This 5-ingredient easy baked feta dip with dates and hazelnuts is drizzled with honey and olive oil for a simple appetizer. Spread creamy roasted feta cheese on crackers, toast it on crostini or serve with pita bread for scooping!
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Inspired by Greek Roasted Feta with Honey
This 5-ingredient recipe was inspired by Greek Roasted Feta with Honey, a small mezze platter we had on our first night in Greece alongside greek-inspired white bean hummus. To be exact, the appetizer we had a block of feta cheese, baked into balls of dough that were then drizzled with honey and sprinkled with walnuts.
I immediately began thinking of how I can adapt this Greek baked feta recipe recipe to be gluten free, and how it can become an easy appetizer for entertaining during the holiday season.
The solution was easy: take all the ingredients, mix everything together, throw in a powerhouse superfood like Medjool dates, and you've got a baked feta cheese crostini like no other!
A Few Tips for the Best Baked Feta Appetizer
If you like it spicy, add a sprinkle of crushed red pepper flakes.
If you like it tangy, add the juice of ¼ of a lemon.
If you find that you want to add more color to your dish, put it in the oven on broil for the last 2-5 minutes - but watch it carefully to prevent burning!
Ingredient spotlight: Medjool Dates
I always try to add some healthy ingredients to my recipes. Sometimes it's a matter of switching up the white flour for whole wheat, making a recipe gluten free, a dessert sugar-free, and other times it's adding a superfood. For that, I often turn to Medjool dates.
Naturally sweet and packed with minerals and antioxidants, Natural Delights Medjool Dates are full of potassium, calcium, and magnesium.
Large, plump, and sweet, Natural Delights Medjool Dates look so good that people can't believe they are dried - but in fact, they are fresh, and never dried! I know that's hard to believe for a pantry staple, but it's true! They come to you straight from the Bard Valley along the Colorado River, where they are grown.
You can find Natural Delights Medjool Dates at grocery stores and health food markets in most parts of Canada.
Whether I'm making a savoury main course, (like this incredible Chicken Marbella) or a festive Christmas dessert (like this Gluten Free Yule Log), I always reach for these dates.
In this recipe, I use Medjool dates along with hazelnuts to make a crunchy, yummy topping for my baked feta cheese.
How to make this roasted feta dip
Prep the ingredients
Preheat the oven to 375 F.
Take the feta block and place it in an oven-safe dish.
Mix everything together
In a small dish, mix together diced dates and chopped hazelnuts.
Add extra virgin olive oil, honey, chopped fresh rosemary.
Arrange baked feta appetizer
Arrange date and hazelnut topping on and around the feta cheese.
Drizzle with olive oil on top of the whole dish. Sprinkle with salt and pepper on top, to taste.
Bake feta dip in the oven
Transfer to the oven and bake for 20 minutes, until you have a soft and creamy feta that turns golden brown and the dates release their juices. They should become toasted, plump and browned. Check on it, stir the toppings and broil for another 5 minutes if desired.
Pro Tip: If desired, you can also broil baguette slices for crostini at the same time.
Serve baked feta dip warm
Remove the dish from the oven and garnish with fresh rosemary and more chopped dates. Serve roasted feta dip warm, alongside toasted baguette crostini, crackers or whatever else you like (see my suggestions below!)
Turn into a Baked Feta Crostini!
I usually serve this baked feta appetizer smeared on a baguette or homemade focaccia to make easy and elegant looking baked feta crostini.
To do so, simply follow the instructions for making this roasted cheese dip, and then ladle it generously on thickly cut baguette slices.
When to serve this baked feta appetizer
I love to serve this easy appetizer for gatherings of all kinds, but I find that it especially lends itself to winter-time gatherings, like during Christmas (it completes an easy meal like this one-pan Christmas dinner).
You can also serve it as a Thanksgiving appetizer while people are just gathering. Nothing brings everyone to the table as well as baked brie!
I also like to serve this cheesy appetizer for Shavuot, the Jewish holiday of dairy alongside the cheesecake of your choice, like my passionfruit cheesecake or raspberry ricotta cheesecake.
Recipe
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Date and Hazelnut Roasted Feta Cheese
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 oz feta block not feta crumbles
- 1 cup Natural Delights Medjool Dates chopped
- ½ cup hazelnuts chopped
- 2 tablespoon honey
- 2 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil plus more, for drizzling
- Fresh rosemary optional
- Salt & Pepper to taste
- Baguette slices for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 F.
- Add the feta to the middle of a small baking dish.
- In a small bowl, mix together diced dates and chopped hazelnuts. Drizzle everything with extra virgin olive oil, honey, and chopped fresh rosemary.
- Sprinkle date and hazelnut topping on and around the feta cheese.
- Drizzle the olive oil on top of the whole dish. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Place the dish in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, until you have a soft and creamy feta and toasted, plump and browned nuts and dates. Keep a close eye on the roasted feta in the last five minutes, to prevent burning.
- Remove the baked feta dip from the oven and garnish with fresh rosemary and more chopped dates. Serve warm!
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