Bacon Wrapped Dates

Bacon wrapped dates are the ultimate flavor bomb —sweet, salty, smoky, and creamy all wrapped up in one bite. Those sticky-sweet Medjool dates bring rich caramel vibes, while crispy bacon adds that crave-worthy crunch. Stuffed with tangy cheese and finished with a drizzle of spicy honey? Game. Over. The best part? This recipe is SO straightforward to make. Stuff, wrap, bake, and boom, you’re done! Whether you’re feeding a crowd or sneaking snacks at midnight, these babies disappear fast. Plus, you’re getting some fiber and nutrients from the dates, so it’s basically a health food, right? Ready to impress without the stress? Make this bacon wrapped dates recipe your go-to for any occasion!

What stands out

If you’ve never had Bacon Wrapped Dates before, get ready for a flavor explosion. These little bites are the combo of sweet, salty, creamy, and crispy. The rich caramel-like Medjool dates pair beautifully with smoky bacon tangy cheese, and just a touch of heat from the hot honey. We love how the textures all play together—crisp bacon on the outside melty cheese in the middle, a soft, chewy date, and a bit of crunch from chopped nuts mixed into the filling. You can easily swap the cheese or nuts based on what you love or have in the fridge, which makes this recipe flexible. And if you’re serving a crowd? These are always one of the first things to disappear, so go ahead and make extra.

Why do these bacon wrapped stuffed dates taste so? The secret lies in a handful of high-quality ingredients that are customizable:

• Medjool Dates: These are the heart of the recipe. Medjool dates are soft, rich, and naturally sweet—almost like caramel in fruit form. We love how their chewy texture holds everything together, and their sweetness balances out the savory cheese and bacon.
• Bacon: Thin-cut bacon works best to achieve that crispy texture. We cut each strip into three pieces so it wraps just once around each date. Bake them seam-side down, or use a toothpick to help keep everything in place.
• Cheese: Bacon wrapped dates with goat cheese are our favorite for their tangy, creamy flavor. We also love using brie, cream cheese, or herbed Boursin. You can even mix in your favorite herbs and chopped nuts for next level flavor.
• Hot Honey: we brush hot honey on the bacon before baking—it helps caramelize the bacon and adds the touch of sweet heat. No hot honey? No problem. Just use regular honey with a tiny sprinkle of cayenne pepper.
• Chopped Nuts: Almonds, pecans, and walnuts all work well in this recipe. We like to mix them into the cheese filling for a little crunch and extra richness.
• Herbs: You can mix in your favorite herbs like basil or parsley, or sprinkle fresh thyme or rosemary after baking to add a pretty finishing touch and a hint of flavor.

Kitchen tip

This recipe works well with strips of bacon that are thin and not too thick, so please try to choose a thinner one at the store.

Swaps

1. The cheese options are endless: goat cheese, brie, Boursin, blue, camembert, feta, cream cheese, or even gorgonzola.
2. Feel free to add finely chopped nuts to the inside of the date with the cheese.
3. You could try a different cured meat such as prosciutto or pancetta instead of bacon.
4. Add a sprinkle of fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, or basil to the cheese filling.
5. No hot honey? No problem! Use your favorite honey and add a sprinkle of cayenne to create that signature sweet heat.

Recipe Tips for Success

These Bacon Wrapped Dates are simple, but a few little tips will take them from good to unreal.

• Cut the bacon into thirds: Trust us—less is more here. A small piece is just enough to wrap once around the date so the bacon gets crispy.
• Toothpicks are your best friend: Soak them in water for 10–15 minutes before baking so they don’t scorch in the oven. They keep everything nice and secure while cooking and make serving a breeze.
• Don’t overcrowd the pan: Give them a little space to breathe! If they’re too close, they’ll steam instead of crisp. We like to space them about one inch apart.

Ingredients

Makes 12 Dates

• 12 Medjool dates, pitted
• 12 teaspoons cheese, Brie, Boursin, Blue, Camembert or any you like
• 12 pieces bacon, thin slices
• maple syrup, or hot honey
• chopped nuts, optional

Equipment

• Nakiri Knife
• Baking Sheet
• Parchment Paper
• Hot Honey

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Take each date and cut a slit down the middle. Your knife shouldn’t allow you to go all the way through as the pit will be in the way. Open up the date and discard the pit.
2. Fill each date with any creamy cheese you love. You are more than welcome to add chop nuts of choice as well. You can use brie cheese, Boursin cheese, goat cheese or anything you enjoy.
3. Take a piece of thin bacon and cut it into 3 pieces. This recipe works well with a bacon that’s thin not too thick so please try to choose a thinner one at the store.
4. Wrap a piece of bacon around the date and take some hot honey or maple syrup and brush it on. Place the seam side down of the dates onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at 375F for 15-20 minutes or until the dates are golden on the bottom.
5. Flip the dates and let the other side cook for 4-5 minutes or until caramelized. These are best served the same day but you are more than welcome to prep them the night before and just bake them the following day.

Kitchen notes

• Cheese options: The cheese options are endless: goat cheese, brie, Boursin, blue, camembert, feta, cream cheese, and gorgonzola all work well in this recipe.
• Add-ins: Feel free to add finely chopped nuts to the inside of the date mixed in with the cheese. Pecans, walnuts, hazelnuts, and almonds are all tasty choices.
• Bacon substitutes: You could try a different cured meat, such as prosciutto or pancetta instead of bacon.
• Herbs: Add a sprinkle of fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, or basil to the cheese filling.

Questions

What type of bacon should we get for this recipe?

This recipe works well with a bacon that’s thin, not too thick, so please try to choose a thinner one at the store.

Can we make this recipe without the bacon?

You are more than welcome to leave out the bacon, but the saltiness from the bacon is what makes this recipe stand out. You can also add prosciutto, but we personally like thinly sliced bacon more.

What type of dates should we use?

Please buy Medjool dates and make sure to take out the pit.

Is there an alternative to the bacon?

You can try using a beef bacon if you don’t eat pork or leave the bacon out. You can also try using turkey bacon as well.

What kind of cheese do you put in bacon wrapped dates?

The cheese options for this recipe are truly endless! Goat cheese stuffed dates are ah-mazing! Brie, Boursin, blue, camembert, feta, cream cheese, and gorgonzola all work beautifully as well!

Can you make bacon wrapped dates ahead of time?

Yes! You can assemble them a day in advance and store them covered in the fridge. Bake them just before serving for the crispiest results.

How long do you cook dates wrapped in bacon?

Bake them in a 375F oven for 15-20 minutes, or air fry at 375F for 10-12 minutes, turning once. Be sure to keep an eye on them – bacon cooks quickly in the air fryer.