These are a quick tasty snack for any occasion. Guess what, if they fall apart you still get to eat sweet dates, nutty nuts and bacony bacon!!!
It is reported that date palms have been around for well over 50,000 years and are the world’s oldest cultivated fruit. Dates have a very strong presence in Middle Eastern and Arabic history and cuisine, and it’s not hard to see why—these soft, chewy, sweet fruits are super tasty. They are also super sweet—indeed nature’s candy—so if you’re working on leaning out, might be best to limit yourself to one or two of these!
Feel free to put your favorite nut inside the dates. I think pecan quarters, almonds and macadamia halves work great.
2 dozen dates, pitted
2 dozen almonds, blanched
8 strips bacon, cut in thirds
- Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C).
- Stuff each date with an almond and wrap with piece of bacon.
- Place on a heat-proof cooling rack set inside a sheet pan. Make sure loose ends of bacon are facing down.
- Cook them to a crisp on one side (4–6 minutes), flip and cook other side to crisp (another 4–6 minutes).
- Place on paper towels to soak up excess grease and serve.
Tips & Tricks—You may find it challenging to keep the bacon together. If so, run a toothpick through the bacon sideways to hold it.
Ingredient Notes—Medjool dates are the ideal date, and you can most likely find them in the produce section of your grocery store in the fall season.
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Bacon-wrapped dates stuff each pitted date with a blanched almond, then wrap it in bacon and roast until the fat renders crisp. Sweet, salty, and nutty in one bite, they are the snack that disappears before anything else on the table. Two dozen pieces and fifteen minutes of roasting.
Pro Tips
- Set the wrapped dates on a rack inside a sheet pan so the bacon crisps on all sides instead of steaming in its own grease.
- Tuck the loose bacon end underneath the date before it goes on the rack - exposed ends curl and unwrap as they cook.
- Medjool dates are the ideal pick; their soft, caramel-like flesh is what makes the bite work.
- Pecan quarters and macadamia halves stuff in just as happily if you want to vary the batch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make these ahead?
Assemble them up to a day ahead and refrigerate. Add 1-2 minutes to the roasting time since they go into the oven cold.
Are dates paleo?
Dates are whole fruit used in small amounts here. The recipe itself notes they are nature's candy and worth limiting to one or two if you are leaning out.
Why does the bacon keep unwrapping?
Keep the loose end facing down under the date and use regular-cut bacon; thick-cut is too stiff to wrap around small dates.
Recipe Card
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C).
- Stuff each date with an almond and wrap with piece of bacon.
- Place on a heat-proof cooling rack set inside a sheet pan.
- Make sure loose ends of bacon are facing down.
- Cook them to a crisp on one side (4–6 minutes), flip and cook other side to crisp (another 4–6 minutes).
- Place on paper towels to soak up excess grease and serve.
