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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.
Delicious! I used feta instead of goat cheese and it turned out great. My bacon took longer to crisp so I cooked it longer. Next time I might try and add the dates later or soak them a bit before I bake them. They got a little hard. But still the dish was great!
Hey Diane,
Awesome!! I love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you and appreciate you giving it a try! xT
This was delicious! Everyone who ate it lived and even the people who said, “but I don’t like goat cheese” devoured it. I stirred it together once it was presented and it was easier to scoop up that was with pita chips. Absolute winner!!!
Hey Kimberly,
Happy Holidays!!☃️ I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear it was enjoyed! xT
Is the dip served with the warm bacon or is the warm bacon mix poured over then chilled?
Hey Marianne,
You are going to serve this warm with the bacon. Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xT
Wow wow wow TIEGHAN!!! Just like all your recipes, this was just phenomenal. Everyone LOVED and it was so simple to make. Plus, it was nice to have this for guests to graze on while we were finishing up Christmas Eve dinner. Merry Christmas to you and all your readers!!
Hey Alyssa,
Happy Monday!❄️ I am so glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it! xx
I made this tonight and it was amazing. Everyone at the party loved it. The only change I made was I added a full brick of cream cheese, since I had no other plans for the other 4oz of cream cheese. Turned out so nicely, will definitely make again!
Hey Ashley,
Happy Monday!❄️ I am so glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it! xx
AMAZING!! My friend brought this to our house and it was scrumptious!! I have made it three more times for parties and it always gets rave reviews! Thanks for the delish new signature ap 😋🎄
Hey Kellie,
Happy Friday!!☃️ I love to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks so much for making it and your comment! xT
I’ve made this 4 times already. Rave reviews every time!
Hey Rebecca,
Happy Holidays!!☃️ I love to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks so much for making it and your comment! xT
I don’t have a food processor, could I use the wisk with my mixer?
Hey Lauren,
Totally, that will work well for you! I hope you love this recipe! Happy Holidays! xx
I’m a little confused about the 1/3 cup of honey, do you add that to the goat cheese mixture or do you drizzle on top?
It’s pretty clear in the recipe that it’s used to spoon over the top when the dip is done. You wouldn’t have to use all of it – likely just as much as you want
Hi Nancy,
You are using 1 teaspoon of honey in step 2 and then 1/3 cup of honey in step 4. I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions! xT
Couldn’t stop eating this when my friend brought it to our Christmas party. Absolutely scrumptious!
Hey Kelly,
Happy Holidays!! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed and appreciate you giving it a try! 🎄❄️
So good! Mine did not turn out as beautiful. The dates and bacon all turned into the same brown color. Maybe I cooked it too long? I was a little concerned people wouldn’t eat it based on the look, but those who did loved it!!
Hey Meg,
Happy Holidays!! Thanks so much for making this recipe, I love to hear that it turned out well for you! That’s pretty normal, it’s not the prettiest dish! 🎁🎅
Can’t wait to make this! Has anyone made this with a vegan cream cheese blended in?
Hey Jen,
I’ve never tried that but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work for you! Let me know how this recipe turns out, I hope it’s delish! xx
Absolutely delicious! Sweet, savory with a little kick. The creaminess of the goat cheese with the chewiness of bacon and dates…just amazing. My bacon needed longer to crisp up, but was worth the wait. Served with bread and nut thin crackers. Preferred it with crackers. Will definitely be making this one again!!
Hey Cait,
Happy Monday!❄️🎄 I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your review, so glad to hear it was enjoyed! xT
Hi!! Not a huge fan of goat cheese… do you think it would be equally delish if feta was used like in your olive and feta recipe? I love that one and make it all the time so I was excited to see this version! Wondering if the swap would work…..? Thanks!!
Hey Molly,
Feta would be delicious! I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xT
Made this for a party and it was a huge hit! So good! I will definitely make again!
Hey Michelle,
Happy Sunday! I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear it was delish! xx