Whipped goat cheese with warm bacon and dates

Searching for a crowd-pleasing appetizer for the holidays? Look no further than this whipped goat cheese with warm bacon and dates. It’s a reimagined version of goat cheese-stuffed bacon-wrapped dates, deconstructed into a shareable dip. Though it sounds fancy, this dip is simple to make and sure to impress your guests. The goat cheese is whipped until smooth and spreadable, then topped with warm bacon and dates that are sweet, salty, and sticky. Garnished with orange zest and rosemary, and served with toasted crostinis, it captures the flavors of the holiday season in every bite. 

Whipped goat cheese with warm bacon and dates

Serves: 8-10  | Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 15-17 minutes

Ingredients:

For the whipped goat cheese:

• 10 oz. goat cheese, room temperature
• 4 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 tbsp. lemon juice
• 1-2 tbsp. heavy cream or milk to loosen, if needed
• salt to taste

For the bacon and dates:

• 6-8 slices of bacon, sliced
• 10-12 medjool dates, pitted and chopped or torn
• 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
• 1 tbsp. fresh rosemary, finely chopped
• 1-2 tbsp. maple syrup

Toasted crostinis:

• 1 Fresh baguette, sliced
• Olive oil
• Salt

To Finish:

• Flaky salt
• Orange zest, about ½ an orange
• Fresh rosemary
• Maple syrup

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with foil and arrange sliced bacon. Toss the bacon with fresh, chopped rosemary, red pepper flakes, and maple syrup. Spread the bacon evenly so it gets crispy, then scatter the dates over the top. 
2. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy and the bubbling fat has almost stopped. 
3. In a medium bowl, use a hand mixer to whip the goat cheese, cream cheese, lemon juice, and salt until smooth. Add a tablespoon or two of heavy cream or milk to loosen it if needed, until it’s a thick, spreadable, whipped cheese. Transfer to a serving dish/bowl and spread it out.
4. Once the bacon and dates are done, remove the pan from the oven and switch it to the broil setting. 
5. For the crostinis, slice the baguette, drizzle or spray with olive oil, and season with salt. Broil for 2 minutes or until golden brown.
6. Use a spatula to scoop the bacon and dates from the pan and spoon them over the whipped goat cheese. To finish, drizzle with maple syrup, sprinkle flaky sea salt, grate some fresh orange zest, and top with fresh rosemary. Serve alongside the toasted baguette crostinis. 

Notes: The whipped goat cheese can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge for up to 5 days.