Bacon-Wrapped Dates with Blue Cheese
Sweet Medjool dates stuffed with tangy blue cheese and wrapped in crispy bacon
- 24Medjool dates(pitted)
- 4 ozblue cheese(crumbled)
- 12 slicesbacon(thin-cut)
- 2 tbsphoney(for drizzling)
- flaky sea salt(optional)
Can be assembled up to 24 hours ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bake just before serving.
- 1Preheat oven to 400°F and place wire rack on baking sheet
- 2Make a small slit in each date if not already pitted
- 3Stuff each date with a small amount of blue cheese
- 4Cut bacon slices in half crosswise
- 5Wrap each stuffed date with bacon half, securing with toothpick
- 6Arrange on rack
- 7Bake 15-20 minutes until bacon is crispy, turning once
- 8Drizzle with honey and sprinkle with flaky salt if desired
- 9Serve warm
Medjool dates are larger and sweeter than other varieties. Don't overstuff with cheese or it will ooze out. Thin-cut bacon crisps better and wraps more easily. The rack is important - it allows bacon to crisp all around. These are best served warm when the cheese is still soft.
This appetizer has Spanish roots, where dates stuffed with almonds and wrapped in bacon are a tapas staple. The blue cheese variation gained popularity at American holiday parties for its perfect balance of sweet, salty, and tangy. The combination exemplifies how contrasting flavors create irresistible bites.