Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates

Stuffed dates with goat cheese and nuts on white background with thyme leaves on top.

5 from 1 vote

Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates are quick and easy to make! With a simple method we stuff the dates then oven bake them to perfection.

Prep Time10

Cook Time10

Total Time20

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: Western

Keyword: goat cheese stuffed dates

Servings:

Calories: 91kcal

Author: Adrianne

Ingredients

21 medjool dates pitted, Note 1
150 grams/6 oz goat cheese Note 2
2 tablespoons crushed nuts Note 3

To serve

honey Note 4
thyme Note 5

Instructions

Preheat the oven: preheat the oven to 180°C / 350-375°F / Gas Mark 4-5.
Dates: use a sharp knife and cutting board to slice the dates along the centre then use your fingers to gently pry them open. If using pitted dates, pull the pit to remove it and discard. Repeat for all dates. Note 4
Goat cheese: next take a teaspoon and spoon a small amount of the goat cheese into the hole for each date.
Crushed nuts: next sprinkle a small amount of the crushed nuts over the top of the cheese and repeat for each date.
Baking tray: transfer each of the stuffed dates onto a wire rack above a baking tray. Then place the rack and tray into the oven and bake the dates for 10 to 12 minutes. Once the cook time is up, use an oven mitt to remove the cooked dates from the oven and place them onto a heatproof surface.
Honey: drizzle a small amount of honey over the top of each date.
Thyme: then sprinkle the thyme leaves over the honey layer and repeat for each date.
To serve: the dates can be served warm, fresh from the oven or after being refrigerated.

Notes

Note 1 - Medjool dates: if you purchase pitted dates this will save you 1 step as you won't have to remove the pitt from each date. The cost difference between the dates with the pitt versus without it are minimal.
Note 2 - Goat cheese: I like to use the spreadable version of goat cheese that comes in a small barrel (similar to cream cheese). You can also use packaged goat cheese that is long and thin. Remove the packaging, transfer to a small bowl and stir to soften it. The only type of goat cheese that won't work well is goat cheese slices.
Note 3 - Crushed nuts: you can purchase 'crushed nuts' from the cooking aisle in the grocery store where the flour, dried fruits and nuts are. These are crushed peanuts. They are very small pieces and the perfect size for topping the stuffed dates with. If you want to crush your own nuts you can, Similarly you can use a different type of nut and crush it such as walnuts or pistachios.
Note 4 - Honey: this is not specified as an exact amount as it can vary. I use a wooden honey dipper and dip it into about 1 tablespoon of honey that I have squeezed into a small bowl. You can do the same and top it up as needed if you drizzle a little more on. (1-2 tablespoons).
Note 5 - Thyme: you will find it easiest to pull the leaves from the sprigs if you start at the base and pull up (bottom to top) as opposed to top to bottom. Similar to the honey, there is not a specific amount that you need. Although for reference purposes you can use 2-3 sprigs.
Note 6 - Preparing the dates: if some of the dates break if half when you have sliced them to open them that is fine. We can use the goat cheese to help stick them back together again. In saying that we are slicing to open the dates, not so much to cut in half so stop before you slice too far as your technique.

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