisp.
Bacon-Wrapped Dates Variations
- Change the cheese: Don’t like blue cheese? No worries. You can stuff these dates with goat cheese, seasoned cream cheese or a cheese blend. You could even use pimento cheese!
- Add crunch: Add toasted and chopped pecans, almonds or walnuts for some textural dimension in the filling.
- Make a glaze: Brush the dates with honey, maple syrup or balsamic vinegar as they come out of the oven.
How to Store Bacon-Wrapped Dates
Cooked bacon-wrapped dates will become less crispy as they sit, but you can safely store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. Bacon-wrapped stuffed dates will last up to four days in the refrigerator.
Can you make bacon-wrapped dates ahead of time?
You can easily make this bacon-wrapped dates recipe in advance. Precook the bacon, slit and stuff the dates, wrap the dates, and refrigerate them a day or two ahead of time. If you do this, let the dates come to room temperature for about 30 minutes before baking.
How do you reheat bacon-wrapped dates?
Reheat leftover bacon-wrapped dates in a 350° oven until warmed through.
Bacon-Wrapped Date Tips
Do you need to precook the bacon for bacon-wrapped dates?
Yep, precooking the bacon is an important step. Otherwise, the dates will get too hot and dry out before the meat gets crispy.
What can you serve with bacon-wrapped dates?
You can make these part of a Dickensian holiday menu by serving them as an appetizer before a roast Christmas goose, chestnut stuffing and Tiny Tim’s plum pudding. Or, take a completely different approach and give a nod to the fact that bacon-wrapped dates were a hot party app during the ’70s and ’80s. In that case, you might partner them with barbecued meatballs, hot spinach artichoke dip and sausage-mushroom appetizers.
Watch How to Make Bacon-Wrapped Dates
Bacon-Wrapped Dates
Prep Time
25 min
Cook Time
10 min
Yield
3 dozen
Ingredients
- 12 bacon strips
- 36 pitted dates
- 2/3 cup crumbled blue cheese
Directions
- Cut each bacon strip into thirds. In a large skillet, cook bacon in batches over medium heat until partially cooked but not crisp. Remove to paper towels to drain; keep warm.
- Carefully cut a slit in the center of each date; fill with blue cheese. Wrap a bacon piece around each stuffed date; secure with wooden toothpicks.
- Place on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 375° for 10-12 minutes or until bacon is crisp.
Nutrition Facts
1 each: 44 calories, 2g fat (1g saturated fat), 4mg cholesterol, 84mg sodium, 6g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 1g fiber), 2g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 starch, 1/2 fruit, 1/2 fat.
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My friends and I used to make the traditional bacon-wrapped jalapenos at cookouts. I decided to sweeten them up a bit with dates. Bacon-wrapped dates are also more kid-friendly. —Susan Hinton, Apex, North Carolina
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