The first time I ate at the popular Tapas restaurant, Firefly on Paradise, in Las Vegas years ago, one of the menu items instantly caught my attention — bacon-wrapped dates.  Once I tried them, I instantly fell in love!  You can find numerous variations of these in Spanish Tapas restaurants, some involving more preparation than others.  I make a simple version that are great for dinner parties and always a hit with the guests!

Blue cheese stuffed dates wrapped with bacon

Ingredients

• Pitted Dates
• Bacon
• Brown Sugar
• Blue Cheese
• Toothpicks

Directions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 375 F
2. Slice into the dates to basically make a pocket to stuff (you don’t want to slice through the entire date)
3. Fill the hollowed date with blue cheese and close sides
4. Cut your bacon into pieces (I usually cut the bacon into thirds)
5. Wrap the cut pieces of the bacon around the dates and secure with toothpicks
6. Place on baking sheet
7. I like to sometimes sprinkle tops with a generous amount of brown sugar
8. After about 20 minutes take out and turn the dates over.  I usually sprinkle more brown sugar on the dates again.

Blue cheese stuffed dates wrapped with bacon and topped with brown sugar. Other dates in center of plate are stuffed with walnuts and rolled in white sugar.

You can change these up by using different cheese — I have used Brie, Camembert, and even goat cheese.  I have to admit that I am not a blue cheese fan at all, but when served inside the dates, I absolutely love it!  So, even if you are not a blue cheese fan, give them a try as you might be surprised as well!  If you have guests that may not eat bacon or have dairy issues, consider serving some “regular” dates alongside.  Brett’s family always served dates stuffed with walnuts that are rolled in regular sugar.  These are also pretty tasty and super easy to serve with the bacon-wrapped ones!