Description
Mascarpone stuffed dates offer a luxurious Mediterranean-inspired appetizer with creamy cheese and sweet maple essence. Rich Italian flavors blend seamlessly, inviting you to savor complex textures and indulgent moments.
Ingredients
Scale
- 24 Medjool dates (pitted)
- 6 oz (170 g) mascarpone cheese
- ¼ cup (60 ml) pecans (finely chopped)
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) Grade A Dark Amber maple syrup
Instructions
- Preparation: Position oven broiler rack at highest setting for optimal caramelization potential.
- Date Preparation: Meticulously split Medjool dates lengthwise, delicately removing pits to create filling cavities.
- Cheese Filling: Gently load mascarpone into date pockets, ensuring even and generous distribution without overfilling.
- Nutty Enhancement: Finely mince pecans and lavishly scatter across cheese-filled dates, introducing delightful textural complexity.
- Broiling Setup: Arrange stuffed dates on parchment-lined baking sheet, maintaining minimal spacing between pieces.
- Syrup Infusion: Gracefully cascade pure maple syrup over dates, allowing liquid to embrace each morsel.
- Caramelization Process: Slide baking sheet under broiler, monitoring closely for 2-3 minutes until edges transform to golden hues and syrup develops rich caramelized notes.
- Resting Stage: Extract dates from oven, permitting 2-3 minutes of cooling to harmonize flavors and stabilize filling temperature.
- Serving Recommendation: Present warm for immediate enjoyment or allow to reach room temperature for alternative sensory experience. Refrigerate remaining portions in sealed container, gently rewarming before subsequent serving.
Notes
- Precision Pitting: Carefully split dates without tearing, creating a clean pocket for smooth mascarpone filling.
- Temperature Timing: Watch broiler closely for 2-3 minutes to prevent burning; golden edges indicate perfect caramelization.
- Nutty Balance: Finely chop pecans for even distribution, ensuring each bite has a delightful crunch without overwhelming the delicate date.
- Storage Savvy: Refrigerate in airtight container for maximum freshness, gently rewarm before serving to restore original texture and warmth.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Broiling
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 25
- Calories: 100
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 10 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg