Stuffed Dates Recipe

Easy Stuffed Dates 

Ingredients

12 pitted Medjool dates                            1/4 cup slivered almonds or crushed pistachios
1/2 cup Mascarpone cheese                      zest of 1 large lemon
1-2 tablespoons honey

In a medium mixing bowl combine Mascarpone cheese and honey until combined.  Taste for desired sweetness, adding more honey if needed, but remember the dates are quite sweet on their own.
Make an incision in each date to create an opening for filling.  Do not cut all the way through the dates.
Using a small spoon, scoop the cheese-honey mixture into the dates.  Top each with one or two almonds or if using the crushed pistachios, sprinkle lightly then generously top with the lemon zest.

You may incorporate the almonds or pistachios right into the cheese mixture if you like, as I did here.

Dressed for Dinner

To Dress your Dates in Bacon

Use the same ingredients listed above but add 4 slices of bacon, and cut each slice into thirds, crosswise.

Wrap one piece of bacon around each date and secure with a toothpick that has been soaking in water for about 15-20 minutes.  This helps to prevent the toothpicks from burning while the bacon cooks.

Arrange the stuffed, dressed dates on a foil lined baking sheet and place in a 400 degree, (preheated) oven.  Place them about one inch apart.  Bake for about 5 minutes.  Using tongs turn the dates onto their other side and bake another 5-7 minutes.  Drain the cooked dates on a plate lined with a paper towel.  Then serve immediately, while still piping hot!

I would use a little less lemon zest for these dressed dates.

Trust me, the sweetness of the date, plump with that cheese stuffing and mixed with the salty, crunch of the bacon . . .  So Good!!