Cream Cheese Filled Dates Wrapped in Bacon
Cream Cheese Filled Dates Wrapped in Bacon
Welcome back to Football Friday and the Game Day Recipe. Dates are most often used in baking or sweet desserts but these Cream Cheese Filled Dates Wrapped in Bacon are sensational. Drizzle them with extra honey, and you have an appetizer fit for a king or queen. Dates are naturally sweet so they pair beautifully with honey and cream cheese. Wrapping them in bacon, genius. Mascarpone cheese can be substituted for the cream cheese.
Bacon Bacon Bacon
Here on Turnips 2 Tangerines we love our bacon and we love to wrap just about anything in bacon. We use bacon extensively in recipes. Bacon Stuffed Mushrooms, and Bavarian Bratwurst Wrapped in Bacon are just a few of the recipes we have here on T2T containing bacon. When using bacon in recipes, especially ‘wrapped’ recipes, try to use the best quality bacon you can find. Also buy thick cut bacon. Many times you can get by with 1/2 a slice.
Nueske’s Bacon
Nueske’s is a delicious applewood smoked bacon. Their company store is located in Wittenberg WI. Nueske’s family ancestors came to Wisconsin in 1882. they brought with them European skills of Applewood smoking and dozens of recipes for spicing and curing meat. In 1933, Grandpa, R.C. Nueske couldn’t find smoked meats as good as those his family made. So, he decided to market his smoked bacon, ham and sausages to friends, neighbors, and general stores around Wisconsin.
Building the Business
Grandpa was confident his meats would sell, so he loaded up his truck and took to the road. As he built his business, Grandpa taught his son Bob and his brother Jim how to slice meats, secrets of blending spices and how to cure meat. Each step is critical for creating quality smoked meats. Grandpa taught them how to create glowing embers of Applewood for perfect smoking and the Nueske’s signature smoked flavor.
As he built his business, Grandpa taught my Dad, Bob, & Uncle Jim how to select meats with the right combination of leanness and tenderness… secrets of blending spices and curing… every step critical for creating quality smoked meats. Just as important, Grandpa taught them how to create glowing embers of Applewood for perfect smoking and the Nueske’s signature smoked flavor.
Cream Cheese Filled Dates Wrapped in Bacon
Ingredients
- 1 8 oz package cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 tablespoon honey, plus extra for drizzle
- 1/3 cup chopped toasted pecans
- 15 to 20 dates
- 9 to 10 thick slices bacon, cut in half
Instructions
- In large bowl, beat cream cheese until creamy. Beat in honey until smooth.
- Fold in toasted chopped pecans.
- Cut a small slit in dates, do not cut through. Using you finger, open dates up slightly. Fill each date with cream cheese mixture. Set aside.
- Fry bacon slices until crisp. Remove bacon from pan, drain on paper towels.
- When cool enough to handle, wrap a half slice of bacon around each filled date.
- Arrange dates, seam side down on microwaveable safe serving plate. Microwave on high for 25 seconds. Remove from microwave.
- Drizzle honey over bacon wrapped dates. Serve immediately.