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Whipped Goat Cheese with Warm Candied Bacon and Dates, the no-fuss holiday appetizer that’s addictive, festive, and perfect for entertaining! It’s quick, easy, and everyone loves this creamy goat cheese dip with spicy-sweet candied bacon and dates. We’ve got bacon tossed with a little sugar and spice, then baked up with dates until it’s candied and completely delicious. There never seems to be enough of this easy dip…addictive, festive, and perfect for holiday entertaining!
It’s officially appetizer season! I’ve said this before, but my appetizer recipes are lacking compared to dinners and sweet treats. I have no idea why, but I just don’t share enough appetizers…except for when the holidays roll around. In which case I love a good appetizer recipe.
For the last few weeks I’ve been really scratching my brain thinking up holiday recipes. I want this year’s recipes to really be some of the best! So I looked back at some old favorites. The ones our moms and grandmas would make. I asked myself, how can I reinvent these a bit. Make them even more delicious? Possibly easier?
Some recipes were kind of a lost cause, but there were others that gave me so much inspiration.
Bacon wrapped dates are one of those vintage-style recipes that many people love to serve at holiday parties. It’s funny because in general, dates are not the most popular food, but when you wrap them up in bacon?
Everyone loves them.
I wanted to reinvent the classic appetizer and turn it into an easy-to-make dip. I had to rework this one a bit, but I’m so in love with the recipe. It’s delicious.
The bacon
Start with the bacon, I love a spicy-sweet candied bacon so I knew I needed to incorporate that here. The bacon gets tossed with fresh rosemary, a small amount of brown sugar, honey…and then a good pinch of cayenne. It’s spicy, sweet, and with hints of rosemary, so delicious.
Toss that all up on a baking sheet, add some plump torn dates, and bake everything together until the bacon caramelizes.
The goat cheese
While the bacon is cooking, mix up the goat cheese. Add the goat cheese to a food processor with cream cheese, olive oil, and salt. Then whip everything together until the cheese is light and creamy, it’s easy.
Then mix up some honey with rosemary and cayenne for serving.
Serve it up
Spoon the creamy goat cheese into a nice shallow bowl, then spoon the warm bacon and dates over the cheese. Drizzle with the sweet and spicy honey, then enjoy with toasted bread for dipping.
Honestly, it’s pretty close to being the perfect holiday appetizer. And the rosemary keeps them flavorful and festive too with that pop of green.
Just as great for Thanksgiving as it will be for all upcoming holiday gatherings. I know I’ll be making this over and over throughout the holiday season. We already love whipped goat cheese…this is just BETTER!
Looking for other easy holiday appetizers?? Here are my favorites:
Sweet and Savory Cheesy Bacon Wrapped Puff Pastry Twists
Goat Cheese Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Dates
Pull Apart Roasted Garlic Pizza Dip Sliders
Lastly, if you make this Whipped Goat Cheese with Warm Candied Bacon and Dates, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Whipped Goat Cheese with Warm Candied Bacon and Dates
Servings: 8
Calories Per Serving: 240 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 6-8 slices bacon, chopped
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1/3 cup plus 1 teaspoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, using more or less to taste
- 12 plump Medjool dates, pitted and torn
- 1 log (10 ounce) creamy goat cheese, at room temperature
- 4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- sea salt
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 400° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.2. On the baking sheet, toss together the bacon, 1 tablespoon rosemary, the brown sugar, 1 teaspoon honey, and the cayenne. Arrange in an even layer. Tear the dates and scatter them around the bacon. Bake 8-10 minutes, until the bacon is crisping.3. Meanwhile, combine the goat cheese, cream cheese, olive oil, and a pinch of salt in a food processor and pulse until smooth and creamy. The goat cheese mix can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 days, but bring to room temp before serving. 4. In a small bowl, combine 1/3 cup honey, 1 tablespoon rosemary, a pinch of cayenne – to taste, and a pinch of salt. 5. Spoon the goat cheese into a serving bowl and then top with the warm bacon and dates. Drizzle over a little the rosemary honey. Serve with bread or crackers.
Notes
To Make Ahead: the goat cheese can be made 3 days ahead and kept in the fridge. Bring to room temperature before serving. The bacon/dates can be assembled and refrigerated for up to a day before baking.
So delicious. My guests love this recipe. Highly recommended.
Hey Robyn,
Awesome!! Thanks a lot for making this recipe, I am so glad it turned out well for you! Have a great weekend!🎄⛄️
I made this for a Christmas party and everyone loved. Like some of the other comments, my dates got a little hard and burnt waiting for the bacon to cook. I think next time I will put the bacon in first, uncut, then chop it after it is cooked. I will also add the dates later to the bacon in the oven. Flavors were delish.
Hey Anne,
Happy Friday!!❄️🧑🎄 I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your review, so glad to hear it turned out well for you! xx
Made this for a Christmas party – it is delicious! I used hot honey just for some extra spice. Super easy to make as well.
Hey Kate,
Wonderful!! Thanks a bunch for making this recipe and sharing your feedback! Love to hear that it was enjoyed! Happy Holidays!🎄🎁
This is exceptional!!! I read some other comments so started by mixing Half of the sugar/honey/cayenne on the bacon, baking it for about 5-6 minutes and then adding the other half of the sugar/honey/cayenne mixture on the dates and baking that for about 5 min… both bacon and dates cooked to perfection! Thanks so much for sharing this amazing recipe Tieghan!
Hey Jaymee,
Happy Monday!!☃️ I truly appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your review, so glad it was enjoyed! xT
Made this to bring to a Christmas party last night and it was a big hit. Make ahead tip that worked for me: prepared cheese base in serving dish and bacon date mixture ahead . Stored prepared bacon/date topping in glass dish and microwaved for about a minute or so just before serving ( this heats up VERY fast in microwave because of the sugar and fat so be careful not to burn it!) Assembled the two parts and voila, hot and delicious!
Hey Shari,
Awesome!! Thanks so much for making this recipe and sharing your review! Love to hear that it was enjoyed! Happy Sunday!🎄
I’ve made this twice now and both times it’s been a huge hit!!
Bit of a weird question but, my mother in law wanted me to make this for their 50th anniversary party but pre plate the crostini with the dip on top, if I make it closer to the time of the party and do that would it be ok? Or would it be weird/soggy if the bacon/dates were sitting for an hour beforehand?
Hey Nichole,
So glad to hear you have been enjoying this recipe!! I would think it would be okay, but I’ve never tested that so I can’t say for sure! Let me know how it goes and happy anniversary to your in laws! xT
The most delightful appetizer, I was the star of the party bringing this dish and many of my friends have adopted it since then, what a compliment!
Hey Nathalie,
Happy Friday! ☃️ So glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, I appreciate you making it! xT
Made this for a party and everyone loved it. I had to “customize” it a bit because I don’t follow ingredient directions well, but it still turned out great!
5 Stars
Thanks again:)
Hey there,
Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I love to hear that it turned out well for you! Happy Tuesday! 🎄
Just made this for a Christmas Party potluck. It was a total hit! I arranged it on a platter instead of a bowl and served La Panzanella Original Mini Croccatini Crackers alongside. Delicious! Now I need to make it again for myself!
Hey Lauren,
Happy Monday! Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I am so glad it turned out well for you! Thanks for your comment! xT
Tried this recipe last night, and it was very tasty. Next time I will not put the dates in the oven with the bacon, the dates have so much sugar in them, they were almost burned before the bacon started to crisp. Maybe just finish off bacon in a pan with the dates to heat them through. Also I used Meyer Lemon infused olive oil and the subtle citrus taste really added to the goat cheese base. I’m thinking lemon or orange zest would really kick it up a notch.
Hey Barbara,
Happy Monday! Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I am so glad it turned out well for you! Thanks for your comment! xT
I’m wondering if you can bake the goat cheese mixture and then top with the bacon mixture?
Hey Sue,
Sorry, why do you want to bake the goat cheese mixture? I think it is best served at room temp:) I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions! xx
Sounds great! Making this tonight! Should I cook the bacon before tossing it with brown sugar, honey, and dates?
Hey Jill,
Nope, the bacon will cook in step 2:) Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope this recipe turns out well for you! xx
Any suggestions on reheating the bacon & dates if making ahead?
Hey Michael,
You could try covering them with foil and reheating on low in the oven so it doesn’t burn. Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xx
Made this & liked it but if you want to love this you’ll chop the dates & bacon smaller so the scooping will be easier & each will have the right amount of crispy bacon & dates. Large pieces just don’t work!!
Hey Carla,
Happy Friday!!🌟 Love to hear that this recipe was tasty for you, thanks so much for trying it out! xT
Would I get similar results using a blender not a food processor?
Hey Alison,
Yes, that would be just fine for you to use! Let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xx