Salty and sweet — that's the beautiful flavor combination you'll find in each bite of a bacon-wrapped date. Smokey bacon, melted cheese and rich fruit unite in such a pleasing way, it's no wonder this dish is a consistent crowd-pleaser. You can stuff these dates with different kinds of cheeses, like goat cheese or cream cheese, but rest assured, they taste just as great without any cheese at all.
![How to Make Bacon-Wrapped Dates](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/4b57e870-3ded-4676-8db8-8137d3dec4d5.jpg)
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Things You'll Need
12 medjool dates
6 small balls of mozzarella, cut in half
4-6 pieces of bacon
12 toothpicks
Paring knife
Parchment paper
Baking sheet
Step 1
Heat oven to 400° F. Cut a small slit into each date from top to bottom and remove the pit.
![Remove the pits](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/d1dc1ae9-1092-41e6-b6db-8ee2f68fcf69.jpg)
Step 2
Stuff each date with a piece of cut mozzarella. Once stuffed, try to pinch the date closed again as much as possible.
![Stuff with cheese](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/804207aa-f594-4963-8ba6-0398b37b4f7e.jpg)
Tip
These dates taste great with other types of cheeses, too! Try substituting the mozzarella for about 1 teaspoon of goat cheese or cream cheese.
Step 3
Cut the bacon strips either in half or into thirds — whatever allows the date to be wrapped only one time around. Place the date (cut side down) onto the end of a strip of bacon and roll. Secure with a toothpick. Repeat this process until all of the dates are wrapped.
![Wrap with bacon](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/9621bdb3-e9c3-4a01-9d18-a71ae5e7e56e.jpg)
Step 4
Place the dates onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
![Dates about to be baked](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/ffe00757-bb4f-469b-8d4c-3d1337817393.jpg)
Step 5
Bake dates for 18-20 minutes, flipping them halfway through, until the bacon is cooked through and crisp. Remove from oven, let cool slightly and enjoy!
![Finished dates](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/04f8eb6b-3ea8-49e1-8eaf-43fd44f34a1d.jpg)