Soak the dates. Place the dried, pitted dates in a bowl of warm water to re-hydrate. After 15 minutes, drain the water and chop the dates into small pieces.
Make the caramel. In a small saucepan, combine the chopped dates, peanut butter, water and vanilla. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until the mixture turns into a thick paste. Stir in the salt.
Add the rice cereal. While the date mixture is still warm, gently fold in the rice cereal. Firmly roll heaping tablespoons of dough into balls and place in the fridge for 15 minutes to cool.
Melt the chocolate. Meanwhile, melt the chocolate chips in the microwave. Start with one minute on high-power, adding 30 seconds until fully melted, stirring in-between.
Coat your treats. One at a time, drop the cooled balls of dough into the chocolate and roll around with a fork until fully covered. Drag the fork against the side of the bowl to remove excess chocolate and place the treat on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Make it fancy! While still wet, sprinkle the tops with crushed peanuts. Refrigerator for at least half an hour before enjoying, or until the chocolate is fully set!