Bacon-Wrapped Dates
 
Makes 12
Ingredients
  • 4 ounces goat cheese, room temperature
  • 1½ teaspoons orange zest (about 1 medium orange)
  • 2 teaspoons fresh orange juice (about 1 medium orange)
  • 12 pitted Medjool dates
  • 4 slices bacon, cut into thirds
  • Cane Syrup Sauce (recipe follows), to serve
Cane Syrup Sauce
  • ½ cup chicken broth
  • ⅓ cup cane syrup
  • 1 tablespoon hot sauce
  • ¼ teaspoon Cajun seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon cold unsalted butter, cubed
  • 1 teaspoon sherry vinegar
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 425°.
  2. In a small bowl, stir together goat cheese and orange zest and juice. Stuff each date with about 1 teaspoon goat cheese mixture, and wrap with 1 piece of bacon. Secure with a wooden pick, and place on a rimmed baking sheet.
  3. Bake until bacon is evenly cooked, 13 to 15 minutes, turning dates halfway through baking. Serve warm with Cane Syrup Sauce.
Cane Syrup Sauce
  1. In a small stockpot, bring broth to a boil over medium-high heat. Add cane syrup, hot sauce, and Cajun seasoning, and cook until slightly reduced, 7 to 9 minutes.
  2. Add butter and sherry to broth mixture, and cook, whisking constantly, for 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat, and let cool slightly. Refrigerate for up to 1 day.
Recipe by Louisiana Cookin' at https://louisianacookin.com/bacon-wrapped-dates/