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A rectangular plate with sixteen dates laid out. Dates are cut open in the middl, and filled with cream cheese and topped with walnuts. Behind the plate are two bowls, one filled with halved walnuts and another with cream cheese.

Cream Cheese Stuffed Dates with Walnuts

Last Modified: June 10, 2020 // by Tracy Ariza, DDS // December 1, 2013 I may receive a commission if you purchase through links in this post. Learn more here.

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Quick, simple, yet elegant, these cheese and walnut stuffed dates are the perfect addition to your holiday appetizer lineup. #dates #appetizers #horsdoeuvres
Quick, simple, yet elegant, these cheese and walnut stuffed dates are the perfect addition to your holiday appetizer lineup. #dates #appetizers #horsdoeuvres
Quick, simple, yet elegant, these cheese and walnut stuffed dates are the perfect addition to your holiday appetizer lineup. #dates #appetizers #horsdoeuvres
Quick, simple, yet elegant, these cheese and walnut stuffed dates are the perfect addition to your holiday appetizer lineup. #dates #appetizers #horsdoeuvres

Quick, simple, yet elegant, these cream cheese stuffed dates with walnuts are highly customizable and are the perfect addition to your holiday appetizer lineup. 

A rectangular plate with sixteen dates laid out. Dates are cut open in the middl, and filled with cream cheese and topped with walnuts. Behind the plate are two bowls, one filled with halved walnuts and another with cream cheese.
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Looking for something simple, yet elegant that you can whip up at the last minute and still impress your guests?

Aren’t we all?

Today I’m going to help you out with a great holiday appetizer that seriously is all of that. I have served them many times by now when I have guests to dinner, and usually get lots of compliments.

While I’d like to say that I’m sharing my “recipe,” basically, all you have to do is spread some cream cheese into the center of a pitted date, press a walnut half into the cheese, and set the finished appetizer on the plate. It doesn’t get much quicker or easier than that! Right?

Watch how to make cream cheese and walnut stuffed dates

Which dates should you use?

Medjool dates are especially soft, sweet and tasty, so those are a great option. They add an extra level of classiness to the recipe. Any dates work really well here, though.

I’d also like to mention something that I think is important: This is one of those cases that I really prefer to use organic dates if I can find them. Here in Spain, a plague of the red palm weevil is killing off many different types of palm trees, especially the date palm and Canary Island date palm. To try to save the trees, they are constantly being sprayed with high doses of pesticides. We actually had two Canary Island date palms and lost them both to the beetles. As sad as I was to lose my only palm trees, I was relieved to not have them because by law we had to keep spraying them while they were in our garden. I no longer have to use any sort of pesticides or chemical fertilizers anywhere in my garden!

Close up of eight dates stuffed with cream cheese and topped with walnuts on a plate.

The red palm weevil is highly invasive and affects the date palms of many regions now. I can only imagine that most date trees, at least in my area, are highly sprayed as a result. That’s why I prefer to use organic dates if I can find them, just to be safe.

Customizing the stuffed dates with other cheeses and nuts

Another thing that I love about this appetizer is that it is very easy to customize to suit your taste and the taste of your guests.

Which cream cheese should you use?

Before making these, I wasn’t aware of how many types of cream cheese are available for sale! It’s amazing the variety of cream cheeses that are available.

This recipe is highly customizable and adapts well to any type of cream cheese. I have tried this with many types of cream cheese, and they have all worked perfectly, each giving the stuffed dates a new twist.

If you’re dairy free, I’ve even tried these with a good vegan cream cheese, one that was made with coconut oil and tapioca starch, and they were delicious!

Here are some types of cream cheese that you can try:

  • Basic cream cheeses
  • Goat cheese (creamy versions)
  • Blue cheese cream cheese
  • Mascarpone
  • Vegan cream cheese alternatives

Which nuts should you stuff the dates with?

I originally used walnuts because that’s what’s commonly found here in Spain. It’s also how I saw these appetizers made for the first time. I have to admit, though, they are quite tasty with pecans. When I first published this recipe, it was impossible for me to find pecans here. Now that I can finally buy them here, I may have to use them for the stuffed dates I make this Christmas Eve.

Here are some great options for nuts for your cheese stuffed dates:

  • Walnuts
  • Pecans
  • Almonds
A rectangular plate with sixteen dates laid out. Dates are cut open in the middl, and filled with cream cheese and topped with walnuts. Behind the plate are two bowls, one filled with halved walnuts and another with cream cheese.

Cream Cheese Stuffed Dates with Walnuts

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Quick, simple, yet elegant, these cream cheese stuffed dates with walnuts are highly customizable and are the perfect addition to your holiday appetizer lineup.  #dates #appetizers #horsdoeuvres

Cream Cheese Stuffed Dates with Walnuts

Quick, simple, yet elegant, these cream cheese stuffed dates feature walnuts, or your choice of nuts, and are the perfect addition to your holiday appetizer lineup. 
4.53 from 17 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 16 stuffed dates
Calories: 38kcal
Author: Tracy Ariza, DDS

Ingredients

  • 16 dates pitted
  • 8 walnuts halved
  • 1/4 cup cream cheese The options here are endless!
Switch units back – Convert units

Instructions

  • Open up the pitted dates, and fill them with a cream cheese of your choice.
  • Press a walnut half into the cheese filled dates.
  • Repeat with the rest of your dates.
  • Enjoy!
Course Appetizers, snacks
Cuisine Holiday
Keyword cheese, dates
Other Diets Gluten free
Tried this recipe? Tag me today!Mention @thethingswellmake or tag #thethingswellmake!
Serving: 1stuffed date | Calories: 38kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 11mg | Potassium: 55mg | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 50IU | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 0.1mg
Overhead view of a rectangular plate with sixteen dates laid out. Dates are cut open in the middl, and filled with cream cheese and topped with walnuts. Behind the plate are two bowls, one filled with halved walnuts and another with cream cheese.

Experiment away and show off this tasty new appetizer when your guests come to dinner. It’s perfect for the holidays, and couldn’t be easier to make! I’d love to hear what combinations you try, and which you find the best.

Category: Appetizers & Snacks, Desserts & Sweets

About Tracy Ariza, DDS

Tracy Ariza, B.A., D.D.S., left dentistry and the United States to found Oh, The Things We’ll Make!, writing to you from the Spanish Riviera. She loves making things herself in order to keep control of what goes in them. While far from perfect, she strives each day to live a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle.

Previous Post: « Overhead view of a golden brown circle spanish almond cake decorated with powdered sugar in floral shapes. Tarta de Santiago (St. James Cake) – A Spanish Almond Cake
Next Post: Mantecados and Polvorones: Typical Spanish Christmas Cookies Recipe An assortment of homemade mantecados and polvorones on a black slate plate. »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Zuwaina oman

    February 5, 2021 at 10:04 AM

    Hi dear
    I really liked
    I tried
    Delicious

    Thanks for

    Reply
  2. Ann

    November 21, 2020 at 12:48 AM

    Can you make these 24 hours in advance?

    Reply
    • Tracy Ariza, DDS

      November 25, 2020 at 7:22 PM

      Hi Ann,
      Yes, that should be fine. I usually make them at least several hours in advance. There are rarely any leftover (ha!), but I think when I have stored them, they have stored well in the fridge!

      Reply
  3. Sabrina - A Spoonful of Photography

    February 2, 2014 at 8:28 PM

    Hmm.. those seem so delicious! I just love serving dates as an appetizer or snack in all kinds of varieties and think I’ll give these a shot soon! Thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply

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Hello, I’m Tracy!

I love making my own natural products like soaps and lotions and my own pantry items like yogurt and salad dressings.
Why do I do it? Sometimes to save money, sometimes because it's healthier, but I always love having control of the ingredients!​
Oh, the things we'll make!...

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