Indulge in a delightful blend of sweet, savory, and tangy flavors Dates Stuffed with Goat Cheese. This elegant appetizer combines the natural sweetness of dates with the creamy richness of goat cheese, infused with a hint of citrusy zest. Each bite is then enveloped in crispy, smoky bacon and finished with a drizzle of luscious maple syrup.
I remember having these delicious bites during the holidays, right before a batch of my grandmother's Crab Puffs. The sweetness and creaminess from these stuffed dates would pair great with my Fennel Pear Salad when planning a menu. If you're a fan of bacon, I highly recommend my Bacon and Mushroom Pasta for a quick and easy meal idea.
Ingredients
- Medjool Dates
- Bacon
- Goat Cheese (Plain or flavored)
- Orange Zest
- Maple Syrup
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
These Dates stuffed with goat cheese are fun and easy to make! Start by preheating your oven to 400F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper and set it aside.
Cut the date in the middle, only half way through. Remove any stem, or pit from the middle.
Stir together the goat cheese, orange zest and maple syrup, until smooth.
Place a tablespoon of filling in each pitted date.
Cut the bacon slices in half. Wrap each date with a piece of bacon. Secure the bacon by putting a toothpick through the stuffed date.
Place all of the stuffed dates onto the prepared baking tray. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and turn the stuffed dates over. Return to the oven for 10 minutes, until the bacon is crispy.
Substitutions and Variations
- Flavored Goat Cheese - Buy a flavored tube of goat cheese to add extra flavor. Usually they come in Plain, Herb, or Cranberry.
- Bacon Substitute - Replace the regular bacon with Turkey bacon or Chicken Bacon. As long as they have the similar shape of bacon, it will work.
- Filling - Replace the goat cheese in the recipe with a spreadable cheese like a Boursin, it should take at least 2 packages of your desired Boursin.
Storage
Store any leftover Dates Stuffed with Goat Cheese in an airtight container. Refrigerate for 2-3 days.
Recipe
Dates Stuffed with Goat Cheese
Equipment
- 24 Wooden Toothpicks
- 1 Regular sized baking tray
Ingredients
- 24 pieces Medjool Dates
- 300 g Plain Goat Cheese usually sold in a tube
- 1½ teaspoon Orange Zest from half an orange
- 2 tablespoon Maple Syrup
- 12 strips Regular Sliced Bacon usually around 12 per pack
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400F and line your baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Prepare your dates by making a cut lengthwise in the center, cutting only half way through. Remove the pits from the dates and set them aside.
- In a bowl, combine the goat cheese, orange zest and maple syrup. Mix the filling with a spoon or rubber spatula until smooth.
- With a spoon, take about a tablespoon worth of filling, and place it inside a prepared date. Gently close the stuffed date. It is ok if it does not close all the way.
- Take your bacon slices and cut them in half. Take 1 half of a slice, and wrap it around the stuffed date. With a toothpick, secure the bacon by putting it through where the bacon overlaps. Making sure it goes all the way though the date.
- Place the bacon-wrapped dates onto the prepared baking sheet. Place them into the preheated oven for 15 minutes
- Remove the tray from the oven. Turn over all of the dates and place back into the oven for 10 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy.
- As soon as they come out of the oven, brush, or drizzle with a little maple syrup. Let cool for 5-10 minutes and then place onto a serving plate.
