The exact cook time can vary. Read below for our tips!
Need a quick, last-minute party appetizer? These bacon-wrapped dates – stuffed with cream cheese and drizzled with hot honey – are the perfect sweet and savory delight.
They are a great holiday appetizer because they are so quick and easy to make – and they cook much faster in the air fryer than in the oven. Plus, they look and taste a little bit fancy, too!
Ingredients
To make these bacon-wrapped dates, you will need:
- Dates – Use pitted dates to make it easier for yourself. Otherwise, remove the pits first.
- Cream cheese – We use flavored cream cheese (onion and chive), but you can also use plain cream cheese if you prefer. Goat cheese is a great alternative.
- Bacon slices – Use regular bacon for this recipe, not thick-cut.
- Salt – Optional. Add to taste depending on the saltiness of the bacon and cheese.
- Pepper – Optional; add to taste.
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Step by Step Instructions
Arrange the dates on a plate of cutting board. Open each one, be careful not to tear it into two pieces. Then fill each date with cream cheese.
Optional: You can season the cream cheese with salt, black pepper, a dash of cayenne pepper, or a drop of sriracha for extra flavor.
Slice the pieces of bacon into thirds on a cutting board and wrap each date with a layer of bacon. Secure the bacon with a toothpick through just the bacon or through the whole date.
Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C). When hot, add the dates to the air fryer basket in one even layer with space between them.
If you have a very small air fryer, you may have to cook in batches.
Air fry the wrapped dates for 6-9 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy and the cheese starts to bubble out of the dates. Your cooking time can vary.
Remove the dates with tongs and add them to a serving plate. Allow to cool for a minute, then serve warm.
You can optionally drizzle them with hot honey (for an easy option, mix equal parts sriracha and runny honey). Enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Use just one layer of bacon. Too much bacon makes it harder to cook and crisp evenly.
- Don’t overfill the dates with cheese, or too much may ooze out when air frying.
- You can customize the flavors to your liking with different spices, such as cayenne pepper or smoked paprika, in the cheese. You can also try a different cheese, such as goat cheese or spreadable cheese like Boursin.
- The exact amount of filling can vary depending on the size of the dates.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer so the bacon can cook and crisp evenly.
Storage Tips
These stuffed dates are best enjoyed hot and fresh out of the air fryer. Leftovers can be stored in a sealed container in the fridge and should be eaten the next day for the best taste.
You can reheat them at a lower temperature (such as 300 degrees Fahrenheit) in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes until just hot. We don’t recommend the microwave, as that will make the bacon lose its crisp.
Related Recipes
For more tasty homemade appetizers, check out these easy air fryer recipes:
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Air Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Dates
Ingredients
- 12 pitted dates
- 2 tablespoons cream cheese, or goat cheese
- 4 slices bacon, regular-cut; cut into thirds
- salt, to taste (optional)
- black pepper, to taste (optional)
Instructions
- Carefully open the pitted dates and fill each one with ¼-½ teaspoon cream cheese, placing it in the cavity where the pit was.
- If using plain cream cheese, lightly season with salt and pepper. Close the dates and set them aside.
- On a cutting board, cut each slice of bacon into thirds. Wrap one piece of bacon around each stuffed date. Secure the bacon with a toothpick (either through just the bacon or through the whole date).
- Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius).
- When hot, place the bacon-wrapped dates in the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving space between them.
- Air fry at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) for 6-9 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy and the cheese starts to bubble out of the dates. Your cooking time may vary depending on the size of the dates, your air fryer, and personal preference.
- When done, carefully remove the dates with tongs and transfer to a serving plate. Allow to cool for a minute before serving. Optional: Serve with a drizzle of a quick and easy hot honey mixture (equal parts runny honey and sriracha, adjust to taste).
Video
Notes
- Don’t wrap too much bacon around the dates, or it may not crisp evenly. A single layer of bacon works well.
- Optional: Add a dash of cayenne pepper or a drop of sriracha to the cream cheese.
- You can also try this recipe with goat cheese, Boursin, or other spreadable cheese.
- The exact amount of filling can vary depending on the size of the dates.
- Don’t overfill the dates, or too much cheese may ooze out during cooking.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer so the bacon can crisp evenly.
Nutrition
This nutritional information has been estimated by an online nutrition calculator. It should only be seen as a rough calculation and not a replacement for professional dietary advice.
