This recipe for bacon wrapped dates is a family favorite. Some links in this post are affiliate links that earn me a commission if you purchase through them.
Whenever we go to or host a party, my son always asks, “Mom, are we bringing bacon wrapped dates?” And generally, the answer is yes.
Fortunately, for Thanksgiving this year, my mom asked if I would bring them, so it isn’t just us who loves them. In fact, I tend to make a double or even triple batch because they run out otherwise.
Granted, part of this is because my son eats his weight in bacon wrapped dates whenever we make them. These taste great hot and fresh from the oven, at room temperature, and yes, even the next day.
Part of the reason I love making bacon wrapped dates so much is that they’re so simple to make. Our recipe uses just three ingredients, and they’re all ones I tend to have on hand at all times, which makes things even easier.
They also are naturally gluten free, which makes them a great entertaining option when you know you might have someone with a gluten intolerance attending. I’m all about providing a gluten free option whenever I can.
While some recipes use goat cheese to fill the dates , we prefer marcona almonds. They provide a little crunch, and that added texture makes them even better.
Need more appetizer ideas? Make sure you check out my other favorites at the end of this article.
What kind of dates should I use?
You can find different kinds of dried dates in your grocery store. When we make our bacon wrapped dates, I prefer the medjool dates . They’re meatier and tend to be larger than other dates, which makes them perfect for this purpose.
If you can’t find medjool dates, feel free to substitute other dried dates. Instead of cutting the bacon in half, you may find you want to cut the bacon into thirds to get the perfect combination of sweet versus savory.
I generally find the medjool dates I purchase come pitted. That makes life (and prep) so much easier for me, but make sure you know whether or not they have pits. The last thing you want to do is have friends or family unexpectedly bite into a pit!
What are the best almonds for bacon wrapped dates?
Along the same lines, I like using marcona almonds in these rather than the almonds you commonly eat. They’re fairly easy to find in most grocery stores now, but if you can’t find them, you can absolutely use whole almonds.
Marcona almonds are a Spanish almond, and they have a different shape from the teardrop almonds you’re used to seeing. They have a slightly different texture and flavor, which is perfect for these bacon wrapped dates. However, if you can’t find them, don’t panic!
Can I make bacon wrapped dates without nuts?
Yes, you can! While I love the crunchier option of almonds and specifically the taste of marcona almonds, I also recognize that not everyone does and that there are many with nuts allergies.
You could simply leave the almonds out entirely, but I feel like that’s missing a little something when you do that.
Instead of nuts, you could use goat cheese, blue cheese, or another creamy cheese you enjoy. I find that this makes them richer, so you may not need to make as many.
The easiest way I find to do this is to split your pitted date with a paring knife and open it in half lengthwise. Use a small iced tea or baby food spoon (depending on what you have) to scoop up the cheese and place it inside.
Carefully close your date halves together, then wrap them in bacon. Follow the recipe as written the rest of the way.
What kind of bacon should I use?
I’ll full admit that I’m a bacon snob. Cheap bacon versus quality bacon has a very different taste and texture, and with bacon such a major feature in this recipe, you want to use good bacon.
What does good bacon mean? First, make sure you use center cut bacon. This bacon is meatier and thicker than other bacon, and it provides adequate contrast to the dates and almonds.
Beyond that, I prefer a bacon with no added nitrites or nitrates. That’s a personal preference, however.
You can use a hickory smoked bacon, but don’t go crazy on the flavors beyond that. You want to taste bacon and sweet dates and delicious, crunchy almonds, not an overpowering flavor from the bacon.
Why do you bake on a wire rack?
A wire rack over a jelly roll pan is a brilliant invention. I use it for everything from bacon roasted brussels sprouts to sweet potato fries to chicken fingers.
If you do not have one, you can absolutely still make this recipe, however.
I like to bake my bacon wrapped dates on a jelly roll pan with a wire rack over the baking sheet setup. With the wire rack, the bacon cooks evenly all the way around, but it does provide an extra dish to clean once you finish.
The benefit is that you don’t have to remember to pull the pan out halfway through baking to rotate each of the dates. If you let them cook all the way without rotating, they end up with a softer texture on the bottom that feels “off” somehow.
How to make bacon wrapped dates
Prep your workstation
These are are easy that my kids actually did the prep work for me last time while I focused on other dishes. How easy are they? Just set up an assembly line and go.
Count out how many dates and almonds you need, and set them in two piles. Once you touch bacon, you don’t want to put your hands back into the bag of dates or almonds – yuck!
Do the same with your toothpicks, and add an extra two or three. Inevitably, I stick a toothpick into the middle of an almond and break it off at least once or twice.
Again, no one wants to have to contaminate anything once you started. Worst case, you can stop, wash your hands, and count out some more of anything you missed, but why take extra time to make these?
Slice your thick cut bacon in half, and set it to the far right of your other ingredients. From there, you start your assembly.
Assemble your bacon wrapped dates
Once you’re ready to go, carefully slide a whole marcona almond into the center of each date. Remember to pit the dates first if you didn’t purchase pre-pitted dates.
Wrap a half slice of bacon around each date. It should overlap just slightly.
Stick a toothpick in the overlap all the way through the date to secure the bacon. Make sure you leave a good “handle” on the toothpick, so don’t stick it too far through.
Repeat for each bacon wrapped date ,and set them on your silpat or wire rack over a baking dish. You can place them fairly close together, but ensure they have some space between them or you will steam them rather than bake them, and that ruins the texture, too.
Bake in a 425 degree oven for a total of 18 minutes. If you don’t use a wire rack, make sure to flip them over at the 11 minute mark so all sides bake evenly.
Your cooking times will vary depending on the thickness of your bacon. If it doesn’t look cooked enough when you pull it from the oven, put it back in for 3-4 more minutes until you have perfect crispy bacon.
Remove from the oven and drain on a paper towel before serving. You can store any leftovers in the fridge in a tightly sealed container for two to three days, but I doubt they’ll last that long!
Have you ever made bacon wrapped dates?
More favorite appetizers:
- The best guacamole ever
- Cheesy smoky chicken enchilda dip
- Mini lasagna pizzas
- Buffalo chicken rolls
- Bourbon BBQ little smokies
- Tomato bacon cups
- Corn and black bean salsa
- Buffalo chicken dip
- Corn fritters
- BLT cherry tomato bites
- Caprese puff pastry bites
Bacon Wrapped Dates
Yield: 24 pieces
Prep Time: 7 minutes
Cook Time: 18 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
This is one of the most delicious and easiest appetizers you can make. Sweet and savory flavors combine perfectly in this gluten free treat.
Ingredients
- 24 Medjool dates
- 24 Marcona almonds
- 12 slices thick cut bacon
Instructions
- Ensure dates are pitted. Slide almond in center of date.
- Wrap a half slice of bacon around each date, overlapping slightly.
- Secure bacon with a toothpick and place on rimmed baking sheet lined with silpat and with a wire rack over it.
- Bake in 425 degree oven for a total of 18 minutes. If you don't use a wire rack, make sure to flip them over at the 11 minute mark so all sides bake evenly.
- Remove from the oven and drain on paper towel.
- Store leftovers in fridge in tightly sealed container for two to three days.
Notes
- The best way to bake these is to place a wire cooling rack inside the jelly roll pan and place the bacon wrapped dates on this. This lets everything cook evenly on all sides for the best texture. If you don't do this, make sure you flip the dates over part way through baking - at the 11 minute mark - to avoid having a softer texture on the bottom.
- For more hints and tips, be sure to read the full article.
Recommended Products
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24Serving Size: 1 date
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 126Total Fat: 5.7gSodium: 61mgCarbohydrates: 18.3gFiber: 1.8gSugar: 16.1gProtein: 2.3g
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