Bacon Wrapped Dates

With only 5 ingredients, these Bacon Wrapped Dates are super easy and super addictive. They will fly off the plate at your next gathering! Dates are stuffed with a mixture of cream cheese, goat cheese or blue cheese and thyme before being encased in bacon and broiled to perfection.

This Bacon Recipe combines bacon with a creamy filling and pitted dates for a sweet-salty appetizer that’s hard to beat. Also known as Devils on Horseback, make sure to save this Easy Appetizer Recipe for your next party.

Bacon-Wrapped Dates

A hubby quote: “I don’t like dates, but I like these.”  I doubt he ever tasted a date before I made these stuffed dates, but he loved this easy appetizer and these were the first to disappear at the when I served them almost a decade ago at a party. There’s something about bacon recipes that makes every dish more enticing! 

It’s kind of a non-recipe from my sister, Mary. The first time I made these stuffed dates, or Devils on Horseback as they’re also called, we used a small log of goat cheese and medium-sized dates.  If you can find larger dates, Mary recommends wrapping with a whole strip of bacon. This last time, I used blue cheese instead and they were just as delicious. In fact, I took them to a neighborhood gathering and one of the host’s elementary school-aged sons could not stop eating them! A rather mature and discriminating palate, I’d say.

How to Make Bacon Wrapped Dates

This easy appetizer recipe is super simple with minimal ingredients. But a few tips will make the process go smoothly.

• First, remove the pits from the dates. This is easily done by cutting almost through the date from one long side to just past the pit. With your fingers, pull out each pit and discard them.
• Next mix the softened cream cheese with either blue cheese or goat cheese. PRO-Tip: Having the cream cheese at room temperature will make the blending process much easier.
• PRO-Tip: Partially cook the bacon. Cut slices in half and use your favorite cooking technique to cook them until some of the fat is rendered and the meat darkens. This ensures the bacon will be cooked fully when these dates are broiled. Undercooked bacon can cause foodborne illnesses like salmonella.
• Using a spoon, scoop out a quenelle or football-shaped mound of the cheese mixture. It should be the length of your dates.
• Spread open the date and place the cheese in the middle. Press the sides back together.
• Wrap the par-cooked bacon around the middle of the date and secure it with a toothpick.
• Cook as directed. Watch carefully under the broiler so the bacon does not burn.

Variations of Bacon Wrapped Dates

• Different dried fruit can be used like dried apricots or pitted prunes.
• Besides blue cheese and goat cheese, these can be filled with cubes of Asiago, Jarlsberg, Havarti, Gouda, Fontina or any other hard cheese.

What Kind of Dates Should I Stuff

I recommend Medjool Dates for stuffing. Their larger size works well for stuff, plus they are usually sweeter and moister than the Deglet Noor, the other variety seen in the US. The latter is firmer and drier.

Why Are Stuffed Dates Called Devils on Horseback

Angels on Horseback are oysters wrapped in bacon, so it makes sense that dark dates wrapped in bacon could be called Devils on Horseback. But I found no documentation that one came before the other, so this is only supposition.

These are sweet, salty, creamy and crisp! How could anyone resist??? Plus, with only 5 ingredients, it’s definitely an easy appetizer recipe. Bacon-wrapped dates are frequently served as part of the Christmas menu, but they’re yummy any time of year.

More Bacon Recipes You’ll Love:

• Bacon Cheddar Crack Dip
• Green Bean Bacon Bundles
• Brie BLT
• Broccoli Salad with Bacon
• Bacon-Wrapped Scallops
• Cauliflower Bacon Gratin
• Strawberry Bacon Brie Salad
• Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers
• More Appetizer Recipes

This recipe was first shared in April, 2011. The photos and text were updated in 2019.

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Bacon Wrapped Dates

A super easy 5 ingredient recipe!

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Yield 15 servings

Ingredients

• 30 medium-sized dates
• 15 bacon slices, a half strip per date
• 4 ounces Blue Cheese or Goat cheese
• 4 ounces Cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon minced thyme

Instructions

Partially cook bacon (I like doing this in the microwave).  Set aside.

Mix equal parts goat cheese and cream cheese.  Mix in herb of choice.

Slice open dates and fill with as much cheese mixture as possible.  Wrap with bacon and skewer with a toothpick.  Place on a baking sheet and broil till bacon is crisp.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

15

Serving Size:

2 dates
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 153Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 26mgSodium: 313mgCarbohydrates: 12gFiber: 1gSugar: 10gProtein: 7g