Whipped Goat Cheese with Bacon, Dates and Honey

Whipped Goat Cheese with Bacon, Dates and Honey

from thefreshcooky.com
25 min
8 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • Sea salt
  • 6-8 slices thick cut bacon, chopped
  • 1 tablespoons fresh rosemary, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 8-12 Medjool dates, pitted and torn (plump dates)
  • 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

Directions

  1. 1

    Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. 

  2. 2

    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. 

  3. 3

    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. 

  4. 4

    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. 

  5. 5

    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. 

  6. 6

    Serve with warm flatbread, naan, crackers or carrot and cucumber chips for a low carb option.