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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!
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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.
Fabulous appetizer – beautiful and delightfully yummy
Hey Trisha,
Wonderful! Love to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks for making it! Have the best week:) xTieghan
This was amazing!! A couple tweeks: I used pancetta in place of bacon (so much easier than chopping bacon) also in place of goat cheese I used Trader Joe’s Chèvre with honey goat cheese. Yummmmmie!
Hey Corinne,
Wonderful! Love to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks for making it! Have the best week:) xTieghan
This app is amazing -LOVED!
Hey there,
Happy Sunday! Thanks a lot for giving this recipe a try, I am so glad to hear it was enjoyed! xTieghan
Can I make this without the cream cheese??
Hey Crystal,
Sure, that would be okay to do! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Hello Tieghan! I am having to eat dairy free right now. If I just do goat cheese, would you double the amount of goat cheese? Or how much would you recommend? Thank you!
Hey Carleigh,
Could you get a dairy free cream cheese? Your local grocery store should have lots of great options! Let me know, I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan
Have you ever baked this so it’s warm throughout?
Hey Tracy,
You could absolutely do that, should work well for you! I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
I just made this and served it warm. It’s amazing!! Thank you!
Hi Tracy,
Happy Holidays! Thank you so much for making this recipe, I love to hear that it was enjoyed!?? xTieghan
Such a great app! Everyone loved it! If it weren’t so filling, I’d make this weekly 🙂
Hey Claudia,
Happy Friday! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks to much for giving it a try!! xTieghan
Delicious!! Made by my granddaughter for Thanksgiving and I am making for a party!❤️
Hey Harriet,
Wonderful! It’s so great to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it! xTieghan
this was absolutely DELICIOUS! I, as many others here, made this for a thanksgiving appetizer for family and friends and it was a huge hit. unfortunately didn’t have honey with me but I used maple syrup and it was a great subsitute. Thank you Tieghan for all of your delicious recipes!
Hey Jessie,
Wonderful! It’s so great to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it! xTieghan
Wanted to keep it simple this year, and this was such a big hit, I was asked to put it away before it was all gone or they would not eat their Turkey!! The extra honey mixture was set aside in a small tasting bowl and my guests loved dipping their pita bread in it! So yumm. I ran out of time to prep crostini so I served with some Flan bread.
I did think the bacon mixture made far more than what was needed for a 10 oz log. So I just saved the extra for future use. I would recommend 3-4 slices of bacon is more than enough! Thanks for this awesome recipe.
Would love to share my pic but not sure how. Lol
Hey Megan,
Wonderful! It’s so great to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it! xTieghan
This was one of the best appetizers I’ve ever made. My friend that’s a chef couldn’t get enough of it. I served it for Thanksgiving. I tried making it ahead of time and put the honey on top of the whipped goat cheese that morning, it ended up getting soupy. However all the flavors were still amazing! I would suggest waiting to put the honey on at the time of serving.
Hey Alicia,
I love to hear that you enjoyed this recipe, thanks a lot for giving it a try! xTieghan
Truly one of the best dips I’ve ever made. DELECTABLE. So easy but looks so gourmet! Had for thanksgiving and could’ve kept eating it until dessert. Will be making again for a Christmas party with a new group, can’t wait to see their reactions. 10/10!
Hi Olivia,
I love to hear that you liked this recipe, thanks a lot for giving it a try! xTieghan
Made this for Thanksgiving and it was a HUGE HIT! Will be making it for Christmas and probably every other occasion. Thank you!
Hi Anna,
Fantastic! I am so glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for giving it a try! Have the best week:) xTieghan
Brought this to a party last night to RAVE REVIEWS. I had to cook it a bit more than the recipe said, but it turned out spectacularly. Do not skip the rosemary honey drizzle for serving!
Hi Hannah,
Fantastic! I am so glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for giving it a try! Have the best week:) xTieghan
Taste was 5 stars but deducted a star because the dates cooked for that long in the oven are a dentist’s dream ($$$). Next time I make this I will cook my bacon until it’s half way cooked then add the remaining ingredients. Please note, I have not tried this method yet so I’ve no idea as to the outcome. Our family enjoyed it. We have left overs and I am toying with the idea of making a grilled cheese sandwich but pick out the dates beforehand.
Hi Linda,
Fantastic! I am so glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for giving it a try! Have the best week:) xTieghan
Made this to take to a party and it was a hit!! It is amazing. Thank you for combining such awesome ingredients into a delectable dip!
So so good!
Friends – make sure sure you make this for your next party!
I’m so confused by putting the bacon in the oven for 8-10 minutes. That had to be a mistake right? Mine took 45 minutes! Other than the extra cook time… delicious!
Hi Marissa,
Did you chop your bacon? If so, it really should take 10 minutes max for it to cook, if you left it in whole strips that was your issue. I hope this helps for next time! xTieghan
Mine also took closer to probably 20-30 min, even though it was chopped. Could have even gone longer, but then I was worried dates would burn.
Hey Allison,
Happy Sunday! Thanks for giving the recipe a try, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! xTieghan