Description
Smoky, sweet, and a little spicy — this Hot Honey Bacon & Date Dip with Whipped Goat Cheese brings that perfect balance of creamy, crispy, and crave-worthy flavor. With candied bacon, caramelized dates, and a buttery hot honey rosemary drizzle, it’s a crowd-pleaser that grooves from the first bite.
Ingredients
Bacon & Date Mixture
8 - 10 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped
12 Medjool dates, pitted and chopped
1 tablespoon light or dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh rosemary (or 2 teaspoons dried rosemary)
1/4 cup hot honey
Whipped Goat Cheese
10-11 oz soft goat cheese, room temperature
4 oz cream cheese, room temperature
2 teaspoons olive oil
2 tablespoons honey
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Hot Honey Butter Drizzle
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1 tablespoon hot honey
1 tablespoon regular honey
1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary (or 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary)
Pinch of kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a sheet pan with foil or parchment.
- Spread only the bacon on half of the pan and bake for 10 minutes to render and start crisping. Stir the bacon.
- Scatter the dates onto the other side of the same pan and bake for an additional 8–10 minutes, until the bacon is crisp and the dates appear glossy (not dark).
- Transfer the hot bacon and dates to a heatproof bowl. Immediately sprinkle with brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of rosemary, drizzle with hot honey, and toss gently to coat until evenly glazed. Set aside to cool slightly.
- In a food processor, combine goat cheese, cream cheese, olive oil, honey, and salt. Blend until smooth and airy. Spread evenly into an 8x8 or 9x9 baking dish.
- In a small bowl, whisk together melted butter, hot honey, regular honey, rosemary, and salt until smooth.
- Drizzle half of the honey butter over the whipped cheese. Spoon the warm bacon-date mixture evenly on top, then drizzle with the remaining honey butter. Finish with a pinch of flaky sea salt if you’d like.
- Serve warm with toasted baguette slices or crackers.
Notes
Use thick-cut bacon for the best texture – think slices can burn before the dates soften.
Room temperature cheeses are much softer so they whip together quickly and evenly. The flavors blend more harmoniously, and the dip will be lighter and creamier.
If you’re short on time, you can cheat by cutting the cheeses into chunks and microwaving them for 5–7 seconds (just to take the chill off, not melt them).
For the best coating and flavor, transfer the bacon and dates from the pan into a heatproof mixing bowl immediately after baking. Toss with brown sugar, rosemary, and honey while still hot for that even, candied finish.
If the dip feels too thick after chilling, let it sit at room temperature for 15 minutes to soften before serving.
A small drizzle of balsamic glaze adds a touch of tang that complements the sweet and savory notes.
Serve with crisp apple slices for a fresh twist, if you'd like to lighten things up.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking, Food Processor
- Cuisine: American