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Bacon Wrapped Dates

By Snejana Andreeva

on Dec 10, 2022, Updated Aug 19, 2025

Bacon wrapped dates are the ultimate flavor bomb 💥—sweet, salty, smoky, and creamy all wrapped up in one perfect bite. Those sticky-sweet Medjool dates bring rich caramel vibes, while crispy bacon adds that crave-worthy crunch 🥓. Stuffed with tangy cheese and finished with a drizzle of spicy honey 🍯🔥? Game. Over. The best part? This recipe is SO easy to make. Stuff, wrap, bake, and boom, you’re done! Whether you’re feeding a crowd or sneaking snacks at midnight 🌙, these babies disappear fast. Plus, you’re getting some fiber and nutrients from the dates, so it’s basically a health food, right 😉? Ready to impress without the stress? Make this bacon wrapped dates recipe your go-to for any occasion!

Why You’ll Love Bacon Wrapped Dates
Ingredients
Nonna’s Tip
Variations and Substitutions for Bacon Wrapped Dates
Recipe Tips for Success
More Holiday Appetizers
Bacon Wrapped Dates Recipe
Common Questions

Why You’ll Love Bacon Wrapped Dates

If you’ve never had Bacon Wrapped Dates before, get ready for a flavor explosion. These little bites are the perfect combo of sweet, salty, creamy, and crispy. The rich, caramel-like Medjool dates pair beautifully with smoky bacon 🥓 , tangy cheese, and just a touch of heat from the hot honey 🍯. I love how the textures all play together—crisp bacon on the outside, melty cheese in the middle, a soft, chewy date, and a bit of crunch from chopped nuts 🌰 mixed into the filling. You can easily swap the cheese or nuts based on what you love or have in the fridge, which makes this recipe super flexible . And if you’re serving a crowd? These are always one of the first things to disappear, so go ahead and make extra 😉.

Ingredients

Why do these bacon wrapped stuffed dates taste so amazing? The secret lies in a handful of high-quality ingredients that are super customizable:

Medjool Dates : These are the heart of the recipe. Medjool dates are soft, rich, and naturally sweet—almost like caramel in fruit form. I love how their chewy texture holds everything together, and their sweetness balances out the savory cheese and bacon.
Bacon : Thin-cut bacon works best to achieve that crispy texture. I cut each strip into three pieces so it wraps just once around each date. Bake them seam-side down, or use a toothpick to help keep everything in place.
Cheese : Bacon wrapped dates with goat cheese are my favorite for their tangy, creamy flavor. I also love using brie, cream cheese, or herbed Boursin. You can even mix in your favorite herbs and chopped nuts for next level flavor.
Hot Honey : I brush hot honey on the bacon before baking—it helps caramelize the bacon and adds the perfect touch of sweet heat. No hot honey? No problem. Just use regular honey with a tiny sprinkle of cayenne pepper.
Chopped Nuts : Almonds, pecans, and walnuts all work well in this recipe. I like to mix them into the cheese filling for a little crunch and extra richness.
Herbs : You can mix in your favorite herbs like basil or parsley, or sprinkle fresh thyme or rosemary after baking to add a pretty finishing touch and a hint of flavor.

Nonna’s Tip

This recipe works well with strips of bacon that are thin and not too thick, so please try to choose a thinner one at the store.

Variations and Substitutions for Bacon Wrapped Dates

The cheese 🧀 options are endless: goat cheese, brie, Boursin, blue, camembert, feta, cream cheese, or even gorgonzola.
Feel free to add finely chopped nuts 🌰 to the inside of the date with the cheese.
You could try a different cured meat , such as prosciutto or pancetta instead of bacon.
Add a sprinkle of fresh 🌿 herbs like rosemary, thyme, or basil to the cheese filling.
No hot honey? No problem! Use your favorite honey 🍯 and add a sprinkle of cayenne to create that signature sweet heat.

Recipe Tips for Success

These Bacon Wrapped Dates are super simple, but a few little tips will take them from good to unreal .

Cut the bacon into thirds : Trust me—less is more here. A small piece is just enough to wrap once around the date so the bacon 🥓 gets crispy.
Toothpicks are your best friend : Soak them in water 💦 for 10–15 minutes before baking so they don’t scorch in the oven. They keep everything nice and secure while cooking and make serving a breeze.
Don’t overcrowd the pan : Give them a little space to breathe! If they’re too close, they’ll steam instead of crisp. I like to space them about one inch apart.

More Holiday Appetizers

If you are entertaining for the holidays or just having a special event coming up, you know I’ve got you covered. And of course don’t forget about the drinks, such as my viral snow globe cocktail .

Holiday Charcuterie Board

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Holiday Cheese Board

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Baked Hazelnut Brie

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Video

Equipment

▢ Nakiri Knife
▢ Baking Sheet
▢ Parchment Paper
▢ Hot Honey

Ingredients

▢ 12 Medjool dates , pitted
▢ 12 teaspoons cheese , Brie, Boursin, Blue, Camembert or any you like
▢ 12 pieces bacon , thin slices
▢ maple syrup , or hot honey
▢ chopped nuts , optional

Instructions

▢ Preheat the oven to 375°F. Take each date and cut a slit down the middle. Your knife shouldn’t allow you to go all the way through as the pit will be in the way. Open up the date and discard the pit.
▢ Fill each date with any creamy cheese you love. You are more than welcome to add chop nuts of choice as well. You can use brie cheese, Boursin cheese, goat cheese or anything you enjoy.
▢ Take a piece of thin bacon and cut it into 3 pieces. This recipe works well with a bacon that’s thin not too thick so please try to choose a thinner one at the store.
▢ Wrap a piece of bacon around the date and take some hot honey or maple syrup and brush it on. Place the seam side down of the dates onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at 375F for 15-20 minutes or until the dates are golden on the bottom.
▢ Flip the dates and let the other side cook for 4-5 minutes or until caramelized. These are best served the same day but you are more than welcome to prep them the night before and just bake them the following day.

Nonna’s Notes

Cheese options: The cheese options are endless: goat cheese, brie, Boursin, blue, camembert, feta, cream cheese, and gorgonzola all work well in this recipe.
Add-ins: Feel free to add finely chopped nuts to the inside of the date mixed in with the cheese. Pecans, walnuts, hazelnuts, and almonds are all tasty choices.
Bacon substitutes: You could try a different cured meat, such as prosciutto or pancetta instead of bacon.
Herbs : Add a sprinkle of fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, or basil to the cheese filling.

My Notes

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Common Questions

This recipe works well with a bacon that’s thin, not too thick, so please try to choose a thinner one at the store.

You are more than welcome to leave out the bacon, but the saltiness from the bacon is really what makes this recipe stand out. You can also add prosciutto, but I personally like thinly sliced bacon more.

Please buy Medjool dates and make sure to take out the pit.

You can try using a beef bacon if you don’t eat pork or simply leave the bacon out. You can also try using turkey bacon as well.

The cheese options for this recipe are truly endless! Goat cheese stuffed dates are ah-mazing! Brie, Boursin, blue, camembert, feta, cream cheese, and gorgonzola all work beautifully as well!

Yes! You can assemble them a day in advance and store them covered in the fridge. Bake them just before serving for the crispiest results.

Bake them in a 375F oven for 15-20 minutes, or air fry at 375F for 10-12 minutes, turning once. Be sure to keep an eye on them – bacon cooks quickly in the air fryer.

Bacon Wrapped Dates

Equipment

Nakiri Knife
Baking Sheet
Parchment Paper
Hot Honey

Ingredients

12 Medjool dates pitted
12 teaspoons cheese Brie, Boursin, Blue, Camembert or any you like
12 pieces bacon thin slices
maple syrup or hot honey
chopped nuts optional

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Take each date and cut a slit down the middle. Your knife shouldn’t allow you to go all the way through as the pit will be in the way. Open up the date and discard the pit.
Fill each date with any creamy cheese you love. You are more than welcome to add chop nuts of choice as well. You can use brie cheese, Boursin cheese, goat cheese or anything you enjoy.
Take a piece of thin bacon and cut it into 3 pieces. This recipe works well with a bacon that’s thin not too thick so please try to choose a thinner one at the store.
Wrap a piece of bacon around the date and take some hot honey or maple syrup and brush it on. Place the seam side down of the dates onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at 375F for 15-20 minutes or until the dates are golden on the bottom.
Flip the dates and let the other side cook for 4-5 minutes or until caramelized. These are best served the same day but you are more than welcome to prep them the night before and just bake them the following day.

Video

Notes

Cheese options: The cheese options are endless: goat cheese, brie, Boursin, blue, camembert, feta, cream cheese, and gorgonzola all work well in this recipe.
Add-ins: Feel free to add finely chopped nuts to the inside of the date mixed in with the cheese. Pecans, walnuts, hazelnuts, and almonds are all tasty choices.
Bacon substitutes: You could try a different cured meat, such as prosciutto or pancetta instead of bacon.
Herbs : Add a sprinkle of fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, or basil to the cheese filling.

Nutrition

Bacon Wrapped Dates https://themodernnonna.com/bacon-wrapped-dates/ December 10, 2022

Home › Recipes › Cookies & Snacks

Lemon Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies

By Snejana Andreeva

on Dec 15, 2022, Updated Nov 08, 2023

Add as a preferred source on Google - 13

My lemon cheesecake thumbprint cookies melt in your mouth . This recipe is one of those recipes that you’ll need to triple, because it’s THAT good. 🍋Whether you’re a lemon lover or simply looking for a unique and delicious cookie, these Lemon Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies are a must-try. They’re perfect for any occasion, from a casual afternoon tea to a fancy dessert spread.

Why You’ll Love Lemon Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies
How to Prepare
Nonna’s Tip 🍋
Lemon Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies Variations and Substitutions
Other Holiday Recipes
More Holiday Cookies
Common Questions
Lemon Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies Recipe

Why You’ll Love Lemon Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies

These lemon cheesecake thumbprint cookies are ideal for anyone who cannot tolerate 🥚 eggs as they are completely egg-free . The dough takes 5 minutes to whip up, so these cookies are easy enough for anyone who is not even a baker. They’re only 5 ingredients , which you probably already have on hand. I can honestly say that this is one of those cookie recipes that you cannot get enough of.

How to Prepare

🥣 Use a stand mixer with the paddle attachment or a hand-held mixer and bowl to cream butter and cream cheese for about 2 minutes until smooth.

🍋 Add sugar and lemon extract and mix until smooth . Then add flour, and mix until a sticky dough forms. Scrape down the sides to fully incorporate any remaining flour.

🧊 Cover the cookie dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for one hour.

🥄 Remove dough from the refrigerator, use a small ice-cream scooper to portion the cookies, rolling each in a touch of flour to prevent sticking.

🍓 Place rolled cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper . Flatten each with your thumb, creating an indent, and add a teaspoon of preferred jam/preserve to the center.

🔥 Preheat the oven to 350°F and bake the lemon cheesecake thumbprint cookies for 13-15 minutes or until the edges are light and golden brown .

❄️ Allow the cookies to cool completely and optionally dust with icing sugar. They can be stored at room temperature for up to a week.

Nonna’s Tip 🍋

You MUST refrigerate the cookie dough for at least one hour and you have to use a touch of flour to roll each one as they will stick.

Lemon Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies - 14

Lemon Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies Variations and Substitutions

Try adding a decorative topping like chopped nuts or a sprinkle of coarse sugar for holiday decoration.
I have not tried this recipe with gluten-free flour , but feel free to experiment with a gluten-free 1-1 replacement and let me know how it goes!
Instead of lemon extract , you could try almond, vanilla, orange or another you have on hand.
Feel free to experiment with different jams or preserves , for example, you could use strawberry, raspberry, apricot or even marmalade.
You could try dairy-free or vegan alternatives to the butter and cream cheese if you or your guests have allergies.

Other Holiday Recipes

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Holiday Butter Board

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