Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Dates

You've gotta sink your teeth into these gorgeous Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Dates. The date itself has a paper-thin skin with a creamy center that is seriously like candy. When you stuff it with spicy chorizo and wrap it in smoky bacon, beware, an addiction is soon to follow. It's so delicious when you drizzle on honey, that I promise you will want to eat the entire plate. They are so rich, though, you will have trouble eating more than one or two of these luscious appetizers. 

You'll find these to be the perfect appetizer for any party, holiday get-together, or simply diving in all by yourself. I have made these beauties for several occasions and literally within three minutes the tray that they were on was empty. These little gems will be the hit of any party and everyone will be asking for the recipe. 

How To Prep and Cook these Bitesize Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Dates

Ingredients: 

There are three simple ingredients that go into these luscious morsels of goodness - Medjool dates, spicy chorizo, and of course BACON. There's one other ingredient though that I include before serving - honey drizzled over the dates.

Medjool Dates - When choosing dates, look for ones that are soft, plump, and shiny, not shriveled. Fresh dates can be wrinkly though. Avoid dates that are dried out and hard to the touch. Also steer away from those that have crystallized sugar on their skin, which is a sign of aging. 

Chorizo - Chorizo is a pork sausage that is highly seasoned. Be careful to not choose the Spanish version which is fully cooked or semi-cured. You find this type in the deli area with pepperoni and hard salami. Look for raw and fresh, the Mexican version, in your grocer's meat department. It has a definite red tint to it because of the spices and seasonings that are added. Depending on your "heat" preference, there are different varieties from sweet to spicy. In this recipe, I chose spicy to complement the other sweet and salty aspects. But you can go with whatever you like.

Center Cut Bacon - I went with the "center cut" which basically is regular bacon with the fatty ends cut off. It is a little more expensive but I think it ultimately holds up better. Honestly, you can go with whatever type of bacon you like. My preference for these Bacon Wrapped Dates is to not go really thick or really thin. I want to taste the bacon but I don't want it to dominate the bites. 

Prepping the Stuffed Dates before Cooking

Bacon-Wrapped Dates are super easy to make, although they do involve a little bit of time. Even though you have to pit the dates, stuff them with chorizo and wrap them with bacon, they are so worth any time and energy given to them. 

Pitting the Dates. You can buy dates that are already pitted, but honestly, the process is simple and quicker than you would think. It takes nothing to do them yourself.

Use a pairing knife gently slit down the date lengthwise. You will hit the pit, Be careful to not cut through the whole date. Then with your thumbs pry open the sides and pull out the pit and discard.

Stuffing the Medjool Dates. Simply spoon out a heaping teaspoon of the chorizo and stuff a sliced date then gently close it around the sausage. Don't worry if the date doesn't completely surround the chorizo. The bacon will take care of the rest. 

Wrapping the Stuffed Dates. There is a final step before these appetizers go in the frying pan to sear. Take a piece of bacon and cut it in half crosswise and simply wrap it around the stuffed date. Then secure the bacon with either a toothpick or a cocktail pick. 

How to Sear these Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Dates

Heat a large oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat. You want it to get good and hot before placing the stuffed dates in the skillet. Since there are 24 dates, you may need to work in batches. The process here is only to char the outside of the dates, not to cook them throughout. That will be accomplished when these go into the oven. Cook each side for about 2 minutes until the bacon is crisp and brown on all sides.

How to Cook the Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Dates in the Oven

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Once you've got a nice char on these appetizers, they're ready to make the trek to the oven. Depending on how much room you have in the skillet, either place all the stuffed dates in the oven-proof skillet or use a baking sheet. 

Cook these for an additional 10-12 minutes until the center is nice and done. 

• A side note here. If you want to make life a little easier, you can just place stuffed dates in the oven without searing them first. The difference is they will need to cook longer and you'll lose that nice char on the outside. Using the same 400°F oven, place the seared dates in a single layer on a baking sheet. Cook for 6-7 minutes on one side, turn them over and cook for additional 6-7 minutes. 

How to Sweeten the Deal with Honey

Honey is the ultimate highlight of this Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Dates Recipe. Whatever you do, don't stop before you drizzle this golden delight. The honey compliments the sweetness of the dates themselves. Once you plate the dates, and right before serving, grab a honey dipper and go to town. Honestly, you can use whatever works, a spoon, a fork, a pour spout, whatever. Just get the honey on those dates. It truly is the "icing on the cake." Also, it's a good idea to keep a bowl close by for your guests to drizzle more if they so desire.

How to Make Ahead and Freeze

These stuffed dates can be made ahead of time and frozen. Make the stuffed dates like normal, but flash-freeze them before they are seared. Lay them on a cookie sheet and freeze until completely frozen for 2-3 hours. Place the stuffed dates in a freezer bag and store them in the freezer for up to one month.

When you are ready for a party (or even an afternoon of indulgence by yourself) this is the perfect go-to appetizer. Thaw them overnight in the refrigerator. Continue searing and cooking as normal. 

If you are looking for more "appetizing" appetizers, check these out:

Feta and Spinach Puff Pastry Appetizer (this is the #1 appetizer on my blog)

Baked Jalepeño Poppers, Cheese Stuffed and Bacon Wrapped

Cheesy Baked Spinach Artichoke Dip

Crispy Loaded Potato Skins, Baked in the Oven

Baked Parmesan Chicken Bites

Beef Satay with Spicy Peanut Sauce

Mini Taco Wonton Appetizers

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