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    Bacon Wrapped Dates Recipe

    Published December 27, 2019. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    If you’re looking for the perfect appetizer, then try this bacon-wrapped dates recipe that is simmered in brown sugar and bourbon.

    This classic 5 ingredient appetizer is incredibly easy to make and absolutely a hit when serving up to guests and family over the holidays or for get-togethers.  The traditional palette pairing of salty and sweet in these bacon-wrapped dates delivers every time



     

    What is a Date

    Dates or date palms, also known as Phoenix dactylifera, come from a plant in the palm family and are what’s used in this bacon-wrapped dates recipe.

    Dates hang off the trees in big huge clusters and when ripe are picked and dried.  However, they can certainly be enjoyed fresh, but you may have a hard time finding them.   Dates are a big-time staple food in the middle east and have been for thousands of years.

    What Kind of Bacon Should I Use

    If you can find medium thick-cut bacon, then absolutely buy it.  You can also use regular cut or thick-cut bacon.  Stay away from any flavored bacon to wrap the dates in.

    How to Make the Bourbon Caramel Sauce

    When you finish a caramel with a liqueur or bourbon-like in this recipe, it adds so much delicious flavor and really compliments it.

    making caramel in a sauce pot while whisking
    1. Add the brown sugar, butter, and cream to a small saucepot.
    2. Cook on low to medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes or until smooth while frequently whisking.
    3. Remove the caramel from the cooktop, pour in bourbon and whisk until combined. Set aside.

    The caramel should not have any of the brown sugar grit in it, it should be cooked in and smooth.

    How to Make Bacon Wrapped Dates

    Follow the really easy steps below:

    • Remove the pit from the dates.
    • Slice the bacon in half width-wise.
    pitting dates and slicing bacon in half
    • Wrap each date in one strip of the half-sliced bacon.
    • Cook them bacon seal side down in a large pan on medium-low heat in a small amount of oil
    • Cook for 3-4 minutes per side or until crisp and browned. Set aside.
    • Remove the rendered bacon fat.
    • Add the dates back into the pan and pour the bourbon caramel back in.
    • Bake in the oven at 325° for 15-17 minutes.
    baking the dates in the oven with caramel sauce

    Make-Ahead and Storage

    Make-Ahead: You can make the bacon-wrapped dates 2 days ahead of time. The day you plan on serving them, add them to a pot, cover with a lid and cook over low heat until hot.

    How to Reheat add them to a pot, cover with a lid and cook over low heat until hot. You can also heat in the microwave until hot or place them on a sheet tray lined with parchment paper and bake them at 325° for 10-12 minutes or until hot.

    How to Store: Keep covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

    How to Freeze: These do not freeze that well, but you can place them in the freezer covered for up to 2 months. Thaw for 1 full day before reheating.

    Chef Billy Parisi

    chef notes + tips

    • Stay away from any flavored bacon to wrap the dates in.
    • Cook the bacon-wrapped dates in batches if there isn’t enough room in the pan.
    • When you cook them with the end of the bacon seam side down into the pan it cooks the bacon together sealing it together so no need for a toothpick.
    • Don’t worry if the sides of the bacon don’t get cooked while crisping it in the pan as it will finish cooking in the oven.
    skillet full of bacon wrapped dates

    More Amazing Appetizer Recipes

    If you are looking for more great appetizers then be sure to check these out!

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    Let's Cook - Chef Billy Parisi

    Video

    Bacon Wrapped Dates Recipe

    4.91 from 10 votes
    If you’re looking for the perfect appetizer, then try this bacon-wrapped dates recipe that is simmered in brown sugar and bourbon.
    Servings: 25
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes

    Ingredients 

    • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
    • ½ stick unsalted butter
    • 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
    • 3 tablespoons bourbon or whiskey
    • 13 strips medium thick-cut bacon cut in half
    • 25 pitted Medjool dates
    • 2 teaspoons canola oil

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 325°.
    • Add the brown sugar, butter and whipped cream to a medium-size saucepot and cook over low to medium heat for 3-4 minutes or until cooked and smooth. See notes on the texture below. Set aside.
    • Remove it from the heat, whisk in the bourbon, and set aside.
    • Wrap each date in a ½ slice piece of bacon and set aside.
    • Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium heat and place each bacon-wrapped date bacon seam side down and cook for 3-4 minutes per side or until the bacon is browned and crispy. See note on cooking it batches.
    • Drain the rendered bacon fat and add the crisp bacon-wrapped dates back into the pan and pour the caramel over top.
    • Bake in the oven at 325° for 15-17 minutes.
    • Serve hot.

    Notes

    Chef Notes:
    • Make-Ahead: You can make the bacon wrapped dates 2 days ahead of time. The day you plan on serving them, add them to a pot, cover with a lid and cook over low heat until hot.
    • How to Reheat add them to a pot, cover with a lid and cook over low heat until hot. You can also heat in the microwave until hot or place them on a sheet tray lined with parchment paper and bake them at 325° for 10-12 minutes or until hot.
    • How to Store: Keep covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
    • How to Freeze: These do not freeze that well, but you can place them in the freezer covered for up to 2 months. Thaw for 1 full day before reheating.
    • Stay away from any flavored bacon to wrap the dates in.
    • Cook the bacon wrapped dates in batches if there isn’t enough room in the pan.
    • When you cook them with the end of the bacon seam side down into the pan it cooks the bacon together sealing it together so no need for a toothpick.
    • Don’t worry if the sides of the bacon don’t get cooked while crisping it in the pan as it will finish cooking in the oven.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 189kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 3gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 14mgSodium: 127mgPotassium: 216mgFiber: 2gSugar: 24gVitamin A: 60IUCalcium: 24mgIron: 1mg
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: American