Step 1

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. You’ll want to make sure your baking sheet has some edges, as the bacon does produce lots of grease when cooked.

Step 2

Split each date in half without breaking them fully apart. Make sure the pit is fully removed and discarded from the date if it already isn’t.

Step 3

Add a small piece of dark chocolate to your opened date. Spread a small amount of goat cheese mixture inside, and press together to close your date. Repeat with all of your dates.

Step 4

Next, cut your strips of bacon in half. Take one date and wrap ½ piece of bacon around it. Repeat this step until each date is wrapped in ½ slice of bacon.

Step 5

Place all bacon-wrapped dates on large baking sheet with the bacon seam side down.

Step 6

Brush each bacon wrapped date with a little maple syrup. Sprinkle cayenne pepper on each date (use more if you like spicy flavors, and omit or only use a small pinch if you do not like spicy flavors). Stick a toothpick into each date.

Step 7

Bake in the oven for 10 minutes, then turn date on its side so that the toothpick is parallel to the baking sheet. Bake for 10 more minutes. Then flip dates to other side and bake again for 10 minutes or until bacon is slightly golden brown. Transfer to a plate to cool. Serve immediately. Serves 10, 2 bacon-wrapped dates each.