For a quick and delicious appetizer, these warm and cheesy Roasted Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates are about to become your new go-to!
I’ve been in the market lately for a foolproof appetizer. Because after two years in a row of my Thanksgiving appetizers flopping at the exact time guests arrived (thanks for nothing, puff pastry), I was basically desperate.
I always associated stuffed dates with being wrapped in bacon. But with it being our date ingredient spotlight, we’re looking at these little sweetness bombs with fresh eyes! Meaning these goat cheese stuffed dates don’t require any bacon, turning to toasted pine nuts and flaky sea salt for that delicious crunch.
But why stop there? A quick roast in the oven warms the goat cheese and slightly caramelized the outside of the dates, making for the most addictive (and totally foolproof) appetizer.
Ingredients for goat cheese stuffed dates
- Dates: Medjool dates, with their soft texture and delicious flavor, are best for making stuffed dates.
- Goat cheese: Tangy fresh goat cheese balances out the sweet dates.
- Pine nuts: Toasted pine nuts make such a warm and crunchy topping for salads and appetizers, and they were begging to be sprinkled over these stuffed dates.
- Flaky sea salt and pepper: Finish it off with some flaky sea salt and a pinch of pepper.
How to stuff dates
Simply slice the dates lengthwise on just one side and remove the pit, then use a small spoon to stuff it with goat cheese. You can eat it like this, or roast in the oven for 10 minutes to make them ultra warm and gooey. Top with toasted pine nuts, extra virgin olive oil, flaky sea salt, and ground black pepper!
Best cheese to serve with dates
Not a fan of goat cheese? Dates pair well with a variety of soft cheeses, like:
- Ricotta
- Bleu cheese
- Whipped feta
- Sharp cheddar
In need of more Thanksgiving appetizers? Try out this Vegetarian Cheese Board or this Savory Apple Beet Tart.
Ingredients
- 16 medjool dates about 2 cups
- 4 oz goat cheese 113 g
- ¼ cup pine nuts
- To serve: flaky sea salt, ground black pepper, extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 C). Slice dates lengthwise on one side and remove the pit.
- Stuff: Spoon a bit of goat cheese into each date. Set cut side up on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes, or until warmed through.
- Pine Nuts: Meanwhile, add pine nuts to a small saute pan and set over medium heat. Cook until golden brown and toasted, about 5 minutes (keep a careful eye as these can burn easily).
- Serve: Drizzle warm dates with olive oil and sprinkle with toasted pine nuts, salt, and pepper.
Tips & Tricks
- Ricotta
- Bleu cheese
- Whipped feta
- Sharp cheddar
Tiffany Rudd says
Back again and still loving your recipes!
I used to think I wasn’t a big fan of dates; dunno why, just seemed like something I had come to know about myself. But this little snack right here changed my mind! Now we will nab dates when they go on sale and do this with them because they’re so good! We even made a deconstructed (read: mixed everything in a bowl together) version of this for my partner’s dad on father’s day.
The first time we made this we left out the pine nuts because I forgot them, but the second time we added them and they really do bring something to this dish! It’s the toasted nuttiness and added little crunch that really sets this over. We’ve started considering adding herbs to the goat cheese to take it to different levels, but right now we’re just loving how simple this is.
Sarah says
Aw love that you’ve become a date lover! And also cracking up at the deconstructed version of this 😅 Still sounds tasty though!
Sandra Wright says
LOVED!!! 😀
Aly says
Does this work with dried pitted dates? Tysm!
Sarah Bond says
It should! I would soak the dates in water to rehydrate them a bit before using.
Sandy says
No pine nuts
Could pecans or walnuts work?
Sarah Bond says
Yes both would work well!