Ingredients

• 12 pitted Medjool dates
• 8 ounces aged Manchego cheese, cut into 12 rectangular logs
• 3 links fresh chorizo, casing removed
• 6 slices bacon, halved
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar

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Instructions

1. Special equipment: 12 toothpicks
2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
3. Make an incision lengthwise in each date, open and flatten. Insert a piece of cheese in the center of each date. Break each chorizo link into quarters. Form each piece of chorizo into a log and squish it inside the date onto the cheese. Close the date around the filling and squeeze to secure. Wrap each date with a bacon strip and secure with a toothpick. Repeat for the remaining dates, cheese, chorizo and bacon. Place the dates on a baking sheet and roast until the bacon starts to crisp, 7 to 8 minutes. Turn the dates over and roast for another 7 to 8 minutes.
4. In a small bowl combine the syrup and vinegar.
5. Remove the dates from the oven and brush both sides with the maple syrup mixture. Return the dates to the oven until they are really crackly and sticky, 1 to 2 minutes. Rest the stuffed dates for 1 minute. Remove the toothpicks and serve.