Bacon Wrapped Dates | Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Date Recipe

PUBLISHED December 26, 2025· MODIFIED December 26, 2025 · by the author listed in the recipe card 1120 words. · About 6 minutes to read this article.· This post may contain affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases· Leave a Comment

Are you looking for the perfect appetizer or quick weekend brunch addition? This Bacon Wrapped Dates recipe is a dish that will check all of the boxes for a tasty and indulgent treat.

What Makes This The Perfect Appetizer?

Sweet-salty magic. Naturally sweet dates and savory bacon are an instant crowd-pleaser
Perfect texture combo. Crispy bacon outside, soft and caramel-y date inside
Big flavor with minimal ingredients. A short list delivers “wow” results
Quick to prep and bake. They’re ideal for last-minute hosting
Fits lots of menus. works for holidays, game day, cocktail parties, and dinner parties

Bacon wrapped dates are the perfect appetizer because they’re effortless to make, irresistibly sweet-and-salty, and feel fancy while staying totally finger-food simple.

What Do They Taste Like?

Bacon wrapped dates taste like a perfect sweet-and-salty bite: the date turns warm and almost caramel-like, with a rich toffee sweetness and a soft, chewy center, while the bacon gets crisp and smoky around the outside.

Together, you get the super satisfying contrast of sticky-sweet fruitiness balanced by savory, salty bacon fat, so it feels both indulgent and oddly elegant.

What Are The Best Dates To Use For Bacon Wrapped Dates?

Use Medjool dates if you can. They’re larger, softer, and naturally caramel-like once warmed.

If your dates feel a little dry, you can revive them by soaking them in warm water for 5–10 minutes, then patting the outsides dry really well. A dry exterior makes for crispier bacon.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Medjool dates– These are the sweet, chewy center of the appetizer. When baked, they soften and turn almost caramel-like, balancing the salty bacon and giving that signature sweet-and-savory bite.
Smoked bacon– This wraps the dates, adds a smoky, salty flavor, and turns crisp as it cooks. It also provides the “shell” that holds everything together and creates that irresistible crunchy-outside and soft-inside texture.
Goat Cheese (optional)- It adds a rich, smooth texture that makes each bite feel more “fancy,” and it helps turn the appetizer into a true sweet-salty-tangy flavor bomb.

How To Make Bacon Wrapped Dates

Preheat the oven. Set the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with foil for easy cleanup, and set a rack on top if you have one. This helps the bacon crisp evenly.
Prep dates. If they aren’t already pitted, slice lengthwise and remove pits. If using goat cheese, fill the sliced dates at this time.
Wrap. Cut bacon strips in half, or thirds if bacon is thick or long. Wrap one piece around each date.
Secure. Use a toothpick through the seam to hold the bacon in place.
Bake. Arrange seam-side down. Bake 18–25 minutes, flipping once halfway through, until bacon is browned and crisp.
Serve. Let them cool for 5 minutes to allow the centers to cool, then serve them warm.

Tips and Tricks

Bacon wrapped dates are super simple, but a few small moves make them next-level crispy, gooey, and party-perfect:

Use Medjool dates. They’re bigger, softer, and taste more caramel-like than smaller varieties.
Pat the dates dry. Moisture leads to steaming, which leads to floppy bacon, so dry dates help bacon crisp.
Choose the right bacon. Regular-cut bacon wraps easily and crisps well; thick-cut takes longer and can stay chewy.
Cut bacon to fit. Halve slices for Medjools (or thirds if bacon is long) so you get a neat wrap without overlap overload.

Variations

Bacon-wrapped dates are basically a blank canvas for sweet, salty, tangy, crunchy upgrades. Here are some delicious variations to mix things up:

Goat Cheese Stuffed– Creamy and tangy. They’re also great with a honey drizzle.
Blue Cheese Stuffed– Bold, salty, and super “wine night” friendly
Cream Cheese Stuffed– Mild, classic, and kid-approved
Almond-Stuffed– Crunchy, nutty, and simple. No cheese needed.

Do I have to use toothpicks?

They help keep bacon tight while cooking. If your bacon stays wrapped seam-side down and you use a rack, you can sometimes skip them, but toothpicks make life easier.

Can I use turkey bacon?

You can, but it won’t crisp the same way. Turkey bacon often needs a slightly lower temp and careful flipping to prevent drying out.

Why is my bacon not crispy?

Common culprits are that dates are too wet, bacon is too thick, overcrowding, or baking without enough airflow. Use a rack, don’t crowd, and finish under the broiler if needed.

What To Serve With Bacon Wrapped Dates

Bacon-wrapped dates are rich, sweet-salty, and a little sticky, so they pair best with crisp, fresh, tangy, and bubbly sides:

Cheese board staples– manchego, goat cheese, brie, or blue cheese + crackers
Charcuterie add-ons– prosciutto, salami, olives, cornichons, roasted nuts
Fresh fruit– grapes, apple slices, pears, figs, pomegranate arils
Crunchy veggies– cucumber, endive leaves, bell pepper strips

How Long Do They Last?

I’m going to be honest, these are best eaten right when they’re made. I prefer most of my recipes to work for people with small appetites or to be used as leftovers, but this one just doesn’t fit that bill. If you let them sit for too long, the dates get a little chewy, and the bacon doesn’t stay quite as tight on the toothpicks, so reheating is hard.

If you’re not worried about texture issues, these are safe for quite a long time (5-7 days) after preparing them, but they will not be quite as tasty as the first day you make them.

Pin It!

If you love these Bacon Wrapped Dates as much as we do, make sure you share them with your friends on Facebook and Instagram. Don’t forget to Pin it on Pinterest so you can make them again soon!