Bacon-Wrapped Dates

Ingredients

12 ounces bacon thinner is better

6 ounces pitted dates about 28

1 1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

2 teaspoons maple syrup or honey

A few pinches mild red pepper flakes aleppo-style

Flaky sea salt

Equipment

toothpick

foil

rimmed baking sheet or roasting dish

Directions

Heat oven to 425 degrees F.

Wind bacon around each date, securing it with a toothpick and arranging it on a rimmed, foil-lined baking sheet or roasting dish.

Combine cider vinegar, maple syrup, and pepper flakes in a small bowl.

Brush or spoon over each bacon-wrapped date; you can even very briefly roll them in the mixture to coat.

Sprinkle with sea salt.

Roast for as little as 15 and up to 35 minutes, until bacon is a deep, crisp, sizzling brown.

Check in on the early end, and then every 5 minutes thereafter, to get the color and crisp just right.

If you have extra vinegar mixture, you can brush it on again in the second half of the baking time.

Serve warm, sprinkling with more sea salt and/or pepper flakes to taste.