Dates with Manchego cheese wrapped in bacon

Ingredients:

• 15 pitted Medjool dates
• 450 g aged Manchego cheese, cut into 15 cubes
• 5 slices bacon, cut into 3 pieces each
• 0.5 tbsp. maple syrup

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 200°C.
2. Make a slit in one side of each date and insert a cube of Manchego cheese. Squeeze the date in your hand to seal the cheese. Wrap each date with a strip of bacon and secure with a toothpick.
3. Place all the dates on a baking sheet lined with a silicone mat or parchment paper. Bake the dates in the oven until the bacon on top begins to crisp, 5-6 minutes. Flip the dates over and bake the other side until the bacon is crisp.
4. Remove the dates from the oven and brush both sides with maple syrup. Return the dates to the oven and bake until crisp and sticky, 1-2 minutes. Serve hot.