Devils on Horseback with Dates and Bleu Cheese
Equipment
- 12 Toothpicks or Skewers
- 1 Baking Sheet
- Normal Kitchen Utensils
Ingredients
- For the Devils
- 12 Dates Pitted, Medjool Preferred
- 6 Strips Bacon, Cut in Half Roughly 6 oz.
- 1 to 2 Oz. Bleu or Gorgonzola Cheese
- For the (Optional) Bleu Cheese Dip
- 1/3 C Heavy Cream
- 2 Oz. Bleu Cheese Roughly 1/4 C
- 1 Tbsp Butter
- 1 Clove Garlic Minced, or 1/8 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/4 tsp Ground Black Pepper
- Salt and Additional Pepper to Taste
Instructions
- For the Devils
- If using wood skewers or toothpicks, soak them in water for at least a half hour to mitigate risk of burning during baking.
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
- Stuff each date with a little bit of the 1-2 Oz. Of Bleu cheese. Don't overstuff, or the cheese could ooze out during baking. I find it is easiest to open all the dates up first, and then add the bleu cheese in. Then you can close them back up. Use any leftover bleu cheese as a garnish.12 Dates, 1 to 2 Oz. Bleu or Gorgonzola Cheese
- Wrap each stuffed date in a half strip of bacon and secure with a toothpick or skewer.6 Strips Bacon, Cut in Half
- Place the stuffed dates on a baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes, until the bacon is crispy. Turn halfway through baking.
- Once baked, remove them from the oven and let them cool a few minutes before serving. They are great with the following Bleu cheese dip.
- To Make the (Optional) Bleu Cheese Dip
- In a small pot, melt the butter over medium heat.1 Tbsp Butter
- Stir in the garlic and cook for a minute to soften.1 Clove Garlic
- Add the cream and bring to a simmer.1/3 C Heavy Cream
- Stir in the Bleu cheese and cook another minute, stirring often, to let it melt in.2 Oz. Bleu Cheese
- Season with the pepper and, if necessary, salt.1/4 tsp Ground Black Pepper, Salt and Additional Pepper to Taste
- Serve this as a warm dip with the Devils on Horseback
The Best Devils on Horseback I’ve Ever Had
If you’ve never tried Devils on Horseback, you’re missing out. These bacon-wrapped, bleu cheese-stuffed dates are the perfect balance of sweet, salty, and tangy. Add a warm bleu cheese dipping sauce, and they become downright addictive. Out of all the versions I’ve tried, this one is the best.
I first had them in one of the most unforgettable places—Alaska in the winter. It was my first big trip with friends, filled with glaciers, bald eagles, moose, and massive Malamutes. The whole area looked like a 360-degree Bob Ross painting. We ended the adventure with a fancy dinner at a mountaintop restaurant, where I took my first bite of Devils on Horseback with Dates and Bleu Cheese. That combination of crispy bacon, creamy bleu cheese, and chewy dates stuck with me. I knew I had to recreate it.
A Modern Twist on a Classic Dish
The original Devils on Horseback recipe dates back to early 1900s England. The first version used prunes wrapped in bacon, sometimes stuffed with chutney or almonds. This twist, swapping prunes for dates and adding bleu cheese, is a more recent variation. It became popular in the 2000s as people rediscovered the joy of sweet and savory pairings.
Why Devils on Horseback with Dates and Bleu Cheese Stands Out
Dates bring a deep caramel-like sweetness that balances the sharp, salty punch of bleu cheese. The bacon crisps up perfectly, sealing everything inside. The warm bleu cheese dipping sauce takes it to another level, giving every bite an extra layer of creamy richness. I *really* recommend making the bleu cheese sauce.
This is one of those recipes that looks fancy but is surprisingly easy to make. Whether you’re hosting a party or just treating yourself, Devils on Horseback never disappoint.
More Delicious Bites to Try
If you love this version, be sure to check out my original Devils on Horseback recipe, which uses prunes instead of dates for a more traditional take. You might also like this dish’s counterpart: Angels on Horseback—bacon-wrapped oysters with a briny, smoky bite.
No matter which one you choose, these bite-sized hors d’oeuvres will steal the show.
Some content edited/generated with the help of ChatGPT | OpenAI: https://www.openai.com/
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