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Whipped Goat Cheese with Warm Candied Bacon and Dates, the no-fuss holiday appetizer that’s addictive, festive, and perfect for entertaining! It’s quick, easy, and everyone loves this creamy goat cheese dip with spicy-sweet candied bacon and dates. We’ve got bacon tossed with a little sugar and spice, then baked up with dates until it’s candied and completely delicious. There never seems to be enough of this easy dip…addictive, festive, and perfect for holiday entertaining!
It’s officially appetizer season! I’ve said this before, but my appetizer recipes are lacking compared to dinners and sweet treats. I have no idea why, but I just don’t share enough appetizers…except for when the holidays roll around. In which case I love a good appetizer recipe.
For the last few weeks I’ve been really scratching my brain thinking up holiday recipes. I want this year’s recipes to really be some of the best! So I looked back at some old favorites. The ones our moms and grandmas would make. I asked myself, how can I reinvent these a bit. Make them even more delicious? Possibly easier?
Some recipes were kind of a lost cause, but there were others that gave me so much inspiration.
Bacon wrapped dates are one of those vintage-style recipes that many people love to serve at holiday parties. It’s funny because in general, dates are not the most popular food, but when you wrap them up in bacon?
Everyone loves them.
I wanted to reinvent the classic appetizer and turn it into an easy-to-make dip. I had to rework this one a bit, but I’m so in love with the recipe. It’s delicious.
The bacon
Start with the bacon, I love a spicy-sweet candied bacon so I knew I needed to incorporate that here. The bacon gets tossed with fresh rosemary, a small amount of brown sugar, honey…and then a good pinch of cayenne. It’s spicy, sweet, and with hints of rosemary, so delicious.
Toss that all up on a baking sheet, add some plump torn dates, and bake everything together until the bacon caramelizes.
The goat cheese
While the bacon is cooking, mix up the goat cheese. Add the goat cheese to a food processor with cream cheese, olive oil, and salt. Then whip everything together until the cheese is light and creamy, it’s easy.
Then mix up some honey with rosemary and cayenne for serving.
Serve it up
Spoon the creamy goat cheese into a nice shallow bowl, then spoon the warm bacon and dates over the cheese. Drizzle with the sweet and spicy honey, then enjoy and serve to guests with toasted bread for dipping.
Honestly, it’s pretty close to being the perfect holiday appetizer. And the rosemary keeps them flavorful and festive too with that pop of green. It gets you right in the holiday mood.
Just as great for Thanksgiving as it will be for all upcoming holiday gatherings. I know I’ll be making this over and over throughout the holiday season. We already love whipped goat cheese…this is just BETTER!
Looking for other easy holiday appetizers?? Here are my favorites:
Sweet and Savory Cheesy Bacon Wrapped Puff Pastry Twists
Goat Cheese Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Dates
Pull Apart Roasted Garlic Pizza Dip Sliders
Lastly, if you make this Whipped Goat Cheese with Warm Candied Bacon and Dates, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Whipped Goat Cheese with Warm Candied Bacon and Dates
Servings: 8
Calories Per Serving: 240 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Watch the How-To Reel
Ingredients
- 6-8 slices bacon, chopped
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1/3 cup plus 1 teaspoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, using more or less to taste
- 12 plump Medjool dates, pitted and torn
- 1 log (10 ounce) creamy goat cheese, at room temperature
- 4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- sea salt
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 400° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.2. On the baking sheet, toss together the bacon, 1 tablespoon rosemary, the brown sugar, 1 teaspoon honey, and the cayenne. Arrange in an even layer. Tear the dates and scatter them around the bacon. Bake 8-10 minutes, until the bacon is crisping.3. Meanwhile, combine the goat cheese, cream cheese, olive oil, and a pinch of salt in a food processor and pulse until smooth and creamy. The goat cheese mix can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 days, but bring to room temp before serving. 4. In a small bowl, combine 1/3 cup honey, 1 tablespoon rosemary, a pinch of cayenne – to taste, and a pinch of salt. 5. Spoon the goat cheese into a serving bowl and then top with the warm bacon and dates. Drizzle over a little the rosemary honey. Serve with bread or crackers.
Notes
To Make Ahead: the goat cheese can be made 3 days ahead and kept in the fridge. Bring to room temperature before serving. The bacon/dates can be assembled and refrigerated for up to a day before baking.
This post was originally published on November 10, 2021
If I do not have a food processor can I use a blender?
Hi Melissa,
Yes, a blender will be just fine to use! I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try!
Happy Holidays!
Hello
Do you think this could work with labneh? Instead of the goat and cream cheese?
Hi Mariannr,
Sure, I don’t see why not! Please let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it!
Sooo delish, I made it for Thanksgiving. Im making it again for a gathering before Christmas.
I will hold the dates until the bacon is almost done. Then mix them in. The first time they got too hard.
Hey Catherine,
Perfect! Love to hear this recipe turned out nicely for you, thanks for making it! Happy Holidays!🎁🎄
I am in a pinch and don’t have dates (somehow missed this in my shopping. However, I do have figs. Would those work?
Hey Alysun,
Totally, figs will work nicely for you:) I hope you love this recipe!
Happy Holidays!
I’ve made this recipe multiple times, but this past time I made it into a prepared crostini and it was a total hit at our holiday gathering.
Hey Kelsey,
Awesome! So glad to hear you enjoyed this recipe, thanks for making it and your feedback!
I made this for Thanksgiving app. Everyone loved it. May repeat for Christmas.
Hey Andrea,
Fantastic! I appreciate you making this recipe and your comment! So glad it was enjoyed:)
Happy Holidays!
Someone made this at a gathering I was at! They left off the dates, something about too mushy but the recipe was the same! Absolutely delicious!
Thanks for sharing this feedback, Jan! So glad to hear the recipe was enjoyed!
LOVE this dish, it is SO flavorful! Our friends and family request it regularly, and I have shared your recipe at least 12 times. Thank-you.
Hey Brenda,
Awesome! So glad to hear this recipe always turns out well for you! Thanks for making it so often!
Happy Thanksgiving!
I made this several times and love it each time. This last time I needed the oven so I fried the bacon first and then added everything to the pan. It work well too.
Hey Andrea,
I’m grateful you tried this recipe and took the time to comment. Delighted it turned out!
Happy Thanksgiving!
hi this is delicious!!! what type of sliced bread do you use?
Hi Li,
Thanks so much! I like to serve with sourdough bread. Please let me know if you have any other questions!
Do you think the bacon and dates could be reheated in the microwave if you v were to bring it somewy?
Hi Nancy,
I personally wouldn’t reheat them in the microwave, I would just serve at room temperature, that is perfectly okay!
I hope you love this recipe!
Wondering if the bacon/dates need to be warmed? I’d love to make this ahead to bring to a party.
Hi Erin,
You could serve this at room temp, that is totally fine! I hope you love this recipe:)
Have a great weekend!
My friend made this and I had to have the recipe. Perfect combination of creamy, savory and sweet!!! It was the hit of the party!
Love to hear this, Ann! Thanks for sharing your feedback! Have a great weekend!
Big hit at my bunco party. Took the advice from the people in comments and drained the bacon grease before adding the 2 TB of maple syrup.
Hey Deanna! So happy to hear this was a hit at your party! Thanks for trying out the recipe! 🙂 xT
Dates overcooked quickly
Sorry to hear this, Madeline. Please let me know if there is anything that I can help with.