Creamy Bacon Date Goat Cheese Dip

Creamy Bacon Date Goat Cheese Dip appetizers Creamy whipped goat cheese base with smoky salty bacon, sweet dates and crunchy pecans. Enjoy with crusty bread or sliced vegetables, crackers, crisps or crostini. Perfect dish for game day, game night or a cheesy starter/appetizer easy appetizers, dips for entertaining Creamy Bacon Date Goat Cheese Dip bacon, dips, dates

This creamy bacon, date goat cheese dip is a perfect appetizer that has the most irresistible flavors of stuffed bacon-wrapped dates but in a simple less messy no wrap dip form. Creamy whipped goat cheese base with smoky salty bacon, sweet dates and crunchy pecans. Enjoy with crusty bread or sliced vegetables, crackers, crisps or crostini. Perfect dish for game day, game night or a cheesy starter/appetizer. A delicious mix of savory, salty, sweet and tangy.

Creamy Bacon Date Goat Cheese Dip

Maple Bacon Date Goat Cheese Dip Recipe Ingredients

  • BACON: It adds smokey salty flavor to this dip. Feel free to use regular bacon or turkey bacon or thick cut bacon
  • DATES: Plump soft medjool dates are best for this recipe
  • PECANS: They add some tasty crunch to the dip. I recommend toasting them for more flavor but raw is fine too.
  • MAPLE SYRUP: For sweetness but can be replaced with agave or honey too.
  • BROWN SUGAR: Not only for a little sweetness but help caramelize the pecans, dates and bacon
  • HERBS: Fresh herbs like fresh rosemary, thyme or savory work really well in this Dip. Great to garnish the dip with as well.
  • GOAT CHEESE: Softened goat cheese is what makes up the most of this dip.
  • CREAM CHEESE: Cream cheese is blended with the goat cheese to make the base of the Dip - we love goat cheese but the cream cheese adds some tangy mild flavor to cut through the stronger flavor of the goat cheese.
  • OLIVE OIL: Blends well with the cream cheese and goat cheese making for a creamy base
  • SPICES: Apart from a little salt and pepper I like to use chili pepper flakes in the date, maple bacon pecan mixture. I also like to use add some garlic powder to the cheese mixture for extra flavor.
  • VARIATIONS: For a little more heat you could add a touch of cayenne or chili powder. For a cheese variation you could substitute some of the goat cheese with crumbled feta cheese or even blue cheese

Creamy Bacon Date Goat Cheese Dip

How To Make This Whipped Goat Cheese Dip With Pecans, Maple Bacon and Dates

  1. Cook Bacon: Either cook it in the skillet or in the oven (instructions for both below).
  2. Whip Cream Cheese & Goat Cheese: Use a food processor to whip the two together or a hand mixer or if you want to do this by hand simply use a fork to fully combine the two along with the remaining ingredients.
  3. Caramelize Dates, Bacon & Pecans: Combine those three with the brown sugar, herbs and spices and maple syrup in the warm skillet and stir until caramelized. Reserve ¼ cup of mixture.
  4. Combine Date Mixture Wth Cheese Mixture: Stir through remaining date mixture into the cheese mixture then transfer to serving plate and top with reserved date mixture.
  5. Serve: Cover and chill in the fridge for at least 20 minutes or until ready to serve with crisps, sliced veggies or pita chips.

Creamy Bacon Date Goat Cheese Dip

Creamy Bacon Date Goat Cheese Dip

Tips For Making Creamy Bacon Date Dip:

  • Make sure the cream cheese and the goat cheese is completely softened. If it’s not, it won’t blend well with the other ingredients.
  • Make sure the bacon is cooked on the crispier side.
  • In a pinch, cooked bacon bits can be used… but freshly cooked bacon will always taste best.
  • Use fresh soft plump dates for best flavor and texture
  • Toast your pecans if you have time and allow them to cool before chopping and adding to the recipe

Creamy Bacon Date Goat Cheese Dip

Goat Cheese Bacon Date Dip Make Ahead & Storage:

  • MAKE AHEAD: This is a great dip to make a head of time as it does really well - I like to make it a day in advance of serving it. That allows time for all the flavors to meld. Keep it covered and in the fridge until you are ready to serve it.
  • STORAGE: Your leftover dip will be good in the fridge for up to 4 days before you should throw it out and make a new batch.

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Creamy Bacon Date Goat Cheese Dip

Recipe

Servings: 6-8
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 10-15 mins
Total Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

For the Maple Bacon, Date Pecan Mixture

  • 8 slices bacon, roughly chopped or sliced
  • 1 tablespoon chopped Fresh thyme or Fresh rosemary
  • 1 cup plump dates, pitted and chopped finely
  • ½ cup toasted pecans chopped
  • 1 teaspoon brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • ¼ teaspoon chili flakes

For the Goat Cheese

  • 1 log (10 oz) creamy goat cheese, at room temperature
  • 4 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • Pinch of black pepper or to taste

Directions

  1. Place a medium size pan/skillet over medium heat and cook bacon until crispy. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and place on a paper towel lined plate and set aside. Drain the bacon fat from the pan. (see recipe notes below for oven baked recipe)
  2. Place the pan back over medium heat and add the chopped dates, brown sugar pecans, rosemary, chili flakes and chopped bacon. Add 2 tbsp maple syrup to the pan and mix to combine. Cook for 1 minute to caramelize the dates slightly. Remove from heat and set aside ¼ cup of the mixture. Allow them to cool while you prepare the cheese mixture.
  3. Combine the goat cheese, cream cheese, olive oil, 1 tablespoon maple syrup, garlic powder and salt in a food processor and pulse until smooth and creamy. Test for seasoning and add more salt or garlic powder to taste.
  4. Transfer goat cheese mixture to a medium size bowl. Add in the date mixture (all but the ¼ cup) to the goat cheese and stir to combine.
  5. Spoon mixture into your serving bowl/plate and top with remaining ¼ cup of date mixture. Drizzle a little extra maple syrup or honey or drizzle of hot honey if desired. Cover and chill at least 20 minutes or until ready to serve. Serve with chips, crackers/crisps, bell peppers, crusty bread, pretzels, crostini, or pita chips.

Recipe Notes

  • Oven Cooked Bacon: Cook the bacon in the oven on a sheet pan/ baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil in even layer at 400°F for 15 to 20 minutes depending on the bacon’s thickness and desired doneness. If I’m cooking the bacon in the oven I do not slice it - I leave it in long strips. Once cooked remove from sheet pan and place on a paper towel lines plate. Allow to cool then crumble.
  • Do you have to chill the dip before serving? Technically no, you don’t HAVE to… but I do recommend it. Chilling the dip allows all the flavors to really come together, and will make it more of a “scoop-able” consistency. Without chilling, the dip may be thinner than you’d like. This makes it a great dip to make ahead.
  • You shouldn’t leave this dip out for longer than about 2 hours because of the dairy and the meat in it. It tastes better chilled anyway.

Creamy Bacon Date Goat Cheese Dip