Delish Bacon Wrapped Dates Recipes

Bacon-wrapped dates are the little black dress of appetizers: universally flattering, suspiciously easy, and everyone wants to know where you got them. Sweet, smoky, salty, sticky—like if candy grew up, got a real job, and decided to flirt with your taste buds. You can stuff them with goat cheese, blue cheese, or an almond, splash on maple or hot honey, and suddenly you’re “the friend who cooks.” It’s basically culinary fraud, and I fully support it.

Last weekend I made a tray, blinked, and watched my family descend like raccoons on garbage night. My husband announced he’d “help” by turning the oven to broil and opening a window—translation: he forgot to set a timer and we met our smoke alarm. Meanwhile, my kid pocketed two dates “for later,” which I discovered in his hoodie after they fused into a sugar-bacon meteor. Did I still eat them? Mind your business.

Time-Saving Hacks

– Buy pre-pitted Medjool dates. If you accidentally get the ones with pits, use kitchen shears. Yes, scissors. It’s fine.
– Par-cook thick-cut bacon for 5 minutes so it finishes with the dates. Or just use regular bacon and live on the edge.
– Line the sheet pan with foil and then add parchment. Double armor = zero scrubbing. We don’t wash pans here.
– Toothpicks in a cup on the counter so you don’t stab yourself fishing in the drawer (again).
– Mix maple syrup with a little hot sauce and brush during the last 5 minutes. Looks cheffy. Feels sneaky.

Serving Ideas

– Park them next to a bowl of almonds and some grapes and call it a “board.” Add wine if the kids drove you nuts.
– Drizzle with hot honey and sprinkle with flaky salt so everyone thinks you read cookbooks.
– Hit them with a squeeze of lemon right before serving. Brightness = “wow, layers!” (It’s just lemon.)
– Serve on arugula so it looks like a salad and therefore health.

What to Serve It With

– A sharp salad: arugula, shaved Parmesan, lemon vinaigrette. Bitter meets sweet, no one fights.
– Cheese friends: manchego, blue, or a soft goat. Pretend it’s tapas and suddenly you’re in Spain.
– Bubbly or a crisp white. IPA if you like hops bossing you around.
– Thin breadsticks or crostini for a crispy moment if you’re feeling carby. You are.

✔Tips & Mistakes

– Use Medjool dates: softer, bigger, and easier to stuff.
– Don’t overstuff unless you enjoy molten cheese lava. A teaspoon of filling is plenty.
– If bacon is thick, par-cook it so the dates don’t burn while bacon naps.
– Bake at 400°F on a rack over a sheet pan for even crisping; flip once.
– Glaze in the last 5 minutes to avoid sugar burn.
– Let them rest 3–5 minutes. Tongue blisters aren’t festive.
– Mistakes to avoid: crowding the pan, skipping parchment, using maple like it’s paint primer, forgetting toothpicks.

✔Storage Tips

Store it in the fridge… if there’s any left. Cold midnight leftovers? Sometimes better than fresh.
– Fridge: 3–4 days, sealed. Reheat at 350°F for 8–10 minutes, or air-fry 4–5 minutes.
– Freeze before baking: assemble, freeze on a tray, then bag. Bake from frozen at 400°F for 20–22 minutes.
– Freeze after baking if you must. Reheat until sizzling, then pretend they’re fresh.

✔Variations and Substitutions

Swap whatever you want—sugar ↔ honey, soy sauce ↔ tamari, or skip steps and call it “deconstructed.” It still counts.
– Stuffings: goat cheese, blue cheese, cream cheese + chives, or an almond for crunch.
– Glazes: maple, hot honey, pomegranate molasses, balsamic reduction, or a harissa-honey situation.
– Heat: smoked paprika, chipotle, or a jalapeño slice tucked inside if you like danger.
– Bacon swaps: pancetta, prosciutto (wrap tighter), or turkey bacon if that’s your journey.
– Vegetarian-ish: marinate dates in smoked paprika + soy/tamari, wrap in seasoned rice paper “bacon,” crisp in oven. Applause still happens.

Frequently Asked Questions

Delish Bacon Wrapped Dates Recipes

Sweet Medjool dates wrapped in smoky bacon and baked until crisp, finished with a light maple glaze—an easy, crowd-pleasing appetizer.

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Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes minutes

Servings: 8

Calories: 120kcal

Ingredients

 

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Main Ingredients

• ▢ 24 pieces Medjool dates pitted
• ▢ 12 slices bacon cut in half crosswise
• ▢ 2 tbsp maple syrup optional glaze
• ▢ 0.25 tsp black pepper
• ▢ 24 pieces toothpicks soak 0.25 hour to help prevent burning

Instructions

Preparation Steps

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and set a wire rack on top for even crisping.
• If dates are not pitted, slice lengthwise on one side and remove pits.
• Wrap each date with a half slice of bacon, stretching slightly so it overlaps once, and secure with a toothpick.
• Arrange wrapped dates seam-side down on the rack. Brush lightly with maple syrup and sprinkle with black pepper.
• Bake 18 to 22 minutes, turning once halfway, until bacon is browned and crisp and fat is rendered.
• For extra crispness, broil 1 to 2 minutes, watching closely to prevent burning.
• Transfer to a plate and rest 5 minutes. Serve warm.

Notes

Variation ideas: tuck a roasted almond or a teaspoon of goat cheese inside each date before wrapping. Make-ahead: assemble up to 1 day in advance, cover, and refrigerate; bake just before serving. Air fryer: cook at 375°F for 10 to 12 minutes, turning once.