Roasted Stuffed Dates – Sweet, Savory & Sophisticated

Elevate appetizer hour with Medjool dates stuffed with creamy goat cheese, crunchy walnuts, fragrant rosemary, and a honey-orange drizzle—roasted to melty perfection.

🎉 Introduction

Roasted Stuffed Dates are the ultimate gourmet bite: irresistibly sweet dates filled with tangy goat cheese, chopped walnuts, aromatic rosemary, and a hint of citrus, all roasted until warm and slightly caramelized. Perfect for cocktail parties, charcuterie boards, or elegant snacks. Simple to prepare, yet packed with flavor and sophistication. ✨

🧰 Equipment Needed

• Baking sheet
• Parchment paper or silicone mat
• Small bowl
• Spoon or piping bag (for stuffing)
• Microplane or zester

🛒 Ingredients

🧡 Dates & Filling

• 12 oz Medjool dates, pitted (~25–30 dates)
• 4 oz goat cheese log
• ⅓ cup walnuts, finely chopped

🌿 Flavor Additions

• 2 tsp fresh rosemary, finely minced
• ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp sea salt

🍊 Orange & Honey Glaze

• Zest of 1 orange (~1 tsp)
• 2 tsp fresh orange juice
• Drizzle of hot honey (or regular honey warmed)

🫒 Olive Oil

• 3 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

👩‍🍳 Directions

Step 1: Prep & Preheat

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 2: Prepare Filling

1. In a small bowl, mix goat cheese with chopped walnuts, rosemary, cinnamon, orange zest, orange juice, and sea salt.
2. Stir until evenly combined.

Step 3: Stuff the Dates

1. Slice each pitted date lengthwise, keeping one edge intact.
2. Spoon or pipe the cheese-walnut mixture into each date, filling generously.

Step 4: Roast

1. Place stuffed dates on the lined baking sheet.
2. Drizzle with olive oil and a touch of hot honey.
3. Roast for 10–12 minutes, until cheese softens and dates are warmed through.
4. Optional: Broil 1–2 minutes for a golden finish—watch closely to avoid burning.

Step 5: Serve

• Transfer to a serving platter and drizzle with extra honey if desired.
• Garnish with additional rosemary or orange zest.
• Serve warm or at room temperature.

🍽️ Servings & Timing

• Serves: 12–16 appetizers (depending on serving size)
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Bake Time: 12 minutes
• Total Time: ~25 minutes

🥄 Variations

• Spice It Up: Add red pepper flakes or smoked paprika to the filling
• Nut Swap: Use almonds, pecans, or pistachios instead of walnuts
• Cheese Options: Substitute goat cheese with blue cheese or cream cheese
• Basil Twist: Add fresh basil instead of rosemary for a different herb note
• Vegan Version: Replace cheese with almond-based cheese

🧊 Storage & Serving

• Room Temp: Store in a covered dish for up to 4 hours
• Refrigerator: Keep in an airtight container up to 2 days—reheat at 350°F for 5 minutes before serving
• Freezer: Not recommended due to cheese texture

❓ 10 FAQs

1. Can I use another cheese?
   Yes—blue cheese or cream cheese are great substitutes.
2. Do I need to soak the walnuts?
   No—raw walnuts add perfect crunch and texture.
3. Can I prep ahead?
   Yes—stuff dates up to 1 day before, refrigerate, then roast before serving.
4. Is it spicy?
   Mild—rosemary and cinnamon create depth, but cayenne or paprika adds heat.
5. What’s hot honey?
   Honey infused with chili flakes; use regular honey if not available.
6. Can I use dried rosemary?
   Fresh is best, but ½ tsp dried may substitute.
7. Are these vegetarian?
   Yes—completely vegetarian.
8. Can I make them vegan?
   Yes—with plant-based cheese and maple syrup instead of honey.
9. How to reheat leftovers?
   Warm in oven at 350°F for ~5 minutes.
10. How to serve?
    Pair with wine or Champagne as upscale appetizers on a cheese board.

🏁 Conclusion

These Roasted Stuffed Dates are a show-stopping, flavor-packed appetizer that’s elegant yet impossibly easy. With warm caramelized sweetness, tang from goat cheese, crunchy walnuts, and herby warmth, they’ll disappear fast at any gathering. Delight your guests—and yourself—with these gourmet bites! 🥂

Roasted Stuffed Dates – Sweet, Savory & Sophisticated

Adam

Elevate appetizer hour with Medjool dates stuffed with creamy goat cheese, crunchy walnuts, fragrant rosemary, and a honey-orange drizzle—roasted to melty perfection.🎉 Introduction Roasted Stuffed Dates are the ultimate gourmet bite: irresistibly sweet dates filled with tangy goat cheese, chopped walnuts, aromatic rosemary, and a hint of citrus, all roasted until warm and slightly caramelized. Perfect for cocktail parties, charcuterie boards, or elegant snacks. Simple to prepare, yet packed with flavor and sophistication. ✨

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 12 minutes mins

Total Time 22 minutes mins

Servings 16 appetizers

Equipment

• Baking sheet
• Parchment paper or silicone mat
• Small bowl
• Spoon or piping bag (for stuffing)
• Microplane or zester

Ingredients

  

🧡 Dates & Filling

• 12 oz Medjool dates pitted (~25–30 dates)
• 4 oz goat cheese log
• ⅓  cup walnuts finely chopped

🌿 Flavor Additions

• 2 tsp fresh rosemary finely minced
• ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp sea salt

🍊 Orange & Honey Glaze

• Zest of 1 orange ~1 tsp
• 2 tsp fresh orange juice
• Drizzle of hot honey or regular honey warmed

🫒 Olive Oil

• 3  Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

Instructions

 

Step 1: Prep & Preheat

• Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 2: Prepare Filling

• In a small bowl, mix goat cheese with chopped walnuts, rosemary, cinnamon, orange zest, orange juice, and sea salt.
• Stir until evenly combined.

Step 3: Stuff the Dates

• Slice each pitted date lengthwise, keeping one edge intact.
• Spoon or pipe the cheese-walnut mixture into each date, filling generously.

Step 4: Roast

• Place stuffed dates on the lined baking sheet.
• Drizzle with olive oil and a touch of hot honey.
• Roast for 10–12 minutes, until cheese softens and dates are warmed through.
• Optional: Broil 1–2 minutes for a golden finish—watch closely to avoid burning.

Step 5: Serve

• Transfer to a serving platter and drizzle with extra honey if desired.
• Garnish with additional rosemary or orange zest.
• Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

🥄 Variations
Spice It Up: Add red pepper flakes or smoked paprika to the filling

Nut Swap: Use almonds, pecans, or pistachios instead of walnuts

Cheese Options: Substitute goat cheese with blue cheese or cream cheese

Basil Twist: Add fresh basil instead of rosemary for a different herb note

Vegan Version: Replace cheese with almond-based cheese

🧊 Storage & Serving
Room Temp: Store in a covered dish for up to 4 hours

Refrigerator: Keep in an airtight container up to 2 days—reheat at 350°F for 5 minutes before serving

Freezer: Not recommended due to cheese texture

❓ 10 FAQs
Can I use another cheese?
Yes—blue cheese or cream cheese are great substitutes.

Do I need to soak the walnuts?
No—raw walnuts add perfect crunch and texture.

Can I prep ahead?
Yes—stuff dates up to 1 day before, refrigerate, then roast before serving.

Is it spicy?
Mild—rosemary and cinnamon create depth, but cayenne or paprika adds heat.

What’s hot honey?
Honey infused with chili flakes; use regular honey if not available.

Can I use dried rosemary?
Fresh is best, but ½ tsp dried may substitute.

Are these vegetarian?
Yes—completely vegetarian.

Can I make them vegan?
Yes—with plant-based cheese and maple syrup instead of honey.

How to reheat leftovers?
Warm in oven at 350°F for ~5 minutes.

How to serve?
Pair with wine or Champagne as upscale appetizers on a cheese board.

🏁 Conclusion
These Roasted Stuffed Dates are a show-stopping, flavor-packed appetizer that’s elegant yet impossibly easy. With warm caramelized sweetness, tang from goat cheese, crunchy walnuts, and herby warmth, they’ll disappear fast at any gathering. Delight your guests—and yourself—with these gourmet bites! 🥂