Next Post
This post may contain affiliate links, please see our privacy policy for details.
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.
absolutely amazing! Will be making this more often… everyone loved it!
Hey Anna,
Happy Monday!! Thanks a lot for trying this recipe out and your feedback! Love to hear it turned out well! xT
The flavors are good but the recipe needs some editing. Cooking the bacon took significantly longer than expected, and even then it wasn’t crispy. Next time I’d probably just chop the bacon, cook it in a skillet, then toss the dates in once the bacon crisped. Also. Just way way way way too much bacon and date topping for the amount of cheese. Way too much.
Thank you for this input! I appreciate you letting me know! xT
The cooking method and timing for the bacon and dates does not work. Bacon does not crisp when surrounded by things that produce steam, namely dates. Perhaps with an air fryer or better convection oven, but not with my standard gas oven (which is exactly on temp). Bacon also does not cook properly when first drizzled with sugars – these just caramelize and burn before the bacon gets cooked.
I would recommend chopping the bacon and cooking it separately using either your oven or a skillet. Once the bacon is cooked, add it and the sugars/cayenne to a bowl and toss. Spread out on a parchment-lined sheet to cool. Cook the dates separately as well.
Flavors are on-point. Cooking method needs to be adjusted.
Hey Brett! Thank you so so much for this feedback! I really appreciate it! Have a great week! xT
This recipe is on repeat when hosting or taking appetizers to pass. It is a major crowd pleaser and I like the twist it takes on bacon wrapped stuffed dates. This is less messy to prepare and can be made in advance so it eases my stress on the day of any event I’m making it for. The balance of sweet and savory appeals to many. My SIL told me every time she visits me this is now a required dish!
Thank so so much! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe! xT
I have made this three times. Everyone loves it.
Hi! Thank you so so much for trying out the recipe! Hope you had a wonderful Christmas! xT
Hey there, I love this recipe so much. I nade 2 wks ago for a dinner party, and I have leftover honey…. I was going to make again for Xmas day. The leftover honey should be ok right?
Hi Alison! Yes, it should be totally fine! xT
Could you use chopped dates in this? Perhaps adding them late in the bacon cooking process since they are so small. . .
Yes you can use chopped dates in this recipe! xT
This is delicious!! I use precooked bacon to just crisp it up with the dates and it works perfectly. Made it for Thanksgiving and NYE. A big hit both times!!
I don’t have a food processor, is there another way to do the cream cheese and goat cheese? (
Hand mixer)?
I don’t have a food processor. Can you mix with a hand held mixer? Goat cheese & cream cheese.
Hi Jackie! Yes, you can definitely use a hand mixer! xT
Do you have a suggestion for substituting dates? If not, maybe just leave them out?
Thank you.
Hi there! I haven’t ever tried this without the dates before! So sorry! xT
I’m so excited to make it! Will one baguette (making crostinis) be enough to serve it with?
Dried figs would probably be good too.
This was divine!!! It will be on permanent rotation every year.
Wow thank you so so much Kimberly! xT
This recipe is an excellent crowd pleaser – but it comes with caveats. As with many things Tieghan posts, she has over-simplified the reality of the approach. I’ve made this probably 8 times and learned my lesson the hard way. If you don’t want sloppy flacid bacon and dates that will literally break your guests teeth – you must put the bacon in first. Then, once it’s at least half-cooked through – only then – add the dates. I don’t know what bacon she uses that gets crispy on 400 for 8 minutes, but it’s not any bacon I’ve ever worked with. The dates… if you over cook them you will literally break teeth. Do not put them in at the start of the bacon cooking.
The above in mind, it’s a great party recipe.
I agree about adding the dates half way through the bacon cooking! I had to throw the dates away and start over the first time I made this.
I experienced this as well and saw your comment after I added my own. Incorrect methodology in the cook. Great flavors.
THIS WAS SO GOOD! I made this for a holiday party and it was a big hit. I served it with garlic crostini. I created a lot of dishes by making this but it was worth it. Looking forward to making it again. Thanks Tieghan!
Thank you so so much! Sooo glad you enjoyed this recipe! Have a wonderful weekend! 🙂 xT
Made this for three holiday parties already. As soon as I bring it in the room it’s gone minutes later. And everyone has asked for the recipe. Winner! Winner!
Thank you so so much!! xT
Made this for Thanksgiving yesterday, it was a huge hit. It however took the bacon quite a bit longer than 10 minutes to crisp up. The next time I make it I think I’ll bake the bacon mixture for 10 minutes then add the dates and cook longer.
Hi Nancy,
Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try and sharing your feedback! So glad it was enjoyed:) xx
Both the topping and whipped feta is fine to be frozen separately and slowly defrosted.. a winner if you need to be ultra organised for visitors!
Hi Karyn,
Thanks for making this recipe and your comment, so glad it was enjoyed! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! xx