These tasty Holiday Bacon Wrapped Dates are stuffed with holiday goodies like dried cranberries and candied pecans to make the perfect holiday appetizer.
Slice dates lengthwise, cutting to, but not through, other side. Remove pits and discard.
Combine cream cheese, dried cranberries, and pecans in food processor. Pulse until you achieve desired consistency (large or small chunks - personal preference). first 4 ingredients in a small bowl, stirring with a fork. Open dates and place filling (about 1 teaspoon) cheese mixture into each date.
Cut bacon slices into thirds so that you have 24 pieces that are about 3 inches long. Wrap bacon around date such that the stuffed section is facing the middle of the bacon and the ends wrap around the other side and barely overlap. Use metal skewer to stab through overlapped bacon and through the stuffed date (stuffed date should be vertical on skewer). If using six metal skewers, fit each skewer with 4 dates and space them out such that they are not touching. Balance skewers on a rimmed baking sheet such that the dates are either not touching the bottom of the pan or only the bottoms are touching. Basically, you want the bacon entirely exposed and not touching another wrapped date.
Bake at 350° F until bacon fat is rendered but still chewy (mine took 50 minutes). Serve immediately.
-50min
Notes
* Okay to use raw pecans in lieu of candied pecansHomemade candied pecans recipe: https://selfproclaimedfoodie.com/homemade-candied-pecans/Serving size based on one bacon wrapped date.