Name: Bacon Wrapped Dates with Goat Cheese and Pecans
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 30 dried dates; 4 oz soft goat cheese; 30 pecan nuts; 15 slices bacon (cut in half)

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top down view on white plate filled with bacon wrapped dates

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5 from 3 votes

Yield: dates

Ready In: 25

Hello, holiday appetizer bliss! This is my way of making bacon wrapped dates: just stuff dates with soft goat cheese and pecans, wrap them in bacon and bake them for 10-15 minutes. The most important part? Serve them while warm, to make sure the cheese is still soft and oozy!

I don’t know about you, but with three little kids? I don’t encounter a lot of appetizer opportunities. And when I do, I need something EASY ? I make this holiday appetizer whenever I want to impress my guests with something truly delicious – no need to tell them how quick these are to pull together!

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Recommended Equipment:

Baking Sheet

Ingredients

▢ 30 dried dates
▢ 4 oz soft goat cheese
▢ 30 pecan nuts
▢ 15 slices bacon (cut in half)

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 15

Ready In: 25

Instructions

Prep: Heat the oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with baking parchment.
Assemble: Stuff each date with a scant teaspoon of goat cheese and a pecan, then wrap in half a slice of bacon.
Bake: Bake in the hot oven for 13-15 minutes, or until bacon is crisp and cheese is oozing. Serve as soon as the dates are cool enough to touch.

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Step by Step Recipe Video

Nora’s Tips

Ingredient Notes:

Dates: I just use the regular dried dates here (I don’t buy the much more expensive Medjool dates for this recipe, just plain old dried dates). I have also been served these using prunes (dried plums), and they were delicious.

Goat cheese: Use a soft variety that doesn’t crumble too much. I used plain Chavrie brand (not sponsored, just our favorite goat cheese). If you don’t like goat cheese, it’s fine to use cream cheese or Boursin instead. I have also hear people make this with blue cheese, if that’s more your thing.

Pecans: You can use walnut halves or even salted/roasted almonds in place of the pecans. If you don’t want to add nuts, you can just leave them out.

Bacon: If you want to go all out, use prosciutto or pancetta in place of the bacon. But bacon works very well and it’s what I always use!

Cooking Tips:

Pan: The bacon will release a lot of bacon fat in the oven, use a deep pan in place of the baking sheet if you want to keep it from splattering everywhere.

Make Ahead Instructions:

You can assemble the dates up to a day ahead. Keep them in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to bake, then bake them according to the recipe (you may need to add a couple extra minutes, as the dates will be cold from the fridge).