These stuffed dates are filled with flavor and strike a perfect balance of sweet and savory. They make an easy, impressive appetizer for entertaining, or an elevated snack when you're craving something more indulgent. For Good Granola's Cranberry Spice buckwheat granola brings a nutty taste and texture with bright cranberry seeds and mellow notes of cardamom, cinnamon, and star anise. Our Asher Blue adds a creamy, rich contrast, with earthy, grassy flavor and a mild salt finish that plays beautifully against the sweetness of the dates.
Makes: 24 dates
Difficulty level: Easy
Ingredients:
- 2 slices thick-cut bacon, cut crosswise into ¼-inch pieces
- 1 shallot
- 3 tablespoons orange juice, freshly squeezed
- 3 oz Sweet Grass Dairy Asher Blue, crumbled
- 3 oz cream cheese, room temperature
- ¾ cup For Good Granola Cranberry Spice
- 24 Medjool dates, dried with pits or pitted (see note)
- Fresh cracked pepper
For garnish:
- 2 tablespoons Sweet Grass Dairy Asher Blue, crumbled
- 2 tablespoons For Good Granola Cranberry Spice
- Balsamic glaze, to finish
Instructions:
- Add the bacon to a large sauté pan over medium heat. Cook until crisp, then transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Discard all but 1 tablespoon of the rendered bacon fat. Add the shallot to the pan and cook over medium heat until softened, about 1 to 2 minutes. Add the orange juice and cook until the liquid has evaporated. Transfer the shallot and bacon to a small bowl and let cool for 10 minutes.
- In a medium bowl, combine the cream cheese, Asher Blue, and Cranberry Spice granola. Fold together with a rubber spatula until well combined. Add the cooled shallot mixture, bacon, and a few turns of freshly ground black pepper. Stir until uniform.
- If your dates have pits, slice each one lengthwise on one side to create an opening and remove the pit. Using a small spoon or portion scoop, stuff each date with the blue cheese and granola mixture. Repeat until all dates are filled.
- Arrange the stuffed dates on a serving platter. Garnish with additional Asher Blue and Cranberry Spice granola, then finish with a drizzle of balsamic glaze. Serve immediately.