Parmesan-Stuffed Bacon-Wrapped Dates

A sweet and salty appetizer that your guests will love

I love bacon. But when the bacon-wrapped everything trend was at its culinary peak, I got sick of it showing up in dishes it shouldn't. Some foods truly aren't better with bacon, but these bacon-wrapped parmesan-stuffed dates (recipe taken from The A.O.C. Cookbook) sure taste delicious. I usually find dates a little cloying, but the savory cheese and smoky bacon play off the date's sweetness and form a perfect balance. The recipe couldn't be simpler: just stuff pitted dates with a little chunk of Parmesan and then wrapped them up in a thin piece of bacon. I actually think it's really fun to sit around and make these and even recruited my husband (who usually only steps foot in the kitchen to grab a beer from the fridge or wash dishes) to help out. This would be a great project to get kids in on, too. The dates can easily be prepped hours before a party, stored in the fridge, and then popped into the oven after guests arrive. We served these as part of our New Year's small plates feast and they were gone within minutes.


More Appetizer Recipes:
- Mozzarella & Italian Sausage Queso Dip
- Fig & Goat Cheese Crostini
- Baked Potato Bites


Parmesan-Stuffed Bacon-Wrapped Dates:

• Preheat the oven to 400F.
• Cut a small block of Parmesan cheese into matchstick-sized pieces and stuff a piece of cheese into each center of 24 pitted dates. Squeeze the opening of the dates closed.
• Cut 12 thin slices of bacon in half so that you have 24 pieces.*
• Tightly wrap a piece of the bacon around each date and place seam-side down on a baking sheet.
• Bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes, or until bacon is crispy and cheese has melted.
• Let cool slightly, then arrange on a platter and serve.

Serves five-six

*The bacon must be thin or it won't get crispy. Lightly stretching the bacon before you wrap the date in it will help.