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    Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates with Spiced Honey

    December 19, 2025 / By Holly Erickson

    Stuffed with a savory goat cheese and bacon filling, my stuffed dates are a sweet-salty holiday appetizer that can be made in advance so you can relax and enjoy the party! 

    dates stuffed with goat cheese and crispy, drizzled with spiced honey and sprinkled with sea salt and black pepper.
    Photography by Gayle McLeod

    If you’ve never made stuffed dates before, welcome to a new favorite party bite! I love dates, and this recipe for goat cheese stuffed dates drizzled with spiced honey is every flavor and texture I love stuffed into one perfect holiday appetizer. Stuffed dates are great for entertaining because you can make them ahead of time. 

    dates stuffed with goat cheese and crispy, drizzled with spiced honey and sprinkled with sea salt and black pepper.

    Stuffed dates come together fast for a last minute party snack, or if you’re working ahead, they freeze well, too. For more appetizers to make holiday entertaining a breeze, check out this round up of Christmas appetizers, surprises like fig jam meatballs and crowd pleasers like a classic shrimp cocktail and oozing baked brie.

    ingredients laid out to make goat cheese and bacon stuffed dates with spiced honey, the perfect party appetizer.

    Ingredients You’ll Need

    For the Stuffed Dates

    • Dates: Fresh sweet dates are so underrated! I love their sweet rich flavor, especially around the holidays.
    • Goat cheese: I usually use fresh plain goat cheese, but if you love flavored ones (the herby ones, or honey goat cheeses can both be nice) you could use a flavored or seasoned goat cheese instead.
    • Bacon: You’ll cook and crumble it to add to the goat cheese filling.

    For the Spiced Honey

    This honey can be prepared ahead of time. It also makes a nice holiday gift, if you make extra! You can also serve it on its own as a garnish for a holiday cheese platter. 

    • Honey: Any type of honey will work fine.
    • Fresh thyme: If you use dried thyme, use much less.
    • Red pepper flakes: For just the littlest hint of heat. Trust me on this one! 
    chopped bacon being cooked in a skillet until crispy
    chopped bacon and goat cheese being mixed in a bowl to use for stuffed dates

    Stuffed Date Variations 

    • Try using prosciutto instead of bacon for a delicate and elegant upgrade.
    • Wrap the stuffed dates in prosciutto instead of including it in the filling. The best part about doing this is that you get to skip the baking step! 
    • Use cream cheese or fresh feta instead of the goat cheese for a slightly different flavor.
    • For a vegetarian version, use chopped pecans instead of the bacon. 
    dates stuffed with goat cheese and crispy chopped bacon

    Tips For Stuffed Date Success

    • Take the time to choose plump dates! If they’re too dried out, it will be very hard to stuff them. A store with bulk bins is usually your best bet for finding good dates.
    • If your dates are dry you can try soaking them in warm water for 10 minutes. Just be sure to dry them completely before you slice and stuff them.
    • Set your goat cheese out to come to room temperature for an hour before you start making these (if you have time). It’ll be much easier to work with.
    • Don’t take these straight from the oven to the table or folks will burn their mouths! The goat cheese filling will be extremely hot so let them cool for a few minutes before serving. 
    honey, fresh thyme and red pepper flakes in a skillet to make spiced honey, the perfect finish on goat cheese stuffed dates

    Make Ahead & Freezing Instructions

    Any other type A party hosts out there? I love a DIY holiday appetizer that you can prep way ahead of time! There’s no better feeling in the crunch time before a party than realizing that you already made the appetizers weeks ago! Here’s how to do it: 

    1. Stuff the dates completely, arrange on a parchment-lined sheet pan and freeze until solid. They’re usually totally frozen after a couple of hours.
    2. Pop them off the sheet pan and into a freezer bag.
    3. I always label the bag with a “good until” date. These keep in the freezer for about a month.
    4. To bake: No need to thaw the stuffed dates! Pop those frozen stuffed dates back on a sheet pan and bake them for 15 mins at 375°F.
    dates stuffed with goat cheese and crispy, drizzled with spiced honey and sprinkled with sea salt and black pepper.

    More Party-Ready Appetizers

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    dates stuffed with goat cheese and crispy, drizzled with spiced honey and sprinkled with sea salt and black pepper.

    Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates with Spiced Honey Recipe

    Published December 19, 2025

    By Holly Erickson

    • Serves:  8
    • Yields:  24 dates
    • Prep Time:  15 min
    • Cook Time:  20 min

    Description

    Sweet and savory goat cheese and bacon Stuffed Dates baked until warm, then drizzled with spiced honey and finished with flaky salt. An easy fall and winter appetizer that’s gluten free, crowd-pleasing, and perfect for entertaining.

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      Ingredients

      Stuffed Dates

      • 6 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped
      • 6 ounces goat cheese, room temperature
      • 24 Medjool dates, pitted and sliced lengthwise on one side
      • Freshly cracked black pepper, for serving
      • Flaky sea salt, for serving

      Spiced Honey

      • ¼ cup honey
      • 3 sprigs fresh thyme
      • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes

      Method

      1. Preheat the oven to 375°F with a rack in the center position. 

        ingredients laid out to make goat cheese and bacon stuffed dates with spiced honey, the perfect party appetizer.

      2. Place the bacon in a medium skillet over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the bacon crisps and the fat is rendered, about 6 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. Once cool enough to handle, finely crumble the bacon.

        chopped bacon being cooked in a skillet until crispy

      3. In a medium bowl, combine the crumbled bacon and goat cheese until evenly distributed. Carefully stuff each date with about 1 teaspoon of the goat cheese mixture. 

        chopped bacon and goat cheese being mixed in a bowl to use for stuffed dates

      4. Arrange the stuffed dates on a parchment-lined sheet pan. Bake until warmed through and the cheese is slightly softened, 8 to 10 minutes.

        dates stuffed with goat cheese and crispy chopped bacon

      5. Meanwhile, make the spiced honey. Place the honey, thyme, and red pepper flakes in a small saucepan. Set the heat to low and warm, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove and discard the thyme sprigs.

        honey, fresh thyme and red pepper flakes in a skillet to make spiced honey, the perfect finish on goat cheese stuffed dates

      6. Transfer the warm dates to a serving platter. Drizzle generously with the spiced honey, then season with pepper and sprinkle with flaky salt. Serve immediately.

        dates stuffed with goat cheese and crispy, drizzled with spiced honey and sprinkled with sea salt and black pepper.

      Notes

      Make-Ahead Tip: The dates can be stuffed up to 1 day ahead and refrigerated in an airtight container. Bring them to room temperature before baking and add 2 to 3 minutes to the cook time.

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      Nutrition Info

      • Per Serving
      • Amount
      • Calories 336
      • Protein 8 g
      • Carbohydrates 63 g
      • Total Fat 9 g
      • Dietary Fiber 5 g
      • Cholesterol 23 mg
      • Sodium 251 mg
      • Total Sugars 56 g

      Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates with Spiced Honey

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