If you’re looking for the ultimate holiday appetizer, I’ve got you covered. These bacon-wrapped goat cheese and thyme stuffed dates with truffle honey are salty, sweet, creamy, and just plain irresistible. I’m not kidding when I say this appetizer is so good, it could fix friendships. Seriously — serve these at your next gathering, and even the person who was mad at you will be talking to you again. That’s the power of crispy bacon + gooey goat cheese + sweet honey.
This recipe is my go-to for Friendsgiving, Thanksgiving appetizers, Christmas parties, and even New Year’s Eve. They’re elegant enough for a fancy spread but also simple enough that you can whip them up on a weeknight if you just need a bite of something indulgent.
And the best part? You only need a handful of ingredients to make them.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Holiday-perfect: Works for Friendsgiving, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s Eve.
- Crowd-pleasing: Sweet, salty, creamy, crunchy — it checks every box.
- Easy but fancy: Just 6 ingredients and no special equipment.
- Customizable: Don’t have truffle honey? Use regular honey, truffle oil, or even truffle salt + honey.
Ingredients
- 14 Medjool dates (pitted, sliced in half lengthwise)
- 7 slices uncured bacon, cut in half
- 4 oz goat cheese (soft, spreadable)
- 2–3 sprigs fresh thyme (plus extra for garnish)
- ¼ cup raw walnuts (chopped)
- 2–3 tbsp truffle honey (or regular honey)
Optional: a drizzle of truffle oil or sprinkle of truffle salt for extra truffle flavor.
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Slice the dates in half lengthwise, remove the pits, and open them slightly to create space for filling.
3. Stuff each date with about a teaspoon of goat cheese. Sprinkle a little fresh thyme inside.
4. Wrap each date with half a slice of bacon and place seam-side down on the baking sheet.
5. Sprinkle chopped walnuts over the top and tuck a few fresh thyme sprigs onto the tray for extra flavor.
6. Bake for 30–40 minutes, flipping every 10 minutes, until the bacon is crispy and golden.
7. Remove from oven, transfer to a serving platter, and drizzle generously with truffle honey.
8. Garnish with extra thyme sprigs and serve warm.
Recipe Tips
- Truffle or not? I love using Truffliest truffle honey for an indulgent finish, but regular honey works great too. You can also cheat with a drizzle of truffle oil or truffle salt + honey.
- Make ahead: You can assemble the dates a day in advance, refrigerate, and just bake before serving.
- Serving size: This recipe makes 14 stuffed dates — perfect for about 6–8 people as an appetizer. Double it for a party!
Final Thoughts
These bacon-wrapped goat cheese and thyme stuffed dates with truffle honey are guaranteed to steal the show at any holiday party. They’re sweet, savory, creamy, and crunchy all at once — basically everything you want in a bite-sized appetizer.
Whether you’re bringing something to Friendsgiving, setting out a Thanksgiving spread, or ringing in the New Year with bubbly, these little gems are the appetizer everyone will be talking about. Believe me, they’re that good.
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Bacon-Wrapped Goat Cheese & Thyme Stuffed Dates with Truffle Honey
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 14 dates 1x
Description
Sweet, savory, creamy, and crunchy — these bacon-wrapped goat cheese and thyme stuffed dates drizzled with truffle honey are the ultimate holiday appetizer. Perfect for Friendsgiving, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s Eve, they’ll disappear fast!
Ingredients
-
14 Medjool dates (pitted, sliced in half lengthwise)
-
7 slices uncured bacon, cut in half
-
4 oz goat cheese (soft, spreadable)
-
2-3 sprigs fresh thyme (plus extra for garnish)
-
1/4 cup raw walnuts (chopped)
-
2-3 tbsp truffle honey (or regular honey)
Get Recipe Ingredients
Instructions
-
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
-
Slice dates in half lengthwise, remove pits, and open them slightly.
-
Fill each date with about a teaspoon of goat cheese and a sprinkle of fresh thyme.
-
Wrap each date with half a slice of bacon and place seam-side down on the baking sheet.
-
Sprinkle chopped walnuts on top and scatter a few thyme sprigs onto the tray for flavor.
-
Bake for 30–40 minutes, flipping every 10 minutes, until bacon is crispy.
-
Remove from oven, plate, and drizzle generously with truffle honey.
-
Garnish with extra thyme sprigs and serve warm.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 35
- Category: appetizer
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
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