Vegan Bacon Wrapped Dates!

My vegan bacon wrapped dates recipe is here and boy oh boy am I happy about it!! Sweet sticky dates are stuffed with creamy vegan cheese and wrapped in homemade smoky vegan rice paper bacon! Um, yes, please. This sweet and salty appetizer looks and tastes super impressive but it’s actually pretty easy to make with just 9 ingredients! The perfect vegan appetizer for your holiday parties and dinner parties.

These dates are super rich and satisfying. The perfect holiday treat. I love them served warm out of the oven, but I also enjoyed them cold! Chewy, crispy, creamy, sweet, smoky, savory, this party-perfect appetizer has it all!

INGREDIENTS TO MAKE VEGAN BACON WRAPPED DATES:

These vegan bacon wrapped dates are made with just 9 simple ingredients:

• • Medjool dates. Medjool dates are large and soft making them the perfect date for this appetizer.
  • Vegan cream cheese or salted smoked almonds. You can use store-bought or homemade vegan cream cheese, or for a crunchier option try smoked salted almonds instead!
  • Nutritional yeast. Used to add savory taste to the rice paper bacon, and also help the marinade stick to the rice paper.
  • Light oil. Such as canola or vegetable, because vegan bacon needs to be greasy and crispy after all!
  • Soy sauce. Which adds salt, umami, and color to the vegan bacon. Sub tamari for a gluten-free option.
  • Smoked paprika. For smokiness and color.
  • Garlic powder. Because garlic, duh.
  • Liquid smoke. To make the vegan bacon extra smoky!
  • Rice Paper. The same kind of rice paper sheets you use to make summer rolls, this is the base of the vegan bacon as it gets crispy, chewy, and absorbs any flavor you give it. This stuff is magic!

TIPS AND TRICKS:

1. I like to use Medjool dates best. Medjool dates are big, soft, and sticky sweet. If you prefer you can use another kind of date, but I think Medjool will get the best results.
2. To make this recipe super quick, use a store-bought vegan cheese. Or if you prefer homemade try my cashew cream cheese recipe.
3. Homemade rice paper bacon is perfect for this recipe. It’s also super easy to make!
4. When working with the rice paper bacon, work quickly. The rice paper can soften very quickly which can make it tricky to handle. If the rice paper still seems a bit stiff when wrapped around the date, it’s ok, it will continue to soften.
5. Bake the dates until they are very dark and maybe even juuuuust beginning to burn around the edges. This will ensure that the bacon will get crispy.
6. If you prefer you can try a store-bought vegan bacon, but please note that you will not need to marinate it, and cooking times and results will vary.

How to Make Vegan Bacon Wrapped Dates:

How do you pit dates? Use a small knife to carefully cut a slit down the length of a date. Use your fingers to remove the pit in the middle and discard it. Repeat with the remaining dates so that your dates are all pitted.

Which dates should I use? Medjool dates are my favourite because they are large and soft. If you have another kind of date on hand, feel free to use that instead, but note that the results may vary.

Scoop 1 – 2 teaspoons of vegan cream cheese into the cavity of the date where the pit used to be. Gently squeeze the date closed so that the cheese is on the inside. Set aside and repeat with the remaining dates so that they are all filled with vegan cheese.

Alternatively, you can fill the date with a smoked salted almond instead of the cheese.

To make the rice paper bacon:

In a small dish, mix together the nutritional yeast, oil, soy sauce, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and liquid smoke.

Now take two sheets of rice paper. Quickly run them under water and place them on top of each other on a clean work surface. Let the rice paper rest for 15 – 30 seconds, the rice paper will soften and stick together. Use clean scissors or a sharp knife to cut strips about 2 inches wide.

Take one of the rice paper strips and dip it in the marinade to coat.

Wrap the marinated rice paper strip around one of the dates and set on the prepared baking sheet. The rice paper will continue to soften as it rests.

Bake until they are dark brown 12 – 16 minutes, flipping the dates halfway through so both sides are crispy. Allow the dates to cool for 10 minutes before serving, they will get crispier as they cool. Serve warm or cooled, they are great both ways!

These vegan bacon wrapped dates are…

• Crispy
• Chewy
• Creamy
• Sweet
• Smoky
• Savory

More delicious vegan holiday appetizers:

Cranberry & Thyme Vegan Cheeseball
Vegan Baked Brie in Puff Pastry
Vegan Cranberry Jalapeño Dip
Vegan Mushroom Walnut Pâté

If you try this recipe let us know by leaving a comment, rating it, and don’t forget to tag @itdoesnttastelikechicken on Instagram.
Bon appetegan!
Sam Turnbull.

Print Recipe

Vegan Bacon Wrapped Dates

Sweet sticky dates are stuffed with creamy vegan cheese and wrapped in homemade smoky vegan rice paper bacon! Um, yes, please. Vegan Bacon Wrapped Dates are the perfect sweet and salty appetizer that looks and tastes super impressive but it’s actually pretty easy to make with just 9 ingredients! The perfect vegan appetizer for your holiday parties and dinner parties.

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time15 mins

Total Time30 mins

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Servings: 10 wrapped dates

Calories: 131kcal

Author: Sam Turnbull • It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken

Ingredients

• 10 medjool dates
• ¼ cup vegan cream cheese or salted smoked almonds (see notes for options)

For the vegan rice paper bacon:

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Prepare the dates:

• Use a small knife to carefully cut a slit down the length of a date. Use your fingers to remove the pit in the middle and discard it. Repeat with the remaining dates so that your dates are all pitted.

• Scoop 1 – 2 teaspoons of vegan cheese into the cavity of the date where the pit used to be. Gently squeeze the date closed so that the cheese is on the inside. Set aside and repeat with the remaining dates so that they are all filled with vegan cheese. Alternatively, you can fill the date with a smoked salted almond instead of the cheese.

For the rice paper bacon:

• In a small dish, mix together the nutritional yeast, oil, soy sauce, smoked paprika, garlic powder and liquid smoke.

• Now take two sheets of rice paper. Quickly run them under water and place them on top of each other on a clean work surface. Let the rice paper rest for 15 – 30 seconds, the rice paper will soften and stick together. Use clean scissors or a sharp knife to cut strips about 2 inches wide.

• Take one of the rice paper strips and dip it in the marinade to coat. Wrap the marinated rice paper strip around one of the dates and set on the prepared baking sheet. The rice paper will continue to soften as it rests.

• Bake until they are dark brown 12 – 16 minutes, flipping the dates halfway through so both sides are crispy. Allow the dates to cool for 10 minutes before serving, they will get crispier as they cool. Serve warm or cooled, they are great both ways!

Notes

Vegan Cheeses: You can use any kind of vegan cheese for this, but I like to use a store-bought vegan cream cheese. If the cheese you use melts, it may melt and escape from the date. I actually kind of like this as it bubbles and gets a bit crispy on the baking sheet. Yum! For a homemade vegan cheese try my vegan cream cheese or my tofu ricotta recipe. Another option is to use almonds instead. A smoked salted almond will add a delightful crunch!

Nutrition

Serving: 1vegan bacon wrapped date | Calories: 131kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 254mg | Potassium: 213mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 86IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1mg

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