Homemade Chocolate-Covered Raisins
This super easy, vegan, gluten-free homemade chocolate-covered raisins recipe combines the pure, rich flavor of homemade chocolate with the naturally sweet taste of raisins.
World Chocolate Day
Today is World Chocolate Day. So it’s only right that I share a homemade version of my favorite chocolate fix. I like to keep chocolate covered raisins in the freezer to snack on. They are the perfect guilty pleasure because you can eat one at a time.
Other kinds of chocolate treats disappear in minutes. I can make a quarter cup of chocolate-covered raisins last an hour! Frozen chocolate-covered raisins are extra chewy—just the way I like them. 😁
Homemade Chocolate
Storebought chocolate-covered raisins usually contain cane sugar—including a confectioner’s glaze. I’m trying to limit my cane sugar intake. So, I’ve had to rethink my chocolate snacks. My first attempts at homemade chocolate resulted in my Homemade Chocolate Ginger Cashew Clusters recipe.
Then I decided to get really brave and try making my own chocolate-covered raisins. I was surprised by how easy it is!
Homemade Chocolate-Covered Raisins
You can make these homemade chocolate-covered raisins with just six simple ingredients—raisins, cocoa powder, cocoa butter, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon—or seven if you add a pinch of salt.
You melt the cocoa butter in the microwave. Then, you whisk in the other ingredients until you have smooth, creamy chocolate.
Next, you add the raisins and stir until they are coated with chocolate.
Then, you spread the coated raisins on a parchment-lined baking sheet and pop them in the fridge.
Once set, you can break them apart, and voilà—you have homemade chocolate-covered raisins!
The Keyword is “Homemade”
Keep in mind, these candies will not come out exactly like storebought. The kind you buy in a store are made with special equipment and sprayed with an oil/sugar coating. The process creates a smooth round shape and keeps them from sticking together, and it is difficult to replicate at home.
Homemade chocolate-covered raisins aren’t as “pretty” as storebought, but they are just as tasty. I recommend keeping them in the freezer to make them extra chewy and delicious!
Homemade Chocolate Covered Raisins
Ingredients
- ½ cup cocoa butter wafers
- 2 Tbsp. maple syrup
- ½ tsp. pure vanilla extract
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ tsp. cinnamon
- ⅛ tsp. Himalayan cooking salt optional
- 2 cups organic raisins
Instructions
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Microwave cocoa butter wafers in a microwave safe bowl at 40% power for approximately 4 minutes or until the wafers are almost completely melted. (I use a 2 cup glass Pyrex measuring cup – so I can measure, melt and mix with the same dish.) Be sure to melt wafers on low power – avoid boiling.
- Remove cocoa butter from microwave and stir with a wire whisk until remaining bits of wafers are completely melted. (Be careful, bowl or measuring cup handle may be hot.)
- Add maple syrup and vanilla extract to melted cocoa butter and stir to mix.
- Add cocoa powder, cinnamon and a pinch of salt and whisk until smooth.
- Add raisins and stir until all raisins are covered with chocolate.
- Spoon raisins onto parchment lined baking sheet in a single layer – separate as much as possible.
- Place baking sheet in the refrigerate for at least one hour.
- Once set, break the raisins apart and store in a air tight container or plastic bag in the refrigerator or freezer. (I prefer the freezer!)
The chocolate covered raisins are beyond bliss! I did add 1/3 C sugar, since the taste was fairly bitter without.
Glad you enjoyed them Madelaine. 🙂 Did you add the sugar in addition to the maple syrup or in the place of?
In addition. If you like really bitter chocolate, then I would leave the sugar out. However, we like a dark bitter-sweet taste. The combo of coconut oil with the chocolate makes an oh-so-smooth chocolate base. My grown daughter asked if I might make just a thin layer of chocolate (no raisins), or to add some cooped walnuts to to raisins. Each sound really good!
This was sooo easy, and a perfect semi-sweet chocolate coating for so many goodies! I’m even using it to make chocolate chips/ bars. Thanks!
Glad you like it! 🙂
How can I make the small and round like in the stores?
That’s tough to do in an at-home kitchen. I believe the kind you get in the store are sprayed with some kind of sugar coating that helps them hold their shape—not really something that’s easy to replicate.
how to make coated candy without flat spots ?
To my knowledge, that’s not possible with this recipe. I believe you would need special equipment to achieve a perfect coating—and possible use other ingredients. I think the store-bought chocolate covered raisins have a special coating on them.