Devils on Horseback is one of my favorite, easy appetizers. Sweet caramelized dates are stuffed with pungent creamy blue cheese, wrapped in crispy bacon, and then dipped in brown sugar. Be sure to make plenty! These little beauties are a crowd pleaser that don’t last long.
Variations of this recipe include the use of prunes versus dates and stuffing the dates with almonds versus cheese. In a pinch, you can also leave out the stuffing altogether and simply wrap the dates in bacon for a quick appetizer that will still dazzle your guests.
Favorite Appetizer Recipes
Ham and Cheese Sliders 
Peach Brandy Bacon Meatballs 
Pretzel Monkey Bread
How to make Devils on Horseback
Devils on Horseback require few ingredients. This makes them light on the budget and easy on the wallet. If you’re looking for a blue cheese alternative, feta will do. While feta is not as sharp as blue cheese, the consistency is very similar. You want a cheese that has a high melting point, meaning it can handle high heat without melting to the point of running.
Equipment Used
- Toothpicks – used to secure the stuffed wrapped dates
- Mixing Bowl – used to place the brown sugar for dipping
- Rimmed Baking Sheet – used for baking the stuffed wrapped dates
Ingredient List
- Dates – pitted (regular size, not the large)
- Cheese – blue cheese
- Meat – bacon (not thick cut)
- Sugar – light brown sugar
Recipe Preparation
- Remove entire slab of bacon from its package. Cut bacon slices into thirds. Customarily, one package of bacon will contain 14 slices, which cut into thirds will produce 42 pieces.
- Cover a large rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Set all ingredients out to make preparation easy. You’ll need the bacon pieces, pitted dates, opened container of blue cheese, a small spoon for filling, toothpicks, and small bowl of brown sugar.
- Take a date and open it at the seam. Double check for pits. You don’t want your guests breaking a tooth! Stuff the date with about half a teaspoon of blue cheese (or more depending on the size of the date). Repeat the process with all dates.
- Close the stuffed dates at the seam to seal. Place the dates, seam side down, in the middle of a piece of bacon and wrap the sides of the bacon around the dates. Carefully, poke a toothpick through the sides of each wrapped stuffed date.
- Dip each wrapped stuffed date in brown sugar and place on a large rimmed baking sheet. You want to bake these seam side up with the overlapped bacon on the bottom.
- Bake dates for 15 to 20 minutes at 400 degrees, then broil on LOW for 1 to 2 minutes until bacon is crisp.
- Serve Devils on Horseback immediately, or at least while warm. This appetizer does not reheat well as the bacon will never be as crispy as the day they are first baked.
Devils on Horseback
Ingredients
- 42 dates pitted
- 8 oz blue cheese
- 1 pkg bacon not thick cut
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees and cover a large rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil.
- Take a date and open it at the seam. Double check for pits. Stuff the date with about half a teaspoon of blue cheese (or more depending on the size of the date). Close the stuffed date at the seam to seal. Repeat process with all dates.
- Place the dates, seam side down, in the middle of a piece of bacon and wrap the sides of the bacon around the dates. Carefully, poke a toothpick through the sides of each wrapped stuffed date.
- Dip each wrapped stuffed date in brown sugar and place on the prepared baking sheet. Bake the dates seam side up with the overlapped bacon on the bottom. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, then broil on LOW for 1 to 2 minutes until bacon is crisp.
