Boozy Bacon Wrapped Dates (which are soaked in brandy) will FLY off the platter at your next get-together. They are a 3-ingredient recipe that no one can resist!
If there is one appetizer that I know people will love, it’s bacon wrapped dates. They’re the first to disappear at any party, along with other crowd pleasers like shrimp cocktail and pigs in a blanket.
This year, I was serving them for a holiday appetizer party, so I wanted to change them up a bit. My solution? ADD BRANDY.
And oh my goodness! The addition of brandy was a very good idea. It complements the sweetness of the dates and the salty bacon so nicely, and you get a hint of brandy with every bite.
Boozy Bacon Wrapped Dates are an appetizer that’ll knock the socks off your everyone who tries them!
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What are the best dates for bacon wrapped dates?
Use medjool dates to create the perfect date-to-bacon ratio.
You will usually have to remove the pit from medjool dates, unless you find them already pitted. I just slice a small slit in each date to remove them (don’t cut all the way through the date).
What’s the best bacon for bacon wrapped dates?
Regular cut bacon is the best option for bacon wrapped dates.
Thick cut bacon takes too long to cook, and thin cut will disappear as it cooks.
How to make boozy bacon wrapped dates
Start by soaking one pound of medjool dates in brandy overnight. The type of brandy doesn’t matter. I spent about $10 on a bottle, so nothing special. But if you enjoy a more expensive brandy, by all means use that.
Don’t have brandy? Use rum instead!
After soaking the dates overnight, I had about 3 tablespoons of brandy leftover in the bowl. You can discard this, drink this, or use it for another recipe.
Wrap each date in a half of a slice of bacon and secure it with a toothpick. I use the regular-cut bacon here. Thick-cut takes forever to cook and messes with the date-to-bacon ratio. Regular cut is the way to go.
Next, place the boozy bacon wrapped dates on a sheet pan fitted with a wire rack. The rack ensures that the bacon crisps evenly.
Place a piece of aluminum foil underneath the rack to catch the bacon drippings to make clean-up easier.
The final step is to bake the dates until the bacon is crisp. Mine took 30 minutes exactly, but start checking them around 25 minutes.
Can I make bacon wrapped dates ahead of time?
Bacon wrapped dates can be made several days in advance. Store them, tightly covered, in the refrigerator.
Let them sit out for 1–2 hours before serving so they are at room temperature. You can also warm them up in a 350°F oven for 3–5 minutes.
Variations
- Stuff the date with peanut butter
- Stuff the date with goat cheese, manchego cheese, or a piece of your favorite cheese
- Drizzle honey over the dates when they get out of the oven
- Slip a piece of bittersweet or dark chocolate into the date before wrapping in bacon
More holiday appetizer ideas
I made the boozy bacon wrapped dates for a holiday appetizer buffet, which was styled by my friend Kelley of Haviland Events.
The trees and table runner are from Target and the pompom garland is from Michaels. The vintage dishes are her own.
In addition to the dates, I also served Citrus Marinated Olives and Stuffed Potato Skins. The potato skins are topped with pimentos and fresh chives, so they look extra festive with the red and green garnishes!
These bite-size Puff Pastry Appetizers with Goat Cheese and Jam and this step-by-step tutorial on how to build a simple cheese board are also great additions to any appetizer spread.
And lastly, your guests will lose their minds over these Cinnamon Roasted Pecans. They’re perfect with a glass of wine.
Have you tried this recipe? Please leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and/or comment below!
📖 Recipe
Bacon Wrapped Dates Soaked in Brandy
Ingredients
- 1 lb medjool dates (the big ones!)
- ½ cup brandy
- 1 lb regular cut bacon
Instructions
- Slice open the dates and remove the pit from each date. Place in a bowl and pour brandy over the top. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit for 2 hours, or up to 24 hours.
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Cover a baking sheet with rimmed edges with foil. Place a wire rack on top.
- Cut the bacon strips in half horizontally. Place a bacon strip on a flat surface. Place a date on the end and roll the bacon around the dates. Use a toothpick to secure the bacon. Place on the wire rack and repeat with remaining dates and bacon.
- Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the bacon is crisp. Let cool slightly before removing from the tray. Serve warm or at room temperature.
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