How to Make Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Dates

Devils on Horseback

Back in the '70s, these appetizers were known as Devils on Horseback. The fact that they're still popular now is a testament to how much we enjoy that sweet, salty, smoky contrast in our food.

I had forgotten about these bacon-wrapped dates until our last trip to Spain when we enjoyed them as tapas, or pintxos as they're known in the Basque region. Dates were also sold in the LaBoqueria market in Barcelona, stuffed with their famous Iberico ham, pistachios, almonds, or even chocolate.

I had a great time in my kitchen after that trip to Spain, recreating some of the food we tried in the local tapas bars, like this Tortilla Española, Spanish Spiced Almonds, Honey-Roasted Fig and Burrata Crostini and Salmorejo--Spanish chilled soup shots.

Three ingredients are all you need to make these bacon-wrapped dates.

• soft, sweet Medjool dates: these are large, soft and squishy dates, perfect for wrapping in bacon. Smaller baking dates will not work with this recipe. Medjool dates are not dried fruit. They're actually fresh. They're harvested from the date palm and packaged right away with no processing required. Read more about their health benefits in this article, Everything You Need to Know about Medjool Dates.
• goat cheese: (or blue cheese, cream cheese or Manchego cheese)
• bacon: thinly sliced is best as it will cook faster.

Here's a quick overview of what you'll do. You'll find helpful tips and tricks below.

1. Remove the pits from the dates. Use a small sharp paring knife to make lengthwise slits in each date. The pits will come out easily.
2. Next, stuff the cavity with your choice of cheese. A soft cheese, like goat cheese, blue cheese or even cream cheese works well.
3. And finally, wrap each date with a half slice of bacon. Transfer to a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet and bake in the oven.

How to stuff dates with cheese

The easiest way to stuff dates is to fill a piping bag with goat cheese and use a frosting tip to pipe it into the cavity. An even easier way is to buy the goat cheese in a tube, snip off one of the corners, and squeeze it into the date!

If you're using blue cheese or cream cheese, just use a small spoon. For Manchego, simply cut a small slice. Use about one teaspoon of cheese per date, depending on their size. Don't overfill, or the cheese will melt and leak out while the dates are baking.

Once you've stuffed them, gently pinch the dates closed to keep the cheese in before wrapping it with the bacon.

How to wrap dates in bacon

Thinly sliced bacon works best, as it cooks faster. You'll only need half a slice for each date.

Wrap each date so that there is just a small amount of overlap and secure it with a toothpick. Make sure to insert the toothpick in the meaty part of the bacon and not the fat to prevent it from coming undone.

If the bacon slice has too much of an overlap, part of it will not cook evenly and NOBODY LIKES RAW BACON, right?

Bake at 375°F. on a baking sheet for about 20 -25 minutes in total, using that handy little toothpick to turn them 2 or 3 times so that all sides of the bacon cook evenly. A baking sheet and rack set or a grill pan will both work well for this appetizer.

Drain on a paper towel. Cool for 5 minutes before serving.

Besides goat cheese or blue cheese, you can fill dates with

• cream cheese
• Manchego cheese
• walnuts
• almonds
• salted pistachios

You can also brush the bacon with a light coating of maple syrup before baking. I find the dates are sweet enough without adding maple syrup, but you do you!

🍽 Serving Idea: have a tapas party!

• Make these stuffed dates as one choice on a platter of tapas! Add a few other ideas, like Prawn and Chorizo Skewers with Lemon Dip, Prosciutto with Melon and Mint, and Whipped Feta Apple Hazelnut Canapés.
• You'll find more ideas in 20 Easy Finger Food Appetizers.
• Above all, keep your tapas party authentic with a large chilled pitcher of Cranberry Apple Cider Sangria! For summertime sipping, your friends will love Peach Sangria with Prosecco.