Bacon-Wrapped Dates
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Martha Stewart Living, December 2005
- Yield Makes 32
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Ingredients
- 32 pitted dates (about 10 ounces)
- 2 ounces shelled, salted whole pistachios
- 2 ounces dried apricots, cut into 32 strips
- 1 pound lean best-quality bacon, thinly sliced and then halved crosswise
Directions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Stuff each date with 3 or 4 pistachios. Lay a stuffed date and apricot strip on top of each bacon slice; wrap to enclose. If not using immediately, freeze up to 1 month.
- Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until bacon is crisp, about 10 minutes, flipping each wrapped date after 8 minutes. If frozen, bake at 400 degrees.for 10 minutes; flip, and bake 10 minutes more. Transfer wrapped dates to paper towels to drain. Serve with toothpicks.
I made this for a Christmas party last night and it was AMAZING. I don't like dates, and even I liked these. Comments I got were 'to die for', and 'I couldn't stop eating them'. I found I couldn't fit more than 2 pistachios in each date, but they were still fantastic!
I've prepped the bacon dates for freezing in airtight containers with parchment paper between layers. What I'm not sure about is, when I take them out of the freezer, do they go straight into the oven or do I have to thaw them first in the refrigerator?
Noticed that DSchoolfield added apricot white stilton - is this in place of the apricot? Sorry a little confused.
I just did a trial of 3 and FANTASTIC! I am getting these ready and in the freezer for all my holiday guests. And for sure on NYEve!
I served these at a New Year's Eve party - huge hit!!! These were pretty easy and quick to put together - took me about 45 minutes to get them prepped. Changes: instead of using regular stilton, I stuffed the dates with an apricot white stilton. Also, I baked in the oven for closer to 35 minutes, in order to get the bacon crispy. Instead of the parchment paper as the recipe calls for, I recommend lining your pan with foil, as the bacon grease creates a big mess.
I served these at a "regifting" party on Saturday night and they were an absolute hit! Assembling them is a little time consuming, but the results are worth it. The sweet, savory, and salty qualities of this appetizer are very good. Will serve again.
These bacon-wrapped dates are a fun and funky snack for any occasion.
SO GOOD, GOES WELL WITH "DATE SHAKES". OUR TRIP TO INDIO CALIF. AND THE DATE FARM BEING SERVED DATE SHAKES, REALLY SPOILED US.