Bacon-Wrapped Dates

Name: Bacon-Wrapped Dates
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 24 servings
Cuisine: Spanish
Ingredients: 24 Medjool dates, pitted; 24 roasted almonds (or small pieces of blue cheese, or both); 12 slices thin-cut bacon, halved crosswise; 1 tbsp maple syrup (optional); pinch of cayenne or black pepper

Sweet Medjool dates stuffed with almonds and blue cheese, wrapped in bacon and roasted until crisp. Known in Britain as devils on horseback; very easy party food.

Prep15 min

Cook20 min

Total35 min

Serves24

What you'll need

Nonstick baking sheetsFor roasting and baking

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8-inch chef's knifeFor all the chopping

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Steps

Heat the oven to 400°F and line a sheet pan with foil, then a rack if you have one.

Tuck an almond and/or a small piece of cheese into each date and press closed.

Wrap each date with a half-slice of bacon and set seam side down on the pan.

Roast 18 to 22 minutes, turning once, until the bacon is crisp.

Brush with maple syrup and dust with cayenne. Cool 5 minutes (the dates are very hot inside) and serve with toothpicks.

TipUse thin bacon; thick-cut slices won't crisp before the dates scorch.