Dark Chocolate Date Cake

Ingredients

• 2 cups pitted Medjool dates (about 12 ounces)
• 1 ½ cups boiling water
• 1 ¼ cups flour
• ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon coarse salt
• ½ cup oil + ½ cup unsweetened applesauce (or 1 cup oil or 1 cup unsweetened applesauce)
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• ½ cup milk (of choice)
• 1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• ½ cup dark chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips or chunks
• 1 ½ cups pitted Medjool dates (about 9 ounces)
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• Pinch of coarse salt
• ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut (optional)