Prosciutto Wrapped Dates with Blue Cheese & Walnuts
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These prosciutto wrapped dates are the easiest and most delicious sweet and savory appetizer ever! Made with just four simple ingredients, they’re stuffed with blue cheese and walnuts, then baked until crispy and melty.
Why it Works
I promise, these prosciutto wrapped dates will be the hit of the party! They’re the best little bites of deliciousness EVER, perfect for an appetizer or for happy hour.
The sweet dates paired with savory blue cheese and salty prosciutto, with just a tiny bit of crunch from the walnuts, is quite literally everything I could ever want in just one bite. Make them and try not to *chef’s kiss.* Impossible!
I started making these dates years ago when my babies were little and our Friday night date night meant an episode of The Office and a special snack. We had just done some kitchen upgrades, and I was super excited to cook something on the fancy side so I could feel like an adult for just an hour.
My husband absolutely loved them, and he started requesting that we have them at every event, from football parties to holiday get-togethers! And I’ve always been more than happy to make them for him, because I love them just as much as he does AND I can make them in advance. Double win!
You may also like: Baked Clams Oreganata, Bacon, Spinach & Blue Cheese Salad, Air Fryer Pigs in a Blanket.
Ingredients
The ingredients list for this recipe are fairly simple, and it’s so forgiving that you can adjust the ingredients based on your tastes and what’s most readily available near you. Here’s what you need:
- Pitted Dates. I like to use noor dates, but medjool dates will also work beautifully! If you can only find dates with pits inside, you’ll need to slice into each date from end to end (long ways), and remove the entire pit.
- Prosciutto. Prosciutto is the key to the salty and crispy elements of this recipe, plus it holds everything together!
- Blue Cheese. You can substitute manchego or goat Cheese if you prefer it.
- Walnuts or almonds, chopped.
- Toothpicks. Okay, okay, toothpicks are not an ingredient per se, but they’re equally important, so I wanted to make sure you know to get them on your trip to the grocery store!
Step by Step Instructions
The recipe is unbelievably easy to follow, so it’s great one for novice cooks and seasoned pros alike. It’s also fun to make with kids! I make my boys wash their hands really well, then they have a great time stuffing cheese and nuts into each date for me.
👉 Tip: The best way to assemble these dates is assembly line style. Stuff all the dates with blue cheese and walnuts, then wrap all the dates in prosciutto. Don’t stuff and wrap the dates one at a time, because they will get messy that way.
If you love these, you’ll love these bacon wrapped steak bites!
- Open all the dates. Fill each with about 1/2 teaspoon of blue cheese and a two to three pieces of chopped walnuts. Press the mixture in a bit so it fills in the inside of the date. Close the dates as best you can so the cheese is tucked inside.
- Slice each piece of prosciutto in half, folding over so each cut piece is roughly the same width as the date.
- Lay a date on each piece of prosciutto and wrap the prosciutto around it. Secure it closed with a toothpick.
- Set the wrapped dates on a cooling rack above a baking sheet. This allows any cheese that may bubble out to drip off instead of sticking to the date.
- Bake at 350 Fahrenheit for about 10-12 minutes, watching closely near the end to make sure they don’t overcook. Remove from the oven out when the prosciutto begins to get crispy, and serve immediately.
Optionally, you can crack a little black pepper or drizzle balsamic reduction on top (or do both!) once they’re cooked. Serve immediately!
To Make Ahead: One of the best things about this recipe is that you can prepare it ahead of time! Simply stuff and wrap the dates, the store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Wait until just before you’re ready to serve to bake them. It makes holiday and party entertaining a breeze!
Related Recipes
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Prosciutto Wrapped Stuffed Dates
Ingredients
- 16 pitted dates Noor or Medjool
- 4 slices prosciutto
- 4 tablespoons blue cheese crumbles
- 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts
Video
Instructions
- Set oven to preheat at 350℉.
- Slice open all the dates. Fill each with ½ tablespoon of blue cheese and 1 teaspoon chopped walnuts. Press the mixture in a bit so it fills in the inside of the date. Close the dates as best you can so the cheese is tucked away inside.
- Slice the pieces of prosciutto in half. Fold each piece over, so it is roughly the same width as the date. Lay a date on each piece of prosciutto and wrap the prosciutto around it. Secure it closed with a toothpick. You can serve and eat the dates now if you'd like, or you can go on to the next step to get crispy prosciutto with melty blue cheese.
- Set the wrapped dates on an oven-safe cooling rack set on a baking sheet. This allows any cheese that may bubble out to drip off instead of sticking to the date.
- Bake in preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, watching closely near the end to make sure they don't overcook. Remove from the oven when the prosciutto begins to get crispy, and serve while the stuffed dates are still warm.
Notes
- You can substitute blue cheese with any creamy, meltable cheese crumbles, such as goat cheese, Manchego, or feta.
- I think the date appetizers taste best when they’re baked and warm, but they can be served unbaked as well.
- The best way to make this recipe is assembly line style. Stuff all of the dates with blue cheese and walnuts, then wrap them in prosciutto. If you stuff and wrap the appetizers one at a time, things get messy very quickly.
Nutrition
