Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Lay the bacon strips side by side on the prepared baking sheet. Cook for about 10 minutes, or until the bacon is halfway cooked but still pliable. Drain any excess grease.
- While the bacon precooks, make a shallow cut lengthwise down the top of each date. Remove the pits. Fill each date with a spoonful of cheese, then gently squeeze the date to close it around the cheese.
- Once the bacon is cool enough to handle, slice each strip in half. Wrap a bacon half around each stuffed date and secure with a toothpick.
- Line the baking sheet with a fresh sheet of parchment paper. Arrange the wrapped dates evenly on the sheet and season with black pepper. Bake for 5-7 minutes per side, flipping halfway through, until the bacon is cooked and slightly crispy. Watch carefully to prevent burning.
- Transfer the baking sheet to a wire rack. Sprinkle the dates with flaky sea salt. Serve warm.
Notes
For the cheese, choose one that holds its shape well, such as goat cheese, feta, or a firm blue cheese. You can also use Manchego, Parmesan, or aged cheddar. If you prefer, you can skip precooking the bacon and use pre-cooked bacon strips, as long as they are still flexible enough to wrap.