Bacon Wrapped Dates

We have a couple of birthdays to celebrate within our extended family this week so I though why not make a fun appetizer.  I have always been fascinated by bacon wrapped dates, but never had the chance to try them.  This was a perfect appetizer to make for a large crowd because it only takes a few minutes to make dozens of these and then throw them in the oven to bake.  Most of the recipes I have seen call for goat cheese, but since I decided to make these at the last minute and didn't have any goat cheese. I decided to substitute some jazzed up cream cheese instead.   I thought this appetizer was a perfect touch of sweet and savory. 

Ingredients: (I will not give quantities since you can make as many or as few as you like)
Pitted Dates
Cream Cheese
Bacon
Granulated Onion Powder to taste
Red Chili Flakes
Black Pepper and Salt to taste
minced seeded jalapeno or serrano chilies (seeded)
toothpicks

Directions:

Coat once side of the cream cheese with salt, pepper, red chili flakes and some minced chilies. Then chill it very well so it's firm enough to use a sharp knife to cut into small cubes.  The firmer and colder the cream cheese the less mess it is to stuff into the dates.
Note: 4oz brick of cream cheese will make at least 24-30 stuff dates.

Cut a slit in the pitted dates with a pair of kitchen scissors so you have an opening to stuff the date.

Take the bacon and cut it in half so there is half a slice of bacon to wrap around each date.

Take the seasoned cream cheese and place in the date opening (seasoned side down). Gently close the the date and wrap firmly with the bacon. Secure bacon and date with a toothpick.  Bake in a 400 degree oven for 15 or until bacon is crispy.  Enjoy.
Note: cover baking tray with foil for easy clean up. 

 

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