Bacon-Wrapped Dates
If you’ve never tasted dates before, let this bacon-wrapped appetizer be your first experience. Stuffed with tangy goat cheese, wrapped in crispy bacon, and glazed with a sweet and spicy maple syrup, these dates offer the ideal balance of flavors. The sweetness of the dates pairs perfectly with the salty bacon, while the creamy goat cheese adds a smooth richness to each bite. Simply put, this crowd-pleasing snack is sure to be a hit at any holiday gathering, upscale dinner, or New Year's Eve celebration—it might just disappear in no time!
Ingredients
- 24 large Medjool dates, pitted
- 4 oz. crumbled goat cheese
- 12 slices bacon, halved
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 3/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp. finely chopped rosemary
- 3/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°. Line a baking sheet with parchment and fit with a wire rack; set aside.
- Halve dates lengthwise being careful not to cut all the way through. Place a small amount of cheese in the center of each date. Wrap a piece of bacon around each date making sure the ends meet underneath the date.
- Place dates, seam side down, on prepared baking sheet. Bake until bacon fat is beginning to render out, about 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix together maple syrup, red pepper flakes, rosemary, and black pepper. Brush each date with maple syrup mixture.
- Continue to bake brushed dates until bacon is crispy, 15 to 20 minutes more.
Nutrition
Calories: 165kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 3gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 118mgPotassium: 247mgFiber: 2gSugar: 22gCalcium: 30mg
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