Bacon Wrapped Dates
This appetizer is a sure-fire hit! Very easy, if a teeny bit time-consuming.
Your friends and family will BEG you to make them every holiday!
One large sheet pan makes about 30, you can adjust yield to your needs.
Ingredients
Pitted Medjool Dates - 2 or 3 boxes
Goat cheese - 2 rolls of 4oz each, or a larger tub
*My favorite is to use Cranberry Pecan flavor, but any type you like will work
Raw bacon strips, cut in half crosswise, one for each date you are making
Balsamic glaze, Bertolli has a good one in a small squirty bottle
Toothpicks, soaked in water before use
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400 F and line a large cookie sheet with either foil or parchment paper. Place a wire cookie rack on the sheet. Spray it with cooking spray, set aside.
*This step can be done a day ahead* - Lay out the dates, spreading each one open and ensuring that there is no pit left. These can be collected in a large plastic container box. Spread a small amount of goat cheese (tsp or less) into each date, and line them up in that box.
Pull on some food service or vinyl gloves, if you have them. Take each date, and wrap it around with a half-slice of bacon, then secure with a toothpick inserted through the date. Lay each wrapped date onto the wire cookie rack.
Bake the dates for 10 minutes, then turn each one over and drizzle the balsamic glaze over all the dates. Bake for another 5 to 12 minutes, until bacon is fully cooked and golden brown.
Let cool for a few minutes then transfer to a serving platter. Leave toothpicks in to help handle the dates. (Attached photo doesn't show this)
These can be served warm or at room temp, they taste great either way!
Filed as
Holidays
