If you’re looking for the perfect appetizer, try this bacon-wrapped dates recipe simmered in brown sugar and bourbon.
Servings: 25
Prep Time: 15 minutesminutes
Cook Time: 30 minutesminutes
Total Time: 40 minutesminutes
Ingredients
1cuppacked light brown sugar
½stick unsalted butter
2tablespoonsheavy whipping cream
3tablespoonsbourbon or whiskey
13strips medium thick-cut bacon cut in half
25pitted Medjool dates
2teaspoonscanola oil
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 325°.
Add the brown sugar, butter, and whipped cream to a medium-sized 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 in batches.
Drain the rendered bacon fat, 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
Make-Ahead: You can make the bacon-wrapped dates 2 days ahead of time. The day you plan to serve them, add them to a pot, cover them with a lid, and cook over low heat until hot.How to Store: Keep covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. These do not freeze well, but you can place them in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw for 1 full day before reheating.How to Reheat: Add them to a pot, cover with a lid, and cook over low heat until hot. Alternatively, place them on a sheet tray lined with parchment paper and bake them at 325° for 10-12 minutes or until hot.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 there is 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.