These are the new pigs in the blanket and way better. They’re a classic tapas but they never get old. And I spruced them up just a bit with a touch of ricotta cheese.
| Level: | Intermediate |
| Total: | 40 min |
| Prep: | 20 min |
| Cook: | 20 min |
| Yield: | about 6 servings |
| Level: | Intermediate |
| Total: | 40 min |
| Prep: | 20 min |
| Cook: | 20 min |
| Yield: | about 6 servings |
Ingredients
- 1 pound (about 12 to 13 slices) bacon, preferably thick-cut
- 25 Medjool dates (about 3/4 pound)
- 1/3 cup ricotta cheese
- Special Equipment: toothpicks, a bamboo skewer for removing pits
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
- Cut the bacon in half lengthwise to make twice as many slices. Set aside. To remove the pits from the dates, cut the tips off each end of the dates and insert the flat end of the skewer until it pushes the pit out of the date. Repeat with remaining dates.
- Place the ricotta in the bottom corner of a strong plastic bag and seal tightly. Use scissors to cut a small hole in the tip of 1 of the corners. Now use the bag like a piping bag to fill the dates with the cheese.
- Wrap the ricotta stuffed dates with a slice of bacon and secure with a toothpick through the belly of the date. Arrange all the prepared dates on a parchment-lined baking sheet, allowing at least a little space between each one for good browning. Roast for 15 to 20 minutes or until bacon is browned and crispy. Remove from the baking sheet and gently remove toothpicks. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts
| Serving Size | 1 of 6 servings |
| Calories | 484 |
| Total Fat | 32 g |
| Saturated Fat | 11 g |
| Carbohydrates | 40 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 35 g |
| Protein | 12 g |
| Cholesterol | 57 mg |
| Sodium | 513 mg |
| Serving Size | 1 of 6 servings |
| Calories | 484 |
| Total Fat | 32 g |
| Saturated Fat | 11 g |
| Carbohydrates | 40 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 35 g |
| Protein | 12 g |
| Cholesterol | 57 mg |
| Sodium | 513 mg |
Reviews
Always a hit. Everyone loves these.
Super easy to make, and what a wonderful flavor! I didn’t have any ricotta cheese, so I substituted whipped cream cheese. Make more than you think you’ll need because they will disappear… Trust me!
These were absolutely DELISH! I brought them to a dinner party last night and everyone loved them. The only thing I would do differently is maybe try using a half a strip of bacon instead of a whole strip. Seemed like a lot of bacon. They took 21 minutes to cook due to amount of bacon.
Holy cow, I would give these 10 stars if I could. Super easy to make, which you can do ahead of time, and EVERYONE loved these. I don’t think I had ever eaten a date before but I read all of the reviews and figured, how bad could something wrapped in bacon be? The contrast of the saltiness of the bacon and the sweetness of the dates with the creamy cheese? I was told I have to make these again for Christmas Eve and every holiday to follow.
I’m sad I didn’t decide to look up recipes. I was going to do bacon wrapped dates stuffed with goat cheese, but only had brie so I used that, but I had ricotta and I’m sure that would’ve been delicious!
Word to the wise: be sure to not overcrowd the pan and that it has a high rim. While making these, the grease overflowed and I had a huge grease fire that required a fire estinguisher.
Absolutely delish! Everyone was so impressed by this simple appetizer for Thanksgiving! Will definitely make again. And again!
My sister-in-law made these for Thanksgiving. I don’t like dates, but these were delicious!! She used goat cheese for the filling.
AMAZEBALLS!!! These were delish. Made these for my early Thanksgiving dinner. Everyone (including the children) loved them. I made 25 dates with thick-cut bacon & 7 more with thick turkey bacon. Great both ways. FYI: Medjool dates were a little harder to find (Stop & Shop carries them though)
Not a fan of ricotta at all … so I used cream cheese and Danish Blue. Oh yum.