Apple Stuffed, Bacon Wrapped Dates

Each bite of my Apple Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Dates is an exercise in sweet, savory and salty perfection! Baking them caramelizes the dates and the apple softens inside the dates while the crispy, smokey bacon completes this truly delightful taste sensation.

A sweet Medjool date on it’s own is tasty treat, but sweet dates in salty bacon and it is taken to a whole new level. The amount of things you add to a stuffed date with is almost endless (tangy goat cheese, cheddar cheese, blue cheese, cream cheese, I could go on). They can be a delicious appetizer or a light, after meal sweet treat that you can enjoy all year round.

Dates are naturally delicious on their own, and a tasty sweet treat. But their culinary potential goes far beyond a simple snack! These little gems can be incorporated into a variety of dishes, adding their unique flavor profile to sweet and savory creations alike.  

From decadent Scones and Tangy Chutneys to my Salted Caramel Date Shake, dates can elevate your recipes in surprising and delightful ways.  So next time you’re looking for a versatile ingredient, don’t forget the power of the humble date!

To make the bacon-wrapping process a breeze, consider setting up an assembly line. Here’s what you’ll need:

• A plate of pitted dates
• A bowl of chopped apple pieces
• A platter of bacon strips
• A container of toothpicks

With everything within easy reach, you can make quick work of the prep.

Removing Pits from Dates

If you can find pitted dates, this will save you time. If your dates have pits, simply use a sharp paring knife to cut a lengthwise slit and simply remove the pit.

Best Apples

Any sweet red apple will work. My favorite is Honeycrisp, but any popular apple like Fuji, Gala, Pink lady. Green apples like Granny Smith will be too tart.

Sweet Success: The Best Dates for This Recipe

I prefer sweet Medjool dates for this recipe as they are the largest and plumpest, their softness and chewiness are perfect with the crispy bacon.

Bacon Wrapped Dates  Tips

• Use a wire rack inside a baking sheet/tray (see picture below) to catch the bacon grease so they don’t sit in it and they will be crispy all around.
• If you want to elevate the presentation, simply remove the toothpicks and us fancy cocktail skewers.
• Depending on how long your bacon slices are (I use a half slice of bacon), only wrap the dates in a single layer of bacon otherwise it will not crisp as well.

Bacon Wrapped Dates on the Barbecue

If it’s too hot to turn on your oven, fire up the barbecue and treat it just like the oven. Preheat to 400°F/200°C, place the baking sheet/tray in the barbecue and bake for 20 minutes until the bacon is done and crispy.

Serving

Drizzle with warm honey, maple syrup or dip into my Teriyaki Sauce.

Leftover Bacon Wrapped Dates

Should you have any left over, you can store in the min an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can reheat in a 350°F/177°C oven for 5 minutes to warm through.

Make Ahead Bacon Wrapped Dates

You can prepare them ahead and refrigerate until you are ready to bake.

If you’ve made this Apple Stuffed, Bacon Wrapped Dates recipe or any other, please leave a star rating in the recipe or leave a comment or question below.