• Wash and dry the apple thoroughly. Insert a popsicle stick or skewer into the top of the apple. Set aside.
  1 apple

Roll out the dates

• Lay out a sheet of plastic wrap. Splay open the pitted dates and lay them on the plastic wrap in three rows of four, forming a rectangle. Lay another sheet of plastic wrap on top.
  12 Medjool dates
• Start the process of forming the dates into a solid sheet by pressing the dates flat with your palms. The heat of your hands help the dates soften.

  (If you immediately try to roll the dates with the rolling pin, the dates will move around a lot.)
• After using your palms, grab the rolling pin and gently whack/pound the dates to flatten them further.
• Lastly, use the rolling pin to roll the dates flat and smooth. Be careful not to tear the plastic wrap. There's no need to roll the dates very thin, just get them flat and smooshed to each other. You'll want to end up with a rectangle of dates that's about 10"x 8".

Cover the apple

• Once the dates are a solid sheet, carefully peel off the top layer of plastic wrap. Place the prepared apple in the center of the sheet of dates. Start to wrap the dates around the apple.
• You may find you have excess dates when you get to the top of the apple. Carefully peel back the plastic wrap and trim off the excess dates with a paring knife or kitchen scissors (date trimmings can be re-rolled and used on another apple!).
• Use your hands to press the dates onto the apple to ensure the dates are firmly adhered.

Melt the chocolate

• In a microwave safe bowl (a bowl that is wide and shallow works best), melt the chocolate chips and coconut oil in the microwave at 30 second intervals. Stir between each interval, until the chocolate is melted and smooth.
  ½ cup chocolate chips, 2 tsp coconut oil
• Peel off the plastic wrap from the date covered apple. Place the apple in the bowl of melted chocolate. Spoon the chocolate onto the the sides of the date covered apple, coating the dates in chocolate.
• Put the chocolate covered apple on a piece of parchment paper. Sprinkle on the chopped peanuts (or whatever toppings of your choosing).
  ¼ cup roasted peanuts

Chill and enjoy

• Put the apple into the refrigerator for 15 - 20 minutes to help the chocolate harden. Once set, your date caramel apple is ready to eat!