Goat Cheese–Stuffed Bacon-Wrapped Dates

Nutrition Notes

Are Dates Good for You?

Dates are a naturally sweet source of energy-enhancing carbohydrates and offer a nice boost of fiber. Dates are also rich in antioxidants, which means they offer disease-fighting properties, too. Of note, how you store your dates can influence their antioxidant content. Store them in a cool, dry place or in the refrigerator to help maintain the highest level of antioxidants.

Is Goat Cheese Healthy?

Like cow’s-milk cheese, goat cheese offers a variety of nutrients, including being an excellent source of vitamin A. If you are lactose-intolerant, you might be able to tolerate goat’s milk and cheese better than cow’s milk and cheese. However, this isn’t necessarily due to goat milk’s lower lactose content, as it’s not that much lower than cow’s milk. It may, instead, be due to the smaller fat molecules in goat’s milk compared to cow’s milk, which make it easier to digest.

Tips from the Test Kitchen

Can I Use a Different Type of Cheese?

Yes, you can! Feel free to use any type of soft cheese, such as blue cheese or feta cheese. Be sure to blend it well with the water and thyme until a semi-soft mixture forms, which makes it easier to fill the dates.

What Type of Dates Should I Use?

We recommend using small dried dates, such as Deglet Noor dates, which are smaller than Medjool dates and work best for this recipe. Deglet Noor dates have a narrow, elongated oval shape and are golden amber in color.

What Is Center-Cut Bacon? Is There a Substitute?

Center-cut bacon has had fat removed from either side of the strip, making it leaner than regular bacon. The thinner strips are also the perfect width because they’re easier to wrap around each date. You can substitute it with regular bacon with the fatty edges trimmed off.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Can I Make the Bacon Extra Crispy?

For crispy bacon, it’s key to flip the bacon-wrapped dates about halfway through the baking process so that they cook evenly on both sides. If you prefer crispier bacon, you can bake the dates for a couple of extra minutes, but watch them carefully so that they don’t burn. Avoid using thick-cut bacon, which will have a chewier texture and won’t crisp up as much as center-cut bacon.

Additional reporting by Carrie Myers and Jan Valdez