Looking for an easy, crowd-pleasing appetizer for your next gathering? Our Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Dates with Cream Cheese are so easy to make – and require just 4 ingredients!
Table of Contents
- This recipe is…
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Bacon Wrapped Dates Recipe Ingredients
- Recipe Variations and Modifications
- How to Make Bacon Wrapped Dates
- Recipe Tip
- How to Serve
- How to Store and Reheat
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More of Our Best Appetizer & Snack Recipes
- Bacon Wrapped Dates with Cream Cheese Recipe
This recipe is…
So why not make things easier on yourself the next time you throw a shindig by making a super-simple, 4-ingredient recipe that’s sure to please the entire crowd?
All you need to make a big batch of these sweet, salty, and smoky appetizers is bacon, dates, cream cheese and chives. (Plus some toothpicks for skewering these delicious lil’ bundles, which makes them super easy for guests to grab and enjoy.) If you or your guests are dairy-free, we’ve got a simple and delicious swap too.
With just 15 minutes of prep – plus 20 minutes in the oven – you’ll have a big batch of delicious bacon-wrapped dates that everyone will love. Serve them up with deviled eggs, pesto hummus + homemade plantain chips, or a mezcal margarita, and you’ve got yourself a party!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Just 4 ingredients! Bacon, dates, cream cheese, and chives.
- A total crowd-pleaser for gatherings from formal holiday parties, to casual game day get-togethers
- Easy dairy-free option
Bacon Wrapped Dates Recipe Ingredients
You only need 4 ingredients to make these delicious stuffed dates (if you want to skip the chives, only 3)! You’ll also need toothpicks to skewer them. Find ingredient notes (including substitutions and swaps) below.
- Dates – you’ll need 16 dried dates, which are usually sold in plastic tubs in the produce section
- Cream cheese – 4 ounces of cream cheese adds creamy richness (for a dairy-free version, just swap in Kite Hill vegan cream cheese instead)
- Chives – green chives add fresh herb flavor and a pop of color
- Bacon – we also call for 8 slices of bacon, which you’ll cut in half crosswise
A full ingredient list with exact amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Recipe Variations and Modifications
This is a pretty classic version of bacon-wrapped stuffed dates. But if you want to mix things up, here are a few easy ideas:
- Go dairy-free – simply substitute a plant-based cream cheese alternative like Kite Hill.
- Swap the pork – instead of bacon, you could swap in strips of thinly-sliced prosciutto.
- Add some garnishes – honey, hot honey, and chopped pistachios or other nuts would all be delicious toppers for these little snacks!
How to Make Bacon Wrapped Dates
This tasty appetizer comes together so quickly and easily! Here’s how.
Step 1: Combine cream cheese and chives in a small bowl. Slice dates lengthwise and stuff with the cream cheese mixture, then wrap with one slice of bacon, trying not to overlap it. Secure with toothpick and place on sheet pan.
Step 2: Bake the dates in a 400 F oven for 18-20 minutes – until the bacon is crispy. Let cool at least 10 minutes, and serve.
Recipe Tip
Make a DIY piping bag – It can get a little messy stuffing the dates with the cream cheese + chives mixture. To neaten it up without adding extra time (and saving yourself a dirty bowl), add the cream cheese and chives to a bottom corner of a small, sealable plastic bag. Seal the bag up, and smoosh the ingredients together until mixed. Cut the tip of the corner of the bag, and pipe the cream cheese mixture into the dates. Then toss!
How to Serve
Serve these tasty bundles hot from the oven, garnished with more snipped chives if you’d like.
How to Store and Reheat
These dates are best enjoyed out of the oven, but you can absolutely store any leftover dates in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
You can also freeze your bacon-wrapped dates after they’ve been cooked (vs. before, as a make-ahead option). Stored in the freezer, they’ll be good for up to 3 months. Simply place them in the refrigerator overnight to thaw.
For the crispiest results, reheat your bacon wrapped dates for a few minutes in the air fryer or oven. If non-crispy bacon isn’t a dealbreaker for you, though, feel free to heat your leftover dates in the microwave!
Frequently Asked Questions
Good question! The bacon is the only thing that actually needs to cook, so as soon as it’s nice and crispy, the dates are done. This should take no longer than 20 minutes.
More of Our Best Appetizer & Snack Recipes
Bacon Wrapped Dates with Cream Cheese
Ingredients
- 16 dates, pits removed
- 4 ounces cream cheese, use Kite Hill for dairy free
- 1/2 tablespoon minced chives
- 8 slices bacon
- 16 toothpicks
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 F.
- Combine cream cheese and chives in a small bowl. Slice dates lengthwise and stuff with the cream cheese mixture, then wrap with one slice of bacon, trying not to overlap it. Secure with toothpick and place on sheet pan.
- Bake the dates for 18-20 minutes, until bacon is crispy. Let cool at least 10 minutes and serve.
Nutrition
Hi, I’m a bit confused – is it two dates per 1 slice of bacon? Says we need 16 dates and 8 slices of bacon, but I don’t see any instructions on whether to cut the bacon slice in two so I have enough for each date OR do I roll two dates into one bacon slice?
These are oddly delicious! Perfect snack to add to our Super Bowl spread.
So glad you enjoyed them, Suzanne!
Can you use use slightly cooked bacon instead of raw?
Sure, Lisa!
These are known as Devils on Horseback, if you live in England, Aussie or New Zealand 😉 Very delish!
This recipe is amazing! This is the second year in a row that I’ve made these for holiday gatherings and they always a hit!
Do these reheat well? Thinking about making these for thanksgiving but would need to transport them and trying to figure out if I should make them ahead or do it when I get to my destination. Thansk
Yes, these should be fine to reheat! I’d put them in a 400 F oven for about 5 minutes until they are just warmed through and the bacon is crisped.