Stuffed Dates with Bacon and Blue Cheese
There are several great things about stuffed dates: You can make them savory or sweet, they’re easy and they make a delicious appetizer to go with cocktails or a quick snack for the kids. Here are two examples, but you can be creative and stuff them with almost anything. What about soft goat cheese and prosciutto with a sprinkle of pistachios? Or cream cheese with crushed pecans and a chocolate drizzle?
Ingredients
- 2 slices applewood smoked bacon
- ½ pound Medjool dates
- ½ cup crumbled blue cheese
- 1 tablespoon heavy cream, plus more if needed
- ¼ cup finely chopped walnuts
- 2 tablespoons hot honey
Instructions
- Heat oven to 375°F.
- In small skillet, cook bacon until extra crispy. Drain, cool and finely chop. Set aside.
- Slice open each date, assuring halves stay attached. Remove pit.
- In small bowl, blend blue cheese and cream until consistency is almost smooth, but not runny—it’s fine if some lumps remain. Stir in crumbled bacon.
- Add about a teaspoon of cheese mixture to each date. Place on small sheet pan; bake for approximately 7 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly.
- Remove from oven, allow to cool slightly. Place dates on serving plate, sprinkle with walnuts, drizzle with hot honey. Serve immediately.
