Ingredients:

  • 16 large Medjool Dates (about 8 oz), pitted
  • 4 oz log Soft Goat Cheese (about 115 g)
  • 8 slices Smoked Streaky Bacon (thinly sliced in half)

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Cut the 8 slices of streaky bacon in half width-wise, yielding 16 shorter strips.
  3. Make a single lengthwise slice into each date to remove the pit (stone), taking care not to cut the date completely in half.
  4. Stuff the cavity of each date with approximately 1 level teaspoon (5g) of the chilled, soft goat cheese.
  5. Wrap one half-slice of bacon firmly around the stuffed date and secure the overlap by threading a wooden toothpick through the bacon and into the date.
  6. Place the wrapped dates seam-side down on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes.
  7. Check for doneness: The dates are finished when the bacon is deeply golden brown and perfectly crisp. Use the broiler setting briefly (60 seconds) if needed for ultimate crisping.
  8. Remove the dates from the oven and let them cool slightly on the tray for 5 minutes before removing toothpicks and serving.