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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!
Hey Wendy,
Happy Sunday!!🌸 Thanks so much for making this recipe and sharing your review, I love to hear that it was a winner! xT
I made this for a small gathering and everyone kept complimenting me on how good it was! The perfect combo of savory, sweet, and just a little heat. I’ll definitely make this again!
Hey Katherine,
Happy Monday!!💐 Thank you so much for making this recipe and your comment, so glad to hear it was a winner! xx
This was a hit…but it didn’t come together as written. I cooked the ingredients as written but the bacon wasn’t cooked. I put the half cooked bacon in a skillet and finished it. Then I put it back with the dates. In looking at other comments I’ll start cooking just the bacon and add the dates later. Served it with firm crackers and will definitely make it again. Thanks!
Hey Cris,
Wonderful!! I love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks so much for giving it a try! Have a great weekend:)
The flavors complement each other perfectly!
Hey Valerie,
Happy Monday!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! xT
This recipe was a huge hit with our friends! They all wanted the recipe. I changed it up a bit as I don’t like dates. I used figs. Everyone loved it! I’m going to make it again for my family in a couple weeks! Thanks so much for your amazing recipe!
Hey Christi,
Happy Monday!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! xT
Made this tonight for a friend’s birthday party and it was a HIT!! I don’t use cayenne pepper so I used some calabrian chili paste instead. Definitely will be making this again!!
Hey Shelba,
Happy Wednesday! ❄️ I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear it turned out well for you! xT
What other cheese can be used besides goat?
Hey Jessica,
Feta cheese would also be a great option! Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xx
Just made this for a dinner party and it was a hit! Delish. Next time I’ll take out the bacon after 10 minutes and then add the dates and cook for another 8 minutes.
Hey Jennifer,
Happy Saturday!! Thanks so much for making this recipe and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear it was enjoyed! xx
Made this for a Thanksgiving app, then again for a New Year’s Eve party and then again for an Epiphany dinner tonight…raves every time! I love sending people your way! Your recipes do not disappoint!
Hey Kimberly,
I am delighted to hear that this recipe turned out well for you and appreciate you giving it a try! Have a great weekend:)
This recipe is amazing! Love, love, love!
Hey Lacey,
Happy Friday!! I appreciate you trying this recipe and sharing your review, so glad to hear it was a hit!⛄️ xT
Made this with prosciutto instead of bacon to for a New Year’s Day treat – it was perfection!! This plus champagne counts as a meal right?
(I forgot to add the stars)
Thanks again Katherine:)
Hey Katherine,
Happy New Year!🎆🎈 I appreciate you making this recipe and your comment! So glad to hear it was enjoyed! xx
So good! Served it in individual ramekins as a first course on Christmas Eve — all of the 12 guests raved how delicious it was! Highly recommend this recipe!
Hey Luzy,
Happy Friday!! I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear this was enjoyed! xT
Delicious! Bacon did take much longer than 8 min. but could definitely be the type of bacon I used. It was the star of the show at Christmas dinner.
Hey Jessica,
Wonderful!! Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! Thanks for your comment! xx
This was DELICIOUS! Everyone loved.
Hey Jordan,
Happy Wednesday!!🎇 I am delighted to hear that this recipe was enjoyed and appreciate you making it! xx
Total hit on Christmas Eve! Making it a week later for another party:) Thanks!
Hey Carm,
Happy New Year!!🎆 I love to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks so much for giving it a try and sharing your review! xT
I wasn’t a fan but everyone else loved it at Christmas. I think the whipped ricotta is much better. Just felt it was too rich and the flavors weren’t my favorite. Easy enough to make although you do need to start the bacon well before the dates so the dates don’t burn.
Hey Claire,
Thanks for giving this recipe a try and sharing your feedback, so sorry to hear you didn’t love it! xT