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Best Easy Bacon-Wrapped Date Bites for New Year’s Eve

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These bacon-wrapped date bites are salty, sweet, smoky, and completely addictive. They come together in about 25 minutes and are perfect for parties, from New Year’s Eve to game day.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 16 large Medjool dates, pitted (about 8 oz or 225g)
  • 8 slices thick-cut bacon (about 8 oz or 225g), cut in half crosswise
  • 4 oz (113g) cream cheese, softened
  • 1 tablespoon (15ml) honey
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (or to taste)
  • A small pinch of salt
  • 16 wooden toothpicks, soaked in water for 10 minutes

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Position the rack in the middle of the oven. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place a wire rack on top if using.
  2. In a small bowl, combine softened cream cheese, honey, red pepper flakes, and a pinch of salt. Mix until smooth and well combined. Set aside.
  3. If your dates aren’t already pitted, use a small sharp knife to make a slit along the side of each date and remove the pit. Gently open the date like a little book. If they feel stiff, soak in warm water for 5-10 minutes, then pat dry.
  4. Using a small spoon or piping bag, fill each date with about ½ teaspoon of the cream cheese mixture. Don’t overfill.
  5. Cut each slice of bacon in half crosswise to get 16 short pieces. Wrap one piece of bacon around the middle of each filled date, overlapping the ends slightly. Secure with a soaked toothpick through the overlap.
  6. Place the wrapped dates on the wire rack (or directly on the parchment-lined sheet) with the toothpick pointing up or to the side. Make sure they are not touching each other.
  7. Bake for 15 minutes, until the bacon starts to brown and render its fat.
  8. Using tongs, carefully flip each bite over. Return to the oven and bake for another 5-10 minutes, depending on desired crispness. Watch closely toward the end.
  9. Remove from the oven and let the bites rest for about 5 minutes. Remove toothpicks before serving or leave them in for easy grabbing.
  10. Optional: Drizzle with balsamic glaze or honey, and sprinkle with flaky sea salt before serving.

Notes

For extra crispy bacon, use a wire rack. Soak toothpicks in water for 10 minutes to prevent burning. You can assemble these up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerate. For a dairy-free version, use plant-based cream cheese. For a less sweet option, use Deglet Noor dates. The cream cheese filling can be varied with goat cheese, blue cheese, or added nuts.

Nutrition

Keywords: bacon-wrapped dates, date bites, New Year's Eve appetizer, party appetizer, easy appetizer, bacon appetizer, sweet and savory appetizer

Find it online: https://evabake.com/best-easy-bacon-wrapped-date-bites-for-new-years-eve/