Bacon-wrapped dates are like a surprise party for your taste buds. Imagine sweet, chewy dates hugged tightly by smoky, crispy bacon. This delightful duo combines the best of both worlds, making an irresistible appetizer that’s sure to impress at any gathering. If you’ve never tried making them before, fear not! Preparing bacon-wrapped dates is incredibly easy and requires minimal ingredients. Here’s your step-by-step guide to creating this sweet and savory delight.
Ingredients
Before you roll up your sleeves, make sure you’ve got all the necessary ingredients. For this simple yet delicious appetizer, you’ll need:
- 24 pitted dates (Medjool dates are a great choice for their size and sweetness)
- 12 slices of bacon (thin slices work best as they wrap easily and get really crispy)
- Optional fillings: soft cheese (such as goat cheese or cream cheese), almonds, or blue cheese
- Toothpicks (for securing the bacon to the dates)
Step 1: Preparing Your Dates
If your dates aren’t already pitted, you’ll need to remove the pits. This is easily done by making a small slit along the side of the date with a knife and popping the pit out. This slit will also be helpful if you’re adding any fillings. Speaking of fillings, now’s the time to get creative. Gently open up your pitted date and stuff it with a small amount of cheese or an almond. Don’t overfill it, as you’ll want it to close back up easily.
Step 2: Wrapping with Bacon
Next up, take your slices of bacon and cut them in half to make them the perfect length for wrapping. Take a half slice of bacon and wrap it snugly around the filled date. The goal is to cover as much of the date as possible. Once wrapped, secure the bacon in place with a toothpick. This not only keeps the bacon wrapped tight but also makes serving and handling easier later on.
Step 3: Cooking
There are a couple of ways to cook your bacon-wrapped dates: baking or air frying. Both methods work well, so it’s mostly down to personal preference or whichever appliance you have handy.
Baking:
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat for easy cleanup. Arrange your bacon-wrapped dates on the baking sheet, ensuring they’re not touching so air can circulate around them for even cooking. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until the bacon is crispy to your liking. Halfway through the cooking time, you might want to flip the dates to ensure even crispiness.
Air Frying:
If using an air fryer, you’ll still cook at 400°F (200°C), but the cooking time may be slightly shorter, around 15-20 minutes. Just like with baking, it’s a good idea to flip the dates halfway through cooking for that evenly crisp bacon.
Step 4: Serving
Once your bacon-wrapped dates are beautifully crisp and sizzling, remove them from the oven or air fryer and let them cool slightly on a paper towel-lined plate (this helps to absorb any excess bacon grease). Be warned: they will be very tempting to eat right away, but give them a moment so you don’t burn your mouth.
Serve your bacon-wrapped dates warm for the best experience. They don’t need any dipping sauces because they’re already a perfect blend of sweet, salty, and savory flavors. Arrange them on a nice platter, and watch as they disappear faster than you can say “sweet and savory appetizer.”
Tips & Tricks
- For an extra touch of sweetness, you can drizzle a little honey over the dates before serving.
- Feel free to experiment with different types of cheese or nuts for the filling to find your favorite combination.
- If you’re preparing these for a party, you can wrap the dates in bacon and keep them refrigerated until you’re ready to cook them. This way, you’re only a few minutes away from serving up this crowd-pleaser.
Making bacon-wrapped dates is as simple as that. This appetizer is not only easy to prepare but also delivers a wonderful mix of textures and flavors that are sure to impress. Whether you’re hosting a dinner party, needing a dish for a potluck, or just treating yourself, bacon-wrapped dates are a go-to choice for a quick, delicious appetizer. Give them a try, and enjoy the rave reviews from your friends and family!
