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!
Half Baked Harvest At Home
20+ new recipes for wholesome comfort food made with everyday ingredients. Pre-order today! HBH At Home will be released on Tuesday, February 23rd!
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 and serve to guests 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. It gets you right in the holiday mood.
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
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
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Tuesday before Thanksgiving my store is out of fresh Rosemary! Any swap recommendations?
Hi Katie,
I would use thyme or sage. I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan
I made this for 8 adults the other night as an appetizer and it was GONE within seconds. Delicious!!
Hi Melissa,
Thanks so very much for giving this recipe a go, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! Happy Thanksgiving! xTieghan
Made this and was told it is “God level”. Highly recommend
Hey Lizzy,
Awesome! It’s so great to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for giving it a try! xTieghan
Amazing!! I have a new favorite addition to my appetizers!
I cooked the bacon/dates 12 minutes to make them a little crunchy, and I used sour dough toast points. Delicious!!
Hey Jay,
I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a try! Have a great week! xTieghan
What kind of bread or crackers do you prefer to serve with this? I was thinking maybe the little naan rounds from the grocery store.
Hey Shannon,
I like to use Raincoast Crisps, but any crackers that you enjoy are great! Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Any suggestions on replacing the cream cheese for those that are allergic to cow dairy?
Hey Karmen,
You could skip the cream cheese and just whip the goat cheese. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
I was wondering if we could bake the goat cheese and cream cheese mixture first I’ve seen the other goat cheese recipes that they bake bake it
Hi Diane,
Sure, that would work for you! I hope you love the recipe. Happy Thanksgiving! xTieghan
Not a fan of goat cheese – would this work with whipped ricotta? Do you have a favorite brand?
Hey Melissa,
Ricotta or feta would also be great options in place of the goat cheese. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Would this work with whipped feta? Not a fan of goat cheese but it looks amazing!
Hey Christine,
You bet, feta would be awesome! I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
This was so good! Was a huge hit at our book club and will be added as an app to my Thanksgiving menu!
Hey Janna,
Happy Friday!! Love to hear that you liked the recipe, thanks for giving it a try! Have a great weekend. xTieghan
Hi Tieghan, the ingredients say 1/3 cup of honey but the method says 1/4 cup, which one should it be?
P.S. I only discovered you on instagram last week and have already tried several of your recipes, they look too good.
Hey Becky,
So sorry for any confusion, you will want to use 1/3 cup of honey. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Hi there! Could I replace the bacon with walnuts? I don’t eat meat but this recipe looks amazing!
Hey Karina,
Sure, walnuts would be a great option. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Hi–can I hand whip the cheeses? I don’t have a processor…cant wait to try !!
Wondering the same! Don’t have a processor, love the minimal ingredients but also need minimal gadgets haha
Hey Mari,
Yes, you could certainly do that or even use a hand mixer. I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
We love you Tiegan! You and your recipes are the best!
Thank you so much Cathleen!!
Looks delcious! Could I use brie instead of goat cheese?
Hey Wendy,
You will want to use a cheese that will whip well, so something like feta or ricotta would be a great replacement for the goat cheese. I hope you enjoy the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
looks great! btw, the other recipe mentioned in the comments is similar in concept but not the same. i think saying someone plagiarized is rude and hurtful.
Thanks so much Monica, I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan
Any alternative to Rosemary? Not a fan of Rosemary. Will Thyme work?
The recipe looks fabulous!
Hey Ruvi,
Sure, thyme would be a great substitute. I hope you enjoy this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan