Needing a delicious but “clean” holiday appetizer? Look no further! These bacon-wrapped dates are always a hit. They’re the perfect amount of sweet and savory, and since dates are already so naturally sweet, you don’t even need to add extra honey or brown sugar. There’s no need! These babies aren’t just great for holiday gatherings- they make the perfect ‘game day’ snack too! And the best part- Only three ingredients!
I like to stuff my dates with a small piece of pecan before wrapping them with bacon, but you could omit that if you wanted. That tiny crunch is delightful though.
I also save on fat (and cost!) with these by cutting my bacon strips in thirds. A third of a strip of bacon is all you need to wrap around a date. It makes a pack of bacon go a long way, and we need that these days with the cost of groceries- Eek!
Note- to make these Whole 30 you will need to purchase nitrate free bacon. If you are not doing a strict Whole 30, you can use whatever brand you like or can find.
What You’ll Need-
1 bag pitted dates
1 small bag pecan halves (you will have leftovers)
1 package (nitrate free) bacon
9 x 13 baking dish
Aluminum foil (for lining baking dish)
large cutting board
*Double the amounts for a large gathering
Directions-
First, line your 9 x 13 baking dish with aluminum foil and preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Then, remove your pecans from the package and break them into small bits (like a quarter of a pecan)
Now, go ahead and open your dates and place them in a pile on your cutting board
Finally, you can open your bacon and slice it into thirds. Your hands will be a little greasy after this step, but just keep rolling with it until the end.
Now simply grab a date, slide a small piece of pecan into the opening, and wrap a third of a strip of bacon around it.
Begin to set your bacon-wrapped dates into rows on your aluminum foil lined dish.
Continue stuffing and wrapping your dates until your baking dish is all full.
Bake your dates for 30-40 minutes or until the bacon is a consistency you like.
Tip-
I usually remove them from the foil onto a paper towel and then throw away the foil with all of the fat/grease. Then I place them back in the baking dish. You could also put them into a crockpot to keep them warm, but usually I just use my casserole carrier with a hot pack to keep them warm. If you pre-make them, they can store in the fridge and then you can reheat in the oven right before packing them to take to your gathering.
Leftovers-
I LOVE eating the leftovers cold! They’re still just as yummy. Actually, cold may be my favorite way to eat them- but you can’t wrong either way. If you would like, you can zap them in the microwave, or heating them back up in the oven is even better. Just a few leftover bacon-dates on the side of my eggs with breakfast is the perfect match!
Notes-
Keep in mind that even though these are paleo and Whole 30 approved, you should still be mindful of your portion size. Dates, even though they are a natural form of sugar, still are a form of SUGAR. So just be careful not to eat the entire pan… because it’s possible! Be mindful of your amounts 😊
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