Bacon-Wrapped Dates with Blue Cheese or Gorgonzola

You just need three ingredients to make these easy Bacon-Wrapped Dates! Fill them with blue cheese or Gorgonzola and dip them in soy sauce. They're even delicious plain!

Are you an appetizer freak like I am? I thought so.

Especially when there's cheese involved. And bacon...Am I right?

When I heard bacon-wrapped dates with blue cheese are a thing, I had to get in on the action. After all, Cream-Cheese Stuffed Dates have been a family tradition for decades.

Why not explore other variations? I'm so glad I did!

Recipe ingredients

You just need three ingredients, plus soy sauce for dipping!

Blue cheese vs. Gorgonzola

Gorgonzola is Italian blue cheese. It's milder than regular blue cheese and is made from cow's milk.

You can use either one here, or even another blue cheese variety. But, if you don't want these bacon appetizers to be boldly zesty, go with the Gorgonzola.

Frequently asked questions

How to make bacon-wrapped dates

These are so easy and fun to make! See the recipe card at the bottom of this post for full instructions, but here's an overview.

1. Use a knife to make a slit in the date. Use a teaspoon to fill the date with the blue cheese.
2. Place the stuffed date on a half a strip of bacon, about an inch from the bottom.
3. Starting at the bottom, roll the bacon up and over the date until you have a cylinder. Place on a foil-lined pan and bake.

Recipe tips

• Line your baking pan with foil for easy cleanup.
• After filling a date with cheese, gently squeeze the sides of the date together to help keep the filling in place.
• Place the bacon-wrapped dates seam-side down on your pan, so they don't unroll.

Who needs dinner? I'll just stuff my face with these bacon-wrapped dates!

Friends, this is a fantastic, easy appetizer to add to your collection. Serve them on a platter (affiliate link) for a lovely presentation.

More appetizers to try

• Cream-Cheese Stuffed Dates
• Parmesan Jalapeño Poppers with Prosciutto
• Guacamole with Cherries, Gorgonzola and Walnuts
• Crispy Mushroom, Onion and Feta Rolls

Make sure to check out the rest of my appetizers if you need some ideas! And, if you love dates, don't miss these Chinese Chews (Date-Nut Bars).

Enjoy!

Bacon-Wrapped Dates with Blue Cheese or Gorgonzola

You just need three ingredients to make these easy Bacon-Wrapped Dates! Fill them with blue cheese or Gorgonzola and dip them in soy sauce. They're even delicious plain!

5 from 2 votes

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Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Servings: 19

Calories: 158kcal

Author: Mamma C

Ingredients

• ▢ 5 ounces crumbled Gorgonzola or blue cheese (See notes.)
• ▢ 19 strips of bacon (one package)
• ▢ 38 pitted dates (about 9 ounces)
• ▢ low-sodium soy sauce for dipping (Optional. See notes.)

US Customary - Metric

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Instructions

• Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
• Use a knife to make a slit in each date, without cutting all the way through.
• Fill each date with about a teaspoon of gorgonzola, pressing it into place. Gently squeeze the date as if to close it, to make the filling more secure.
• Cut each strip of bacon in half horizontally, so you have strips about 3 ½ inches long. (It's easier to cut one strip of bacon at a time, then wrap it around a date.)
• To wrap: Horizontally place a gorgonzola-stuffed date on top of a vertical bacon strip, about an inch from the bottom. Bring the bottom edge of the bacon over the date and continue rolling securely.
• Place your wrapped dates, with the seam side down, on two ungreased, rimmed baking sheets.
• Bake the dates for 15-20 minutes, or until the bacon is cooked through. Transfer the dates to a paper-towel-lined platter to absorb some of the bacon grease.
• After a couple minutes, transfer the dates to your serving dish, provide toothpicks or mini-forks, and have soy sauce available for dipping.
• Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to four days.

Notes

Serving size & calories

The calories listed are for two bacon-wrapped dates without any dipping sauce.

Gorgonzola vs. Blue Cheese

Gorgonzola is Italian blue cheese. It's milder than regular blue cheese and is made from cow's milk.

You can use either one here, or even another blue cheese variety. But, if you don't want these bacon appetizers to be boldly zesty, go with the Gorgonzola. 

Can you use a different cheese?

If you're not a fan of blue cheese or Gorgonzola, you could try these with goat cheese or cream cheese. They'll be more mild. Or, try feta for a saltier contrast to the sweet dates.

Can you use a different dipping sauce?

You can certainly try something besides soy sauce, or even eat these plain. I prefer the umami flavor from soy sauce here and found that balsamic glaze didn't work well with these dates.

Nutrition

Calories: 158kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 250mg | Potassium: 154mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 65IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 1mg

Tried this Recipe? Mention @cookingwithmammac or tag #CookingWithMammaC!

(Recipe Source: Cooking with Mamma C, inspired by hearing about stuffed, bacon-wrapped dates. Originally published on December 21, 2016 and updated now with new photos and additional text.)