The 3-Ingredient Appetizer Everyone Devours First
If there’s one appetizer that disappears before the main course, it’s these crispy prosciutto wrapped dates. They’re salty, sweet, creamy, and crunchy. Basically flavor fireworks in one bite!
I used the same technique ad my bacon wrapped dates by stuffing them with goat cheese and brushing on a sweet glaze at the end. The crisp edges of prosciutto, tangy goat cheese, and drizzle of hot honey makes them unforgettable.
Whether you’re serving them at a holiday party or as a date-night snack, they feel fancy but take minutes to make.
Why They Work Every Time
- Perfect balance: Sweet dates, salty prosciutto, tangy goat cheese, and a drizzle of honey or hot honey for heat.
- Quick bake: Just 20 minutes to golden and crisp.
- Naturally gluten-free: joining my list of gluten-free appetizers without any swaps.
- Customizable: Try almonds, pecans, boursin cheese, or blue cheese for new flavor twists.
My Top Tips Before You Start…
- Use room temperature goat cheese, it’s easier to stuff.
- Cut the prosciutto carefully, it’s fragile and rips easily.
- For extra crispiness, bake on a wire rack set over your sheet pan, like I do with these baked chicken wings.
- Make ahead: Stuff and wrap up to a day in advance. Bake just before serving.
Servings: 20 dates
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Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
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Stuff the Dates (5 min): Slice the each date down the center lengthwise and spread or tuck about 1 teaspoon of goat cheese into the center. Sprinkle a pinch of thyme into each then press closed.
12 oz Medjool dates, 4 oz goat cheese, 1-2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
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Wrap with Prosciutto (2 min): Wrap each stuffed date tightly with half a slice of prosciutto. Place seam side down on a parchment lined baking sheet. Brush the tops with olive oil and add chopped pecans.
10 slices prosciutto, 1 Tablespoon olive oil, 1/4 cup pecans
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Bake (18-20 min): Bake in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes, until the prosciutto is golden and crisp.
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Finish & Serve: Drizzle the warm dates generously with hot honey and garnish with fresh thyme leaves.
2-3 Tablespoons honey or hot honey
To Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container up to 3 days.
Reheat: Bake at 350°F until warmed through (about 8 minutes).
Freeze: Freeze unbaked wrapped dates up to 1 month. Bake directly from frozen, adding 3–5 minutes to cook time.
Ingredient Swaps: Substitute bacon for prosciutto and bake longer, or swap goat cheese for blue cheese, boursin cheese, or vegan cream cheese.
Serving: 1date | Calories: 100kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 48mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 91IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 0.3mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Ingredients You’ll Need and Why
- Medjool dates: Look for plump, soft ones that can hold the goat cheese.
- Goat cheese: Adds creamy tang to balance the sweetness.
- Fresh thyme: For a hint of seasonal herbs. Swap for another herb you have on hand!
- Prosciutto: Thin, salty, and crisps beautifully in the oven.
- Olive oil: Helps the prosciutto brown evenly.
- Pecans: Adds crunch and nutty flavor.
- Honey or hot honey: For a sweet-spicy finish. Maple syrup works too!
How to Make Prosciutto Wrapped Dates
Step 1. Prep the dates: Slice each date lengthwise and remove the pit if it’s still inside. Stuff each with 1 tsp of goat cheese and a sprinkle of thyme, then press to close.
Step 2. Wrap with prosciutto: Cut each prosciutto slice in half lengthwise. Wrap tightly around each date and place seam-side down on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Step 3. Brush and top: Brush lightly with olive oil and sprinkle finely chopped pecans on top.
Step 4. Bake and glaze: Bake at 400°F until the prosciutto is crisp and golden brown (18-20 min). Drizzle with honey and serve!
Variations to Try
- With balsamic glaze: Swap the hot honey for a drizzle of aged balsamic.
- With bacon: Use thin bacon slices instead of prosciutto and bake 5–10 minutes longer.
- With blue cheese: Add a bold, savory contrast.
- With almonds or pecans inside: Skip the goat cheese for a dairy-free crunch.
FAQs
Yes! Bake them for about 22-25 minutes, until the bacon is fully crisp.
Medjool dates are ideal because they’re large, soft, and naturally sweet.
Absolutely. Try almond butter, vegan cream cheese, or even tahini as the filling.
They’re best warm, but you can serve them at room temperature for parties.
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