Who doesn't love the chewy OH-MY-GOODNESS deliciousness of a stuffed date? This recipe is not as complicated as you might think; it's an assembly job, then a bake-off. The flavor is an intensity of equal parts salty, tart, smoky, and sweet. Heaven in your mouth. There is a little bit of mess from the baked sugar by way of small sticky puddles under each date, but that said, the cleanup is minimal because you will have lined the baking sheet. Onward!
Notes:
CANDIED BACON WRAPPED CRANBERRY & BLUE CHEESE STUFFED DATES
Ingredients: 12-16 Medjool dates, stones removed, 5-6 pieces of thin bacon, 2 ounces blue cheese, 1/3 cup premade cranberry sauce, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 tbsp. cinnamon, and toothpicks (optional).
Serves 4-6.
1. Preheat the oven to 375* F and set an oven rack in the second-most upper position. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil (dull side up). 2. After removing the stones from the dates, fill each date with 1 tsp. of cranberry sauce, followed by a small piece of blue cheese. Close the date gently. If any cranberry sauce leaks out, wipe it away. 3. Cut each piece of bacon in half crosswise, then in half lengthwise, so you have narrow pieces about 4 inches long and 1 inch wide. Wrap each date with bacon. Secure with toothpicks if that's easier for you. 4. Combine the brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. Gently press each date into the sugar on all sides. They don't need to be fully covered, but enough to coat the bacon. Place the dates on the prepared baking sheet.
5. Bake the dates for about 12-15 minutes, then turn them over and bake for 8-10 minutes longer. Alternatively, use a grill for the same amount of time or an air-fryer for slightly less time. Remove to cool, then serve. TIPS
Brown sugar will melt, pool, and caramelize around each date. It may even burn. Don't let this bother you, but if you notice smoking or the sugar is very dark and bubbling when you flip the dates, turn the oven down. I always place another baking sheet on the rack beneath the one I use to catch any spills.
Watch closely. Burned sugar can cause smoking and your fire alarm to go off. Every oven heats differently, so follow the cooking time and check in with your dates. #Candied Bacon-Wrapped Cranberry & Blue Cheese Stuffed Dates #stuffed dates recipe #how to make stuffed dates recipe #bacon-wrapped stuffed dates #cranberry and blue cheese stuffed dates
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