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    Home » Recipes » Christmas

    Easy Devils on Horseback

    Published: Jul 29, 2021 · Modified: Nov 14, 2022 by Beth Sachs · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases · 5 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Devils on Horseback pin image.

    These easy Devils on Horseback are a delicious festive appetiser to serve at parties and buffets over the holiday season. I also serve them with Christmas lunch too, because they are THAT GOOD!

    Soft stoned prunes are stuffed with a whole almond, wrapped in smoked streaky bacon, and baked in the oven for the ultimate taste sensation! One is never enough!

    Easy devils on horseback in a serving bowl.

    I like to bake the Devils on Horseback in a sweet sticky glaze made with clear runny honey and soy sauce, which really complements the flavour and texture of the crispy salty bacon and soft fruity prunes.

    👩‍🍳 You might also like my air fryer pigs in blankets recipe!

    Jump to:
    • ✔️ Why should you try it?
    • 🥘 Ingredients
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 💭 Top tips
    • 🍴 Serving suggestions
    • 📖 Variations
    • 🥡 Storage
    • ❓ FAQs
    • Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    ✔️ Why should you try it?

    • Quick and easy to make.
    • A delicious festive appetiser.
    • Can be served with Christmas lunch.
    • Make ahead and store in the fridge.

    🥘 Ingredients

    Ingredients needed to make devils on horseback.
    • Prunes - soft stoned prunes or use stoned dates if you are unable to get hold of prunes.
    • Almonds - whole almonds are used in the recipe, but omit them completely if you are serving guests with a nut allergy. You could stuff the prunes with goat's cheese instead.
    • Bacon - Smoked streaky bacon for the best flavour. You could substitute with parma ham or Serano ham instead.
    • Glaze - a mixture of dark soy sauce and runny honey.

    🔪 Instructions

    The recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of the post

    1. Stuff a whole almond into the cavity of each stoned prune.
    2. Lay the streaky bacon slices on a board and cut in half horizontally so you are left with long thin strips of bacon. Wrap a slice of bacon around each prune and secure it with a cocktail stick.
    3. Place the bacon-wrapped prunes in a baking dish. Mix together the honey and soy sauce and dip each 'devil' into the glaze and place in a baking dish.
    4. Bake in a preheated oven for 15 minutes until the bacon is crispy.

    💭 Top tips

    • Soak your cocktail sticks in water for 30 minutes prior to making the recipe, to prevent them from burning in the oven. I sometimes leave them in water overnight.
    • If your prunes still have stones in them, the easiest way to remove the stones is by using a sharp paring knife to make a lengthwise slit in the date, without cutting all the way through to the other side. Gently open the date, and carefully remove the stone with your fingertips.

    🍴 Serving suggestions

    Serve as part of a festive buffet alongside my puff pastry sausage rolls, brie and cranberry pinwheels, cranberry white chocolate blondies, and chocolate orange tiffin.

    They are also delicious served with Christmas lunch itself, alongside juicy roast turkey or gammon, polenta roast potatoes, honey roasted parsnips and carrots, Brussels sprouts, slow cooker red cabbage, sausage meat stuffing, and bread sauce.

    📖 Variations

    • Swap the bacon for parma ham.
    • Don't like nuts? Stuff the prunes with goat's cheese or blue cheese.
    • Can't find stoned prunes? Use stoned dates instead or remove the stones yourself (see 'top tips'!).
    • Make them spicy by adding 1 tablespoon of sriracha chili sauce to the glaze.
    • Swap the honey for maple syrup in the glaze for an extra sweet flavour.
    Devils on horseback in a baking dish.

    🥡 Storage

    You can prep the Devils on Horseback up to a day ahead and leave them in the fridge (or a cold garage if you are running out of room in your fridge). Reserve glazing and baking them until just before you want to serve them, so the bacon is crisp and the prunes are warm and soft.

    I don't recommend reheating them as the bacon will not crisp up in the microwave. Fresh is definitely best!

    ❓ FAQs

    What is the difference between Devils on Horseback and Angels on Horseback?

    An angel on horseback is simply an oyster wrapped in bacon and baked; a devil is a prune treated the same way!

    Tried this recipe? Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ star rating in the comments!

    Recipe

    Devils on horseback served as part of Christmas lunch.
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    5 from 5 votes

    Easy Devils on Horseback

    Devils on Horseback are a delicious festive appetiser to serve at parties and buffets over the holiday season. I also serve them with Christmas lunch too, because they are THAT GOOD!
    Course Appetizer
    Cuisine British
    Keyword devils on horseback
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Cook Time 15 minutes
    Total Time 20 minutes
    Servings 10
    Calories 91kcal
    Author Beth Sachs
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Knife
    • Chopping Board
    • Oven Proof Baking Dish

    Ingredients

    Metric - US Customary
    • 20 Prunes stones removed
    • 20 Almonds
    • 10 Streaky Bacon Rashers
    • 3 tablespoon Soy Sauce
    • 2 tablespoon Honey

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 200°c (180 fan/ 400F/ Gas 6).
    • Stuff each pitted prune with 1 whole almond.
    • Lay the streaky bacon rashers on a board and slice them lengthways down the middle of each one to create long thin bacon slices.
    • Wrap 1 slice of bacon around each prune and secure in place with a cocktail stick that has been soaked in water.
    • Mix together the honey and soy sauce in a small bowl and dip each 'devil' into the glaze, then place in a baking dish.
    • Bake in the oven for 15 minutes.

    Notes

    Top Tips:
    • Soak your cocktail sticks in water for 30 minutes prior to making the recipe, to prevent them from burning in the oven. I sometimes leave them in water overnight.
    • If your prunes still have stones in, the easiest way to remove the stones is by using a sharp paring knife to make a lengthwise slit in the date, without cutting all the way through to the other side. Gently open the date, and carefully remove the stone with your fingertips.
     
    Variations:
    • Swap the bacon for parma ham.
    • Don't like nuts? Stuff the prunes with goats cheese or blue cheese.
    • Can't find stoned prunes? Use stoned dates instead or remove the stones yourself (see 'top tips'!).
    • Make them spicy by adding 1 tablespoon of sriracha chili sauce to the glaze.
    • Swap the honey for maple syrup in the glaze for an extra sweet flavour
     
    Nutrition:
    The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
     
    Nutrition Facts
    Easy Devils on Horseback
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    91
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    2
    g
    3
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    6
    %
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    1
    mg
    0
    %
    Sodium
     
    304
    mg
    13
    %
    Potassium
     
    175
    mg
    5
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    19
    g
    6
    %
    Fiber
     
    2
    g
    8
    %
    Sugar
     
    13
    g
    14
    %
    Protein
     
    1
    g
    2
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    156
    IU
    3
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    1
    mg
    1
    %
    Calcium
     
    15
    mg
    2
    %
    Iron
     
    1
    mg
    6
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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    More Easy Christmas Recipes

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    • Easy Christmas Fairy Cakes with Sprinkles
    • Easy Christmas Tiffin Recipe
    • Easy Stollen Muffins Recipe

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Andrea

      July 30, 2021 at 11:57 am

      5 stars
      I'm fascinated by the name of this recipe! We just call them stuffed dates in America. I love the honey-soy glaze for that sweet-and-savory vibe.

      Reply
    2. Alejandra

      July 30, 2021 at 1:17 pm

      5 stars
      These look like the perfect appetizer to make for a barbecue! So tasty!

      Reply
    3. Gina

      July 30, 2021 at 1:29 pm

      5 stars
      Never knew this appetizer had a name! Love prunes and this is such a great way to use them for a delicious app!

      Reply
    4. Pam

      July 30, 2021 at 1:50 pm

      5 stars
      What a fun name for your recipe! I've made dates this way, but never prunes and certainly didn't a clever name like that.

      Reply
    5. Toni

      July 30, 2021 at 1:55 pm

      5 stars
      My family really enjoyed this! So good and delish!

      Reply

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    Beth Sachs Food Blogger

    Hi, I’m Beth, a Mum of three (and one crazy dog), living in Cornwall, UK. I love creating easy, delicious and fuss-free recipes, perfect for busy families, just like my own.

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