Bacon Wrapped Dates

in Appetizers

Bacon-Wrapped Dates

I knew these babies would be the hit of the party.

It was just after midnight and I was savoring the last bite of a tester batch of appetizers fresh out of the oven the night before a big dinner party (some of my best work in the kitchen comes after midnight!). It was a good thing that I only whipped up a few because I could have easily eaten an entire pan of bacon-wrapped dates and then waddled my pumpkin-shaped self up the stairs to bed.

Flash-forward 24 hours later. A variety of stuffed bacon- and pancetta-wrapped dates were the hit of the party. After the dishwasher was loaded and the leftover wine was (yes, we had leftover wine; yes, we are ashamed) I saw it: there was one left. One single pancetta-wrapped date left.

And then, just like that, he was gone 🙂 They’re addicting, very addicting.

Bacon (or Pancetta) Wrapped Dates

One of the most addicting appetizers ever: bacon-wrapped dates and endless possibilities for stuffing.

Ingredients

  • 2 packages of pitted dates
  • 1 1/2 lb thickly sliced bacon (or pancetta, deli slice at 3)
  • Goat cheese, marinated or plain
  • Gorgonzola cheese, crumbled
  • Dried apricots, sliced
  • Dried cranberries
  • Pistachios (salted and roasted), coarsely chopped

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. If using pancetta, slice into strips, approximately the same width as the dates.
  3. For the plain goat cheese, I microwave 3 oz of goat cheese in two 10-15 second intervals, stirring until creamy. I then place it in a ziploc baggie, squeeze the cheese into one corner, and snip the small corner off the end of the bag. This makes it *super* easy to pipe the dates full of goat cheese.
  4. For the big stuff, you can cut the dates in half and them with whatever you like - I used marinated goat cheese, Gorgonzola and sliced dried apricots, dried cranberries and chopped pistachios (1/2-1 tsp filling per date).
  5. Wrap strips of bacon around the date and secure on skewers. Once all dates are skewered, place on a rack over a baking sheet.
  6. Bake for 8-10 minutes on each side, until the pancetta is nicely crisped. Remove from oven and let cool.
  7. Once dates have cooled slightly, slide off the skewers and serve. They're great warm or at room temperature.

Notes

Yields: ~50

As shared by my friend Shannon

Estimated time: 1 hour

14 comments… add one
  • Salty Pancetta, sweet dates, sounds like a match made in heaven!

  • Could you pass me some of that babes please? 😀 they look delicious..and for sure they are..:-D or better they were!
    Have a fantastic day!
    silvia

  • I’d like one too, please!

  • yowzer nee to have a gathering for an excuse to make these beauties…..or b etter yet make them all for ME!!!!!!!!! Love the combination of sweet and salty….thanks

  • All you had to say was pancetta and I was there. Those are lovely!

    Thanks for sharing the recipe. I am going to throw some pancetta in on my next grocery day and I may or may not wrap it around dates!

  • Hey Shawnda! *waving*

    This Pancetta & Dates recipe sounds divine! Must give it a go.

    I found you blog from the Foodie BlogRoll and I must say, it is LOVELY! I’m glad to finally have found another Houston-based food blogger. I’m in the process of resurrecting my food blog and would like your permission to link to your blog. Let me know, okay?

    Oh, and you and Jason look too cute in your photo.

    Be back to visit you guys soon.

  • That’s a new recipe to me. I usually roll sausages with bacon for after midnight snacks.

  • Lia

    Hello, I’ve been sporadically checking in on your blog now and again! I’m so glad to see a foodie blog from Houston! I’ve got a huge sweet tooth, but I can’t seem to find a lot of good dessert places around town. Do you have any good patisserie suggestions? Thanks 🙂

  • It 10am here, is that too early for appetizers? If so, I will just have to lick the screen. Mmmm.

  • Oh, man. I’m trying to stay away from salt right now to help my poor FEET, but when this baby comes? This is so on the menu.

  • This is TOTALLY what you make when you borrow and wreck your best friend’s new sportscar. You serve it first, then drop the news second.

  • Karen

    I grew up with these, except we wrap the dates in bacon. I’ve not tried it w/ pancetta. I’ll have to give it a try. They are SOOO GOOD! Everyone always loves them. Our Christmas Eve tradition is to have a bucnch of snacks/appetizers. This is a MUST HAVE!!

  • Sophie

    This is definitely delicious party food at its best :). A perfect way to package up dates in an edible compartment of savory flavors. We would love to feature your recipe on our blog and kitchen digital recipe reader. Please email sophiekiblogger@gmail.com if you’re interested. Have a great week ahead!

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