Guests (or your date!) will fall in love with these 2 ingredient Hot Dates! Bacon Wrapped Dates take minutes to wrap up and turn to addicting little chewy morsels of crispy bacony goodness after just a quick pop in the oven.
Bacon wrapped dates can be pre-wrapped and frozen for up to a month for an even faster wholesome, sweet and salty snack.
Perfect make ahead appetizer
Go ahead and make these little guys ahead of time. Then simply pop in your oven before guests arrive, or before you pull the cork on the wine for your date night at home. Doesn’t get much easier than that! And because there’s nothing scary that would require refrigeration you don’t have to worry about how long they’ve been sitting on the buffet so you can leave them guests to graze without worry.
They’re almost as tasty at room temperature as fresh from the oven… heavy emphasis on almost. It’s real hard to beat a caramelized, chewy date covered in warm, crispy bacon.
With only two ingredients and no special tools, this recipe is simple perfection.
And since bacon wrapped dates are naturally gluten free, paleo and containing only natural sugar they are good-to-go for most of your diet restricted guests. They’re what I served guests during the pre ceremony cocktail hour at my own wedding. It was just part of an entire menu of homemade family style food I prepared with my close family for the special day.
Ingredients
- Pitted medjool dates – can be found in the produce department of most grocery stores. Dates with pits can be used but removing the pits is time consuming.
- Bacon – thin sliced bacon is preferred because it will get crisper, faster. Thick sliced bacon will take slightly longer to cook and must be toothpick to prevent the bacon from falling off.
What to serve with
This lightly sweet and salty snack that pairs just as well with beer as it does with champagne.
Serve by itself or with vegetable crudité, a cheese plate or alongside fresh fruit.
Customize It!
It’s so easy to customize this two ingredient appetizer recipe. Get creative! Make it your own!
- Stuff with nuts, cheese, fresh and/or dried fruit. Almonds, pistachios, apples, dried apricot, blue cheese and goat cheese are all great options.
- Stick some fresh herbs like tarragon or mint inside.
- Stir dried spices like curry powder or black pepper into soft cheese before stuffing.
- Swap out bacon for prosciutto and reduce baking time.
- Wrap with salami and serve cold instead of baking.
- Meat lover? Stuff the dates with sausage rounds AND wrap with bacon.
- Drizzle with honey, maple syrup or fruit preserves before or after baking.
Ingredients
- 10 ounces medjool dates about 35-40, pitted
- 1 pound sliced bacon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Soak toothpicks in water, if using.
- Cut entire package of bacon in thirds. Working one at a time, stretch a bacon piece around a pitted date and place seam side down on baking sheet. Continue until all dates are wrapped in bacon.
- Bake until bacon is evenly browned and dates are caramelized, turning halfway through, 14 to 18 minutes total.
- Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
Nutrition
Jacqueline Debono
I love the idea of this appetizer especially because bacon and dates are two of my favourite foods! Have to give them a try next time I’m entertaining!
Brian Jones
Ooo they sound lovely I have been using dates a lot this winter in all sorts of recipes (they even formed part of a wing glaze last week). Must try these although I reckon anyone else wanting to try some will fail as they are mine… All mine 😀
Amanda Wren-Grimwood
Sweet chewy dates and crisp salty bacon is a yummy combination. I can imagine that they disappear in no time and that one is not enough!
Laura
I fell in love with them, what a fantastic idea. Here in France we have dates coming from Tunisia, they are so sweet. I wouldn’t add anything to them, this recipes is perfect as it is.