Celebrate Chocolate Covered Raisin Day Every March 24

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Ready for another delicious food holiday? Good! Because March 24 is National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day.

Whether coated in milk chocolate or dark chocolate, a handful of chocolate covered raisins makes a delicious, sweet (and healthy!) snack.

If you only eat them when you go to the movies, you’re definitely missing out.

And if you’ve given up sweets for Lent, we’re sorry. It seems unfair you won’t be able to celebrate. :(

We’re not sure when this day started or whose idea it was. But we suspect the idea came from someone who loves chocolate covered raisins.

 

Loving Raisinets

How did this snack come to be? Well, first people had to decide to eat dried up, wrinkled grapes.

Culinary historians think this happened when people noticed drying grapes still on the vine. They discovered they were sweet and used the dried fruit to sweeten other foods, much like honey.

Later someone decided to coat them with chocolate. Given chocolate’s long history in the Americas, it seems likely that people were dipping fruits or berries in the stuff for years.

As far as chocolate and raisins go, we’re not sure who first did it.

But Raisinets were one of the earliest and most popular brands of chocolate covered raisins in the United States. They’re also one of the most popular candies in the country overall.

They first arrived on the candy scene back in 1927, made by the Blumenthal Brothers Chocolate Company. Today they’re a Nestle product. But they’re just as delicious as ever.

And they’re made only with one kind of grape: the Thompson Seedless grape from California. A true made-in-the-USA snack.

According to Nestle, the company didn’t start the holiday. But it celebrates the day in honor of Raisinets’ place in the snack world.

And a fun bit of trivia: You know how Raisinets are shiny? That’s because they’re polished! Yes, really. ;)

 

A Healthy Snack

Yes, we already mentioned this, but it’s true!

Raisins and chocolate each contain important vitamins and minerals. Put them together and they’re even better (in both taste and nutrition).

Raisins contains calcium, potassium, vitamin B and iron. They’re also a great source of fiber.

Chocolate, especially dark chocolate, provides antioxidants, among other things.

No, you shouldn’t eat them by the pound. But a handful or two is a good snack choice.

Scroll down for some ideas on celebrating this sweet, unofficial holiday.

 

Ideas For Celebrating National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day

Obviously you’re going to have to eat chocolate covered raisins if you’re going to celebrate this day right.

Buy your favorites and indulge in honor of the day.

If you’re the creative type, try making your own. It’s pretty simple, although there’s also a surprising number of different recipes for them. Here are a few you might like:

• Raisinet Clusters from The Foodie Patootie: A truly simple recipe that just uses the microwave and doesn’t even separate the raisins.
• Easy Chocolate-Covered Raisins (Crock Pot): Use your slow cooker to gently melt the chocolate.
• Raisin-oni: Another simple recipe using the microwave.

 

Instead of just eating them, use them in recipes.

• How about muffins? Try these Pumpkin Chocolate Covered Raisin Muffins.
• Make the kids Little Bumps on a Log. Basically they’re chocolate-covered raisins on peanut butter in celery stalks.

 

How will you be celebrating National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day?

 

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