Bacon Wrapped Dates Recipe
User Reviews
4.8
Bacon Wrapped Dates Recipe
Description
This recipe starts with making a caramel sauce by cooking brown sugar, unsalted butter, and heavy cream together until smooth, then whisking in bourbon off the heat to add flavor. Each Medjool date is wrapped with half a strip of medium thick-cut bacon. The bacon-wrapped dates are pan-fried bacon-seam-side down to seal the bacon, turning until golden and crispy on all sides.
After draining excess bacon fat, the dates are returned to the pan, coated with the bourbon caramel sauce, then transferred to the oven to bake at 325° for about 15-17 minutes to finish cooking and develop flavor. They are served hot, offering a combination of smoky, sweet, and creamy tastes.
The recipe advises against flavored bacon to avoid conflicting tastes. Cooking in batches ensures even crisping. No toothpicks are needed as the bacon seam seals while cooking. These can be made ahead, stored covered in the refrigerator for several days, and reheated gently in a covered pot or oven before serving.
Ingredients
- 1 cup light brown sugar packed
- ½ butter unsalted, stick
- 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
- 3 tablespoons bourbon or whiskey
- 13 Bacon medium thick-cut strips cut in half
- 25 date Medjool, pitted
- 2 teaspoons canola oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°.
- Add the brown sugar, butter, and whipped cream to a medium-sized saucepot and cook over low to medium heat for 3-4 minutes or until cooked and smooth. See notes on the texture below. Set aside.
- Remove it from the heat, whisk in the bourbon, and set aside.
- Wrap each date in a ½ slice piece of bacon and set aside.
- Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium heat, and place each bacon-wrapped date bacon seam side down and cook for 3-4 minutes per side or until the bacon is browned and crispy. See note on cooking it in batches.
- Drain the rendered bacon fat, add the crisp bacon-wrapped dates back into the pan, and pour the caramel over top.
- Bake in the oven at 325° for 15-17 minutes.
- Serve hot.
Notes
- Bacon-wrapped dates can be made up to 2 days ahead; reheat gently on low heat before serving.
- Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days; freezing is possible for 2 months but thaw fully before reheating.
- Reheat either covered on low heat in a pot or in a 325° oven for 10-12 minutes.
- Avoid using flavored bacon to maintain recipe balance.
- Cook in batches if pan space is limited to ensure even cooking.
- Cooking bacon seam side down seals the bacon, so toothpicks are unnecessary.
- If bacon edges are not crisp after pan-searing, the oven baking step finishes the cooking.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 25Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 189 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 189kcal | 9% |
| Carbohydrates | 27g | 9% |
| Protein | 3g | 6% |
| Fat | 8g | 12% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Cholesterol | 14mg | 5% |
| Sodium | 127mg | 5% |
| Potassium | 216mg | 5% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 24g | 48% |
| Vitamin A | 60IU | 1% |
| Calcium | 24mg | 2% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.8
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