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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.
Just made this for a snack before our Thanksgiving dinner. All of us loved it! DELICIOUS!!! Easy to make! Can’t wait to have company again so I can make it again. A keeper!
Hi Tammy,
Wonderful! Thanks for making this recipe and your comment, so glad it was enjoyed! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! xx
I’ve made this three times now and it’s always a hit. It’s so delicious
Love this!
So simple and delicious.
Great Appetizer.
Thanks so much!!
Love to hear this Stacey! Thanks for making the recipe! Happy Thanksgiving! xx
I’m looking forward to trying this one! Does anyone drain the bacon fat before adding in the dates?
Hi Jean,
If you use a slotted spoon when spooning the dates and bacon onto the goat cheese, the extra fat will drip through. I hope this helps! xx
I’ve made this a few times and I always cook the bacon 3/4 of the way, drain the fat, and then add the rest of the ingredients to cook together. If this is not eaten fresh right away and sits out or is being transported, too much bacon fat can condense on the sides and make the dish look unappealing.
Thanks so much for sharing, Joanna!!
i’m wondering if this can be made without bacon for a veggie, goat cheese-loving crowd?
(i love bacon but it’s not the consensus!)
if so, is there something you’d substitute in for flavor balance?
Hey Jennifer,
Totally, I would just simply skip the bacon:) I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
If making ahead, do the bacon/dates need warmed again? If this still good if the bacon/dates are room temp? I want to make this for a potluck lunch for work and need something that can sit out a little while
Hey Ashley,
You could totally just serve this at room temp and it will be great! Let me know how this recipe turns out for you, I hope you love it! xx
What could I use as a substitute for goat cheese?
Hi Stephanie,
Feta or blue cheese would also work well for you! Let me know how this recipe turns out, I hope you love it! xT
I brought this to a Thanksgiving potluck two years ago. I made all the components the day before, keeping them separate, and just briefly rewarmed the bacon/date mixture in the microwave before spooning over the goat cheese to serve. If I remember correctly, I warmed the honey slightly too. It worked perfectly and was a bit hit. I’m making it again this year!
I would like to make this a day ahead so it’s in a dish and ready to serve. (Will bring to room temp first) Has anyone tried that? I see the make ahead notes but wasn’t sure if the bacon must be cooked the day of serving.
Hi Michele,
You can follow the make ahead instructions exactly as written:) The bacon can be made up to 1 day before. I hope this helps! xx
so good. I made a few decisions based on comments and what I have for containers that I will change up next time but this is delicious. I did cook the bacon for 10 mins and then added the dates and cooked for 10 more. Eight more would have been better. I also felt while tearing the dates that there were too many so left three out. The dates shrink up and are one of the best flavors of the dish (IMO) so would use them all next time. I also used too small of a serving container, next time I will use one that allows me to have a thinner layer of cheese and spread out the topping so there is some of everything in each bite. Served with ciabatta since the store was out of baguettes that I regretted not toasting. This recipe will take me through the holidays!
Hey Marilyn,
Wonderful!! I am so glad that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks for giving it a go! xx
One of my friends made this a year ago and I’ve been patiently waiting for an opportunity to make it…. The time has come I am so excited. It was soooo good when my friend made it. I dream about this dish.
Thanks so much for trying out the recipe! 🙂 xT
Hi, can this be made in the crockpot?
Hi Becca! I haven’t ever made this in the crockpot before so can’t say for sure! So sorry! xT
This recipe is amazing – so much flavor!
Hi Ginger,
Thanks so much for making this recipe and your comment! So glad to hear that it turned out well for you:) xT
This was the most delicious appetizer I have made in a long time!! All my friends loved it, it was the star of the potluck and it’s now going to be the thing I bring every time! I did tweak the cook time a bit as suggested by other reviews. I cooked the bacon by itself for 8- 10 mins first. I then took it out and tossed it with the honey/rosemary mixture and then put it back on the pan and surrounded it with the chopped dates. I then cooked it all for another 10 mins. I had leftover topping I’m assuming it was because I used a deeper dish. Tailor it to your ratio preference!
Hey Meagan,
Happy Sunday!! So glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for making it! xT
Megan,
Did you drain the rendered fat off the bacon before you tossed it with the other ingredients?
I’m wondering about it being super greasy if everything is baked together and then put on the cheese… or is that the point? #baconlove
Can this be baked and served as a hot spread.
Hi Wendy,
Sure, I don’t see why not! Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xx
Maybe the dip of my dreams. I brought this to a gathering and had to resist eating it entirely by myself (because that’s rude I guess). Everyone loved it. Creamy, rich, sweet, slightly tangy, bacony, herby… it’s just so good. I served with some homemade crostinis which are definitely the way to go. Perfection! Only thing I’d change is double it!
Hey Melanie,
Happy Monday!!⛅️ Thanks a bunch for giving this recipe a try, I love to hear that it turned out well for you:)
Amazing!! Made as directed with exception of starting bacon 10 mins before adding dates. Served with homemade rosemary crostini ~ not a morsel remained!! THANK YOU!!
Hey Steph,
Happy Friday!! ☘️🌈 So glad to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks so much for trying it out! xT
The recipe looks great. Anyway, the hassle with cups and spoons remains extremely annoying, also because checking the metric box only converts the goat cheese to grams. Too bad.