Pecan-Stuffed Dates
The best appetizer of fall. Soft Medjool dates stuffed two ways — half with tangy goat cheese, half with a goat cheese and toasted pecan filling — and every one topped with a whole premium South Georgia pecan half from Worth Pecan Company. Sweet, salty, creamy, and crunchy on one platter. Put it out for game day or a dinner party and watch it disappear.
- Medjool dates24–30
- Worth Pecan Halves (about ½ of a 1 lb bag)2 cups
- Goat cheese (log or crumbles), softened6 oz
- Optional finish
- Honey, for drizzling1 tbsp
- Flaky sea saltpinch
Preheat your oven to 325°F. Spread 2 cups Worth Pecan Halves (about half a 1 lb bag) in a single layer across a baking sheet. Bake for 7–10 minutes, until fragrant and lightly golden.
Once cool, pull aside 24–30 of your favorite pecan halves for topping, then finely chop the rest. Divide the softened goat cheese in half and stir the chopped pecans into one half. Using crumbles? Let them soften, then mash with a fork until smooth.
Cut a slit lengthwise down one side of each date, without cutting all the way through. If your dates have pits, pull them out. We like pre-pitted dates from the grocery store — half the work, just as delicious.
Fill 12 dates with about 1½ teaspoons of plain goat cheese each. Divide the pecan filling among the other 12, packing it in generously. A small spoon works fine, or fill a zip-top bag, snip the corner, and pipe it in. Press one whole pecan half on top of each, and scatter any extras over the platter. Have filling left over? Stuff a few more dates — you'll have enough pecan halves to top them.
Arrange on a platter. If you like, drizzle lightly with honey and sprinkle with a pinch of flaky sea salt. Serve at room temperature. Stuffed dates keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days — let them sit out for 15 minutes before serving.
Look for soft, plump Medjool dates — they're easier to open and have a rich, caramel-like sweetness that smaller dates can't match. And don't skip toasting the pecans. A few minutes in the oven brings out their natural buttery flavor. Making the dates two ways gives your platter variety: plain goat cheese lets the date and pecan shine, while the pecan filling adds crunch in every bite.
South Georgia Pecan Halves
Fresh, raw, and never processed — one bag is all you need for this recipe. Orchard-to-bag quality you can taste in every bite.
Shop Pecan Halves — $17.99
More Worth Cooking
One recipe a month, straight to your inbox. Subscribers always get it first, before it goes anywhere else.