Bacon Wrapped Dates with Blue Cheese and Honey
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If I had to pick one appetizer to bring to every single party for the rest of my life, it would be these bacon wrapped dates. Every time I show up with a platter of these, they are gone within the first 15 minutes and someone always corners me asking for the recipe. They are that good.
The combination of sweet Medjool dates, tangy blue cheese, salty crispy bacon, and a drizzle of honey is one of those flavor combinations that just makes total sense the moment it hits your mouth. Sweet, salty, creamy, crunchy — all of it in one perfect little bite.
Bacon Wrapped Dates with Blue Cheese and Honey
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 400F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and place a wire rack on top.
- Using a small knife, make a slit in each date lengthwise (do not cut all the way through). Stuff each date with about 1 tsp of blue cheese.
- Wrap each stuffed date with a half-slice of bacon and secure with a toothpick.
- Arrange on the wire rack and bake 18-22 minutes until bacon is crispy and golden.
- Remove from oven, let cool 2 minutes, then arrange on a serving platter.
- Drizzle generously with honey and garnish with fresh thyme if using. Serve immediately.
Notes
Why This Combination Works So Well
Medjool dates are naturally intensely sweet and caramel-like. Blue cheese is tangy and funky and salty. Bacon is smoky and crispy and savory. Honey ties it all together with a floral sweetness. Every single element is doing something important here and nothing is unnecessary. It is flavor balance at its finest.
Picking Your Ingredients
Medjool dates specifically — not those small hard dried dates. Medjool dates are large, plump, and almost creamy inside. For the blue cheese, I usually go with Gorgonzola for a milder flavor or a good quality Roquefort if I want something bolder. Thin-cut bacon is important so it crisps up properly in the time it takes the dates to warm through.
Make Them Even Better
A good wire rack on your baking sheet is a game changer for these — it lets the heat circulate all around the bacon so it gets evenly crispy instead of sitting in its own grease. I use a stainless steel wire rack that fits right inside my sheet pan and it makes a big difference. Also, good toothpicks matter more than you think — decorative party toothpicks make these look so much more polished on a platter.
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Make Ahead Tips
You can stuff and wrap the dates up to 24 hours ahead and keep them in the fridge on the sheet pan. Just pop them in the oven when your guests arrive. They are best served warm right out of the oven, so timing them to come out about 10 minutes after people arrive is perfect.
A Party Staple Worth Knowing
Whether it is a holiday gathering, game day, or just a dinner party, these bacon wrapped dates are always the right call. Easy to make, impressive to serve, and universally loved. Add them to your appetizer rotation immediately.
Tools for This Recipe
- Nordic Ware Naturals Half Sheet Pan: A sturdy half sheet that a wire rack fits right inside, and it holds a full party batch of dates.
- Victorinox 3.25 Inch Paring Knife: A small, sharp paring knife makes slitting and pitting the dates quick and keeps them in one piece for stuffing.
Tag me when you make them! xo, Pam
