Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Lay the bacon strips side by side on the prepared baking sheet. Cook for about 10 minutes, or until halfway cooked but still pliable. Drain any excess grease.
- While the bacon precooks, make a shallow cut lengthwise down the top of each date, being careful not to cut all the way through. Remove the pits. Fill each date with a spoonful of cheese. Gently squeeze each date to help it close around the cheese.
- Once the bacon is cool enough to handle, slice each strip in half. Wrap a bacon half around each stuffed date and secure with a toothpick.
- Line the baking sheet with a fresh sheet of parchment paper. Arrange the wrapped dates evenly on the baking sheet. Season with black pepper. Bake for 5-7 minutes per side, flipping halfway through, until the bacon is cooked and slightly crispy. Watch closely to prevent burning.
- Transfer the baking sheet to a wire rack. Sprinkle the dates with flaky sea salt. Serve warm.
Notes
You can use goat cheese, feta, Manchego, Parmesan, or aged cheddar as alternatives to blue cheese. If you prefer, you can skip precooking the bacon and use pre-cooked bacon strips.