Bacon Wrapped Dates

I am not much of a sports fan, but I do go a bit crazy for basketball and THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (and the Golden State Warriors...blah blah blah, sorry West Coast people) are in the finals again, so that calls for viewing parties at my house! These Bacon Wrapped Dates make a perfect hors d'oeuvre for any party, not just basketball.

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I can not take full credit for this recipe. My old neighbor brought these to a Super Bowl party and I wanted absolutely nothing to do with them. First of all dates... who actually enjoys eating dates? No one. And this may throw everyone for a loop, but I am the 1 in a million that doesn't care for bacon. I know, I know, CRAZY! Anyway, she made me try one and I can honestly (and grossly) say that I ate at least 10 that night. They are SO GOOD.

The Bacon Wrapped Dates are so easy to make and will definitely be a winner at your next get together. What makes these little babies even better is that they are stuffed with cheese and are sprinkled with sugar.

Cut a slit into the date and stuff one mozzarella pearl into it.

Like I wrote above, I am not huge on bacon, so I cut the strips in half. That way the bacon isn't overpowering the rest of the flavors and you are able to make more bacon wrapped dates (more bang for your buck).

Once the cheese is stuffed inside the dates, wrap a piece of bacon around it and secure it with a toothpick. Sprinkle just a bit of paprika on top before popping them in the oven.

When there is about 10 minutes left of cooking time, sprinkle brown sugar over them.

Cook until the bacon looks nice and crispy and delicious!

I like to set up an assembly line when making these. Cheese > Date > Bacon > Toothpick. That way you don't have to dig in anything with bacon on your hands.

The ingredient list is very vague, but you just need equal parts of everything. One date = One mozzarella ball = One piece of bacon = One toothpick & a sprinkle of paprika and brown sugar.

*Serves 6 - 10 (depending on if you eat 10 like me or have more self control)

Ingredients:

• Package of Pitted Dates

• Package of Bacon

• Mozzarella Pearls

• Paprika

• Brown Sugar

• Toothpicks

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°. Line cookie sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray.

2. Slit the dates open on one side.

3. Add mozzarella pearl inside.

4. Cut bacon in half and wrap cheese stuffed date with one piece.

5. Secure with toothpick.

6. Sprinkle each date with paprika.

7. Cook for 15 minutes. Pull out and sprinkle each date with brown sugar. Return to oven and cook for an additional 10 minutes.

Enjoy and GO CAVS!! :)

#appetizers #fingerfoods #bacon #partyfoods