These Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates are the perfect marriage of sweet and savory. Tangy goat cheese inside a juicy medjool date, drizzled with hot honey, and finished off with a garnish of mint leaf chiffonade. This is the fanciest yet easiest appetizer and is ready in just 15 minutes!
WANT TO SAVE THIS RECIPE?
Enter your email address and we'll send it straight to your inbox!
Dates are a prophetic recommendation for iftar, the meal that breaks the fast, for many Muslims around the world during Ramadan.
But lately, they have become more mainstream and are appearing as a wholesome snack, party appetizer, and people are even cooking and baking with them.
And if you like date-based recipes, you’ll want to try my cardamom date balls and my chocolate date energy bars.
A Quick Look at the Recipe
⏲️Ready In: 15 minutes
👪Serves: 20 dates
🍽 Calories and Protein: 81 kcal
📋 Main Ingredients: Dates, goat cheese, and honey
📖 Dietary Notes: Gluten-free, vegetarian
⭐ Why You’ll Love It: These stuffed dates are so easy to make and versatile, too. It makes for a fancy appetizer without the work.
Summarize & Save This Content With AI
“The mix of goat cheese and dates is divine. Super easy recipe! Yumm!” Saima
Jump to:
Ingredients Notes
Dates: Stuffed dates are best when you use juicy, soft dates like Medjool or other plump varieties. I have used honey dates as well, and they have worked out just fine.
Goat cheese: Goat cheese is definitely an acquired taste, but it works really well to balance the sweetness of the dates.
Hot honey: Hot honey is having its moment! And although it can be a lot easier to get it at the store, it can be pricey! You can make your own with my easy recipe below! Or, if nothing else, drizzle some plain honey, then sprinkle with crushed red pepper flakes.
Mint leaves: I love the freshness they impart here.
Variations
- Cream cheese and crushed pistachios: My aunt stuffs her dates with cream cheese and then garnishes them with chopped pistachios. You can garnish with some cardamom powder and rose petals for a South Asian flair.
- Use other soft cheeses, such as feta, brie, or ricotta, instead.
How to Make Goat Cheese-Stuffed Dates
- Step 1: Take the Goat cheese out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature. This makes it easier to work with and doesn’t crumble as you stuff the dates. Roll about five destemmed and stacked mint leaves, thinly slice (aka chiffonade), and set aside.
- Step 2: Next, cut vertically along the side of the date and remove the pit. Do the same to all the dates.
- Step 3: Take about one teaspoon of the cheese and fill the date. Lay out on a platter in a single layer, and continue filling the remaining dates.
- Step 4: Once all the dates are filled, drizzle with hot honey, garnish with mint leaves, and enjoy!
Pro Tips
- Here’s how to make hot honey at home: Heat 1/4 cup raw honey in a small saucepan, then add one teaspoon of red pepper flakes. Drizzle some over the dates, then let the rest cool before storing in an airtight glass jar.
- For the best results, use a soft and fleshy date like the Medjool, Sukkary, or Deglet Noor.
Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates FAQs
Mostly stuffed dates have goat’s cheese or cream cheese, but can also include soft cheeses like feta and even blue cheese. It is all based upon your personal preference.
Yes, stuffed dates are considered healthy because they are nutrient-dense and fiber-rich. As dates are high in natural sugar, pairing them with a protein or healthy fats like nuts, nut butters, and cheese helps balance blood sugar spikes. They are a much healthier alternative to processed, sugary snacks.
Goat cheese-stuffed dates can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container. If you intend to make them ahead, drizzle the hot honey and mint leaves just before serving.
More Snacks & Appetizers to Try
If you tried these Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments. I love hearing from you! You can also follow me on Pinterest or subscribe to our newsletter to get more deliciousness straight to your inbox!
Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates
Equipment
- 1 pairing knife
- 1 large plate/platter
Instructions
- First take the goat cheese out of the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature, about 20 minutes. Using room temperature cheese makes the goat cheese easier to work with and prevents it from crumbling.
- Meanwhile, pit the dates and chiffonade the mint leaves. Make slits in the dates, remove the pits and fill the dates with the goat cheese. About one teaspoon per date. Lay onto a platter and continue filling the rest of the dates.
- Once all the dates are filled, drizzle with the hot honey and finish off by garnishing with the mint leave chiffonade.
Video
Notes
- Here’s how to make hot honey at home: Heat 1/4 cup raw honey in a small saucepan, then add one teaspoon of red pepper flakes. Drizzle some over the dates, then let the rest cool before storing in an airtight glass jar.
- For the best results, use a soft and fleshy date like the Medjool, Sukkary, or Deglet Noor.
Zeeshan Shah says
This is the easiest yet fanciest appetizer! The sweet and savory combine with the spicy, and wow!
Saima Husain says
The mix of goat cheese and dates is divine. Super easy recipe! Yumm!
Zeeshan says
Yay! So glad you liked this combo! So simple and delish!