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Course: Appetizers
Keyword: Blue Cheese Bacon Devils on Horseback, Entertaining, Gluten-Free, Holidays

Blue Cheese and Bacon Devils on Horseback

Blue Cheese and Bacon Devils on Horseback on tray with magnifying glass
ACTIVE TIME: 20 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 2 hours 40 minutes
Yield: 20 dates
While I was growing up in the '60s, my parents loved to entertain. One night, my mom announced that she was going to serve Devils on Horseback. As a kid, I was terrified.
Of course, I didn't realize she was talking about the date-centric hors d'oeuvre stuffed with blue cheese and wrapped in bacon. Now, I never entertain without a batch of these beauties on hand.
Note: Obviously if you don't have a toaster oven you can use a regular oven to cook these bites. But honestly, you should think about picking up a decent toaster oven sometime soon.
This recipe first appeared in Season 1 of Good Eats: The Return.
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Software

  • 20 Pitted Deglet Noor dates
  • 1 cup dry sherry 
  • 2 ounces blue cheese 
  • 7 slices bacon (not thick-cut), cut into 3-inch lengths
Blue Cheese and Bacon Devils on Horseback on tray with magnifying glass
ACTIVE TIME: 20 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 2 hours 40 minutes
Yield: 20 dates

Procedure

  • Soak the dates in the sherry for 2 hours, making sure they're fully submerged.
  • Meanwhile, place the blue cheese in a small zip-top bag, then snip one corner off the bag, leaving about a 1/2-inch opening. Leave at room temperature until ready to fill the dates.
  • Heat a toaster oven to 450°F and place a rack in a quarter sheet pan or use the pan that came with your toaster oven, if applicable (see note).
  • Drain but do not rinse the dates. Use a pair of scissors to open each date lengthwise.
  • Pipe roughly 1/2 teaspoon of the cheese into each date, then wrap with a piece of bacon. Place the wrapped dates on the rack, bacon ends down, and gently press to anchor.
  • Bake until the bacon is brown and crispy, about 15 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes before serving.
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