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Recipes โ€บ Holidays โ€บ Holiday Appetizers
13 Comments

Whipped Goat Cheese with Bacon & Dates

Kathleen

by Kathleen Pope Sep 13, 2022

Jump to Recipe

Pin for best appetizer with whipped goat cheese appetizer image on top, bottom images a close up of hand holding goat cheese appetizer spread on a cracker.
Pin for Easy goat cheese appetizer with bacon and dates, close up of appetizer and bottom image of appetizer with assorted crackers.
Whipped Goat Cheese Appetizer with bacon, dates and rosemary honey pin top image of goat cheese spread onto cracker and bottom image of goat cheese on plate with bacon, dates and assorted crackers and veggies.
Whipped Goat Cheese Dip spread onto cracker with bacon and dates and pomegranates on top.
Whipped Goat cheese appetizer on plate served with variety of crackers and carrots, cucumbers and apples.
Whipped Goat Cheese Appetizer on pretty olive wood board with assorted crackers nearby.

With tangy whipped goat cheese, savory bacon, and sweet dates, this is one goat cheese appetizer that absolutely can’t be beat. And with so much room to customize, you can make it entirely your own. Dip into this tantalizing first course with warm toasted bread and say hello to your go-to holiday appetizer from here on out! 

For added heat and sweetness, there are a few ways that you can incorporate my favorite hot honey. This appetizer will also go great with our fall charcuterie board to level-up your brunch game. And for another delicious holiday dish, try out my delicious holiday salad recipe with pomegranate dressing and this to-die-for pesto appetizer with burrata and roasted tomatoes.

Whipped Goat Cheese Appetizer with bacon, dates and honey.
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Why you will love this Goat Cheese Appetizer

Served with a sweet, hot bacon and date topping that will blow you (and your guests) away! It’s creamy, rich, and goes well with almost every dipper you can imagine. 

The both the goat cheese and bacon topping can be prepared ahead of time, making this the perfect holiday appetizer. Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Game day… all great occasions for this decadent dip.

This has been my go-to holiday party appetizer this year – and hands down, everyone has loved it you just can’t stop eating it! Serve with warm flatbread, crackers, veggies and gluten-free crackers so everyone can enjoy it. 

Ingredients

The full list of amounts and instructions are in the printable recipe card at the end of this post.

Ingredients for Goat Cheese Appetizer with bacon, dates, hot honey.
  • Goat Cheese |  A savory log of creamy goat cheese.
  • Cream Cheese | This will add a milder flavor and help to give the dish body.
  • Bacon | You want thick cut slices for this recipe so that its flavor can stand up to the sweetness and tanginess of the other ingredients. But that being said, I’ve made this in a rush, using precooked, thin sliced bacon, just watch it, it’ll crisp quickly.
  • Dates | Use pitted and torn Medjool dates, as plump as you can find them!
  • Brown Sugar | Opt for a light brown sugar in this dish, such as this organic option.
  • Rosemary | Fresh chopped rosemary is the perfect aromatic to top off the appetizer and we’ll use it to infuse the honey as well. 
  • Honey | We will use the rosemary infused honey as a garnish on top.
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil | Olive oil will add smoothness to our appetizer. You always want to use extra virgin olive oil, which is less processed and healthier than other variations. 
  • Pomegranate Arils | These are optional but do go well with the flavors in this appetizer.

How to Make Whipped Goat Cheese

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees fahrenheit. Line your baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.

Step 1 | Make Rosemary Honey

In a small bowl, combine ¼ cup of honey, a tablespoon of finely chopped fresh rosemary, and a pinch of cayenne powder. Add a pinch of sea salt and stir together. Let that sit and infuse.

Step 2 | Make the Candied Bacon and Date mixture

In a medium bowl, toss the chopped bacon, remainder of the rosemary, brown sugar, cayenne, and 1 teaspoon of honey. Toss everything together until everything is well coated, and then spread evenly in your lined pan.

Tear or chop the dates into bite-sized pieces and scatter them around the bacon. 

  • Adding cayenne and salt to bacon mixture.
    Sprinkle cayenne & sea salt
  • Stirring in fresh rosemary into bacon and dates.
    Add chopped rosemary
  • Adding honey over bacon and rosemary.
    Drizzle on honey
  • Stirring bacon and dates mixture.
    Stir to combine it all
  • Sprinkled the bacon and dates onto a baking sheet.
    Sprinkle bacon and dates on pan

TFC PRO TIP: If desired for a less crispy dates and more crispy bacon, add the dates during the last 5-8 minutes of cooking time. 

Bake for 8-18 minutes until the bacon is crisp, stirring as needed. If you’re using very thick slices, or you just want it extra crispy, bake for a bit longer, but watch your dates, I suggest adding them in the last 5-8 minutes.

Step 3 | Make Whipped Goat Cheese

Prepare the whipped goat cheese mixture while the bacon and dates are baking. Add the goat and cream cheese, olive oil, and a pinch of flaky sea salt to your food processor or stand mixer. Pulse or mix the ingredients until smooth and creamy.

  • In bowl of stand mixer goat cheese and cream cheese.
    Add goat cheese and cream cheese, mix well
  • Adding olive oil and salt to whipped goat cheese mixture.
    Slowly pour in olive oil
  • Whipped goat cheese mixture in mixing bowl.
    Goat cheese should be light and creamy

Transfer your whipped goat cheese mixture into a serving bowl or shallow plate. Use the back of a teaspoon to create spiral troughs in the dip.

Top your dip with the a drizzle of rosemary honey, hot candied bacon and date mixture, and then drizzle a little more rosemary honey garnish on top. Save a little extra to serve on the side, as desired. For an added touch, sprinkle with fresh pomegranate arils.

  • Using spoon to spread goat cheese mixture and then create troughs.
    Use back of spoon to spread goat cheese, creating troughs
  • Drizzling honey over whipped goat cheese.
    Drizzle honey over top of goat cheese
  • Spooning bacon and date mixture over goat cheese.
    Spoon bacon and date mixture on top
  • Adding final drizzle of rosemary honey.
    Drizzle with a little more rosemary honey

Serve with warm flatbread, naan, or crackers. For a low carb option, serve with carrots, apple slices or cucumber chips.

Variations

  • If the whipped goat cheese is too strong, you can replace it with feta.
  • Dried cranberries, cherries, or blueberries also go great with this dip.
  • If making this dish in the summer or fall, try replacing the dates with fresh figs.

How to Pit Dates

I normally buy pitted dates, but they are so easy to pit, I wanted to show you how.

Make a gentle slice to one side of the date (you can even just tear with your hands), peel open to reveal the pit, remove and chop or tear into pieces. That’s it!

  • Make a slice into the date, open to reveal pit, remove and dice.
    Make a slice to reveal the pit
  • Removing date pit from a date.
    Remove pit and chop or tear

TFC Pro Tips

  • Pro Tip 1 | Let your goat and cream cheese come to room temperature to make them easier to mix. 
  • Pro Tip 2 | The bacon and date mixture can be made the day before and stored in an airtight container. To reheat, place on a pan and reheat it at 400 degrees for 5 minutes.
  • Pro Tip 3 | For extra crispy bacon, bake it by itself for 5-8 minutes. Then add the dates and continue to bake until lightly caramelized. 
Whipped Goat Cheese Dip with sprinkles of pomegranate arils on top.

Frequently Asked Questions

What crackers go best with this dip?

These rosemary crisps are absolutely delicious and go very well with the flavor profile of this dip. I highly recommend them!

Is this dip better served hot or cold?

Either way is really fine, but I think that it’s most delicious served with the warm topping with warm flatbread or naan. Anyway you serve it, make sure it’s at least room temperature as the flavors really POP!

How long can I keep the completed appetizer in the fridge?

This will keep well for 2-3 days. If you’re making all of the steps separately ahead of time, do not mix them until the day of!

Whipped Goat Cheese Dip on tramanto olive wood board with naan, crackers, carrots, apples and cucumbers.

Suggested Tools

  • Mixer (stand or hand mixer) or food processor | This will whip the goat cheese, oil and cream cheese until it is smooth, light and creamy. 
  • Serving Board or Tray | I love using a pretty serving board when making a hearty appetizer like whipped goat cheese dip, displaying the dip, crackers all on the board. This is my favorite board, I love the rustic live edges and gorgeous grains of olive wood.
  • Serving Plate or Bowl | Spread out that delicious topping by spreading this on a shallow plate or bowl, a stoneware plate works great. 
  • Baking Sheet  & Parchment Paper | these are tools you will use regularly and often, when you buy high quality, they will last for decades. USA pans are my favorite!

Thanks for hanging out with me today, I hope you LOVE this recipe as much as me and my friends do, be sure to comment and rate the recipe below!

LOVE IT? PIN IT!

Whipped Goat Cheese Dip spread onto cracker with bacon and dates and pomegranates on top.

More great appetizer recipes

  • Goat Cheese Log with Hot Honey, Fig and Pistachios
  • Air Fryer Toasted Ravioli
  • Pretzel Bites {Air Fryer or Oven Baked} and Easy Beer Cheese Dip {Pretzel Cheese Dip}
  • Creamy White Queso Dip, don’t forget the easy blender Salsa and the homemade guacamole!
  • 3 Ingredient Sausage Dip
  • Delicious Cheese Dips (3 Varieties | Cold or Hot)
  • Chicago-Style Deep-Dish Pizza Recipe

Like this recipe?

Don’t forget to give it a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating and leave a comment below the recipe!

Recipe Card
Whipped Goat Cheese with bacon and dates spread onto rustic cracker.

Whipped Goat Cheese with Bacon, Dates and Honey

5 from 3 readers
Author: Kathleen Pope • The Fresh Cooky 2021
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
Servings: 8 -12 servings
Print Pin SaveSaved!
With tangy whipped goat cheese, savory bacon, and sweet dates, this is one goat cheese appetizer that absolutely can’t be beat. And with so much room to customize, you can make it entirely your own. Dip into this tantalizing first course with warm toasted bread and say hello to your go-to holiday appetizer from here on out! 

Equipment

  • USA Pan Bakeware Half Sheet Pan, Warp Resistant Nonstick 
  • Naturally Med Olive Wood Butter Knife/Spreader
  • Tramanto Olive Wood Cheese Board and Cutting Board Extra Large, 24 x 12 Inch

Ingredients 

Rosemary Honey Garnish

  • 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary chopped
  • ยผ cup honey
  • Sea salt

Candied Bacon and Dates

  • 6-8 slices thick cut bacon chopped
  • 1 tablespoons fresh rosemary chopped
  • 1 teaspoon light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 8-12 Medjool dates pitted and torn (plump dates)

Whipped Goat Cheese

  • 1 10 ounce log creamy goat cheese, at room temperature
  • 4 ounces cream cheese at room temp
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • Flaky Sea salt just a pinch
  • Pomegranate Arils optional
  • Serve with assorted crackers carrot chips, cucumbers and apples for gluten-free, low carb option
Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. 
  • In a small bowl, combine ¼ cup honey, finely chopped tablespoon of fresh rosemary, and a pinch of cayenne pepper (or use hot honey if desired), and a pinch of sea salt. Stir and let infuse while assembling the rest of the appetizer. 
  • In a medium bowl toss together the chopped bacon, rosemary, brown sugar, cayenne and 1 teaspoon of honey. Toss to coat, then spread evenly in prepared sheet pan. Tear dates into various bite sized pieces and scatter around the bacon. Bake 8-18 minutes until the bacon is crisp, stirring occasionally if needed. For thicker, crisper bacon, bake a bit longer. If you like your bacon really crisp, I recommend you bake it by itself for 5-8 minutes first, then stir in the dates and continue baking until lightly caramelized. 
  • While bacon and dates are baking, make the goat cheese mixture. In the bowl of a food processor or stand mixer, pulse or mix the goat cheese, cream cheese, olive oil, pinch of flaky sea salt until smooth and creamy. 
  • Spoon cheese into a serving bowl, using a the back of a teaspoon to create spiral troughs in the cheese. Top with warm candied bacon and date mixture, then drizzle a little rosemary honey, serve additional on the side if desired. Sprinkle with fresh pomegranate arils if desired. 
  • Serve with warm flatbread, naan, crackers or carrot and cucumber chips for a low carb option.
Last step! Leave a RatingRate this recipe here. This helps other readers and helps support this website.

Notes

Variations: You may also use feta cheese in place of the goats cheese.
In the summer and fall, try replacing the dates with slices of fresh figs. 
  • Pro Tip 1 | Let your goat and cream cheese come to room temperature to make them easier to mix. 
  • Pro Tip 3 | For extra crispy bacon, bake it by itself for 5-8 minutes. Then add the dates and continue to bake until lightly caramelized. 
  • Make Ahead 

    Make the goat cheese mixture up to 3-4 days in advance, keeping in fridge. Bring to room temperature before placing in serving bowl or plate. 
    Bacon and Date mixture may be made up to a day ahead of time and kept in an airtight container in the fridge. Place on plan and reheat in 400 degree oven for 5 minutes before assembling.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 11 serving | Calories: 188kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 287mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 21g
    Whipped Goat Cheese with bacon and dates spread onto rustic cracker.
    Did you make my Whipped Goat Cheese with Bacon, Dates and Honey?Show it off! Share on Instagram, tag @thefreshcooky, and use the hashtag #thefreshcooky!
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    Kathleen Pope

    Meet Kathleen

    Recipe Innovator | Food Photographer | Food Writer

    Hi, Iโ€™m Kathleen Pope. Here at The Fresh Cooky you will find easy, mostly from-scratch, trusted recipes for all occasions. From speedy dinners to tasty desserts, with easy step-by-step instructions. I am here to help teach you how to make mouthwatering recipes without spending hours in the kitchen.

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    1. Erin

      Wed, Jan 12, 2022 at 5:42 am

      I made this for my husband’s birthday because he loves goat cheese, and oh my word, did he LOVE it! Our kids did, too, so we’ll be keeping this recipe for special occasions!

      Reply
      • KathleenKathleen Pope

        Wed, Jan 12, 2022 at 1:48 pm

        I am impressed your kids loved it! But makes me so happy!

        Reply
    2. M

      Tue, Jan 11, 2022 at 11:26 pm

      5 stars

      Reply
    3. Min

      Tue, Jan 11, 2022 at 4:25 pm

      OMG that bacon and date combo…AMAZING!! Lovely recipe. It was a big hit!

      Reply
      • KathleenKathleen Pope

        Wed, Jan 12, 2022 at 1:49 pm

        Thanks so much!

        Reply
    4. Michaela Kenkel

      Mon, Jan 10, 2022 at 10:23 am

      This right here is appetizer perfection!! I cannot believe how fast it disappeared at our party this weekend! It’s a keeper!

      Reply
      • KathleenKathleen Pope

        Mon, Jan 10, 2022 at 12:31 pm

        Oh how I love hearing that! So glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    5. Sheila Thigpen

      Mon, Jan 10, 2022 at 1:37 am

      5 stars
      Perfect combination of flavors, beautiful presentation, and totally addictive!

      Reply
    6. Julie Menghini

      Sun, Jan 9, 2022 at 2:17 pm

      I could do a face plant in that bowl of dip. I just love your sweet and savory combination.

      Reply
      • KathleenKathleen Pope

        Sun, Jan 9, 2022 at 4:55 pm

        Haha!! I love the combo as well and might have done my own face plant in the dip!

        Reply
    7. Debi

      Sun, Jan 9, 2022 at 2:23 pm

      5 stars
      This was such a great appetizer for the birthday party I hosted. Everyone loved it. Served with water crackers.

      Reply
    8. Bob

      Fri, Dec 31, 2021 at 7:22 am

      You sold us with your description and โ€œguarantee!โ€ The whipped goat cheese, dates and baconโ€ฆgonna have to try and see if you are correct. However, you know who you are dealing with hereโ€ฆ.any recipe requiring more than 4 steps and two utensils is what I call โ€œhigh maintenance!โ€ Thank youโ€ฆ..Happy New Yearโ€ฆ.

      Reply
      • KathleenKathleen Pope

        Fri, Dec 31, 2021 at 3:17 pm

        Yay, I hope you will give it a try, it might be more than you like, but it’s so worth it!

        Reply

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    Kathleen Pope

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    Hey there! I'm Kathleen Pope, a proud wife, mom of two awesome college boys, and recipe nerd. Welcome to my world of easy recipes with a healthy twist! Join thousands who trust The Fresh Cooky as their go-to recipe source. Let's cook up some magic!

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