Get ready to celebrate National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day on March 24th!
This day is dedicated to the delicious little treat that combines the sweetness of chocolate and the chewiness of raisins.
Chocolate covered raisins have been a favorite snack for many years. They are perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth, and they are relatively healthy compared to other sweet treats.
In this article, we’ll explore the history of National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day, and some fun ways to celebrate.
So, grab a handful of those tasty treats and let’s get started!
History of Chocolate Covered Raisins
Chocolate covered raisins have been a popular snack for many years.
Raisinets, the well-known name for chocolate-covered raisins, were first introduced to the United States by the Blumenthal Brothers Chocolate Company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1927. As a result of their delicious taste and satisfying texture, these candies quickly gained widespread popularity and became a favorite snack among moviegoers in theaters all across America during that time.
Raisins offer several health benefits since they contain essential nutrients such as fiber, potassium, calcium, iron, and vitamin B. Coating them with chocolate adds a sweet, indulgent flavor to this healthy snack. Chocolate covered raisins are perfect for satisfying a sweet tooth while still getting some nutritional benefits.
Chocolate covered raisins are also versatile and can be used in many different recipes. They can be added to trail mix, used as a topping for oatmeal or yogurt, or baked into cookies or cakes.
| Category | Chocolate Covered Raisins |
|---|---|
| Origin | The Blumenthal Brothers Chocolate Company introduced Raisinets to the United States in 1927 |
| Popularity | Grew in popularity as a snack of choice in movie theaters across America |
| Health Benefits | Contains essential nutrients such as fiber, potassium, calcium, iron, and vitamin B |
| Taste | Coating with chocolate adds a sweet, indulgent flavor to this healthy snack |
| Versatility | Can be added to trail mix, used as a topping for oatmeal or yogurt, or baked into cookies or cakes |
Celebration of National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day
Ways to Celebrate
Here are a few fun ways to celebrate National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day:
- Indulge in your favorite brand of chocolate covered raisins. For most of us, that’s the iconic Raisinet brand, but no matter, grab a bag of your fav and enjoy!
- Make your own chocolate covered raisins at home! It’s a fun activity for kids and adults alike. If you want to make your own chocolate-covered raisins, you can start by heating 12 ounces of milk chocolate and 2 ounces of chocolate in a small crockpot on low heat for approximately 30 minutes. It is important to stir the melted chocolate thoroughly to ensure that it is smooth and evenly melted before adding 8 ounces of raisins. Once you have added the raisins, make sure to stir them well to ensure that each raisin is evenly coated with the delicious melted chocolate.
- Host a chocolate covered raisin tasting party. Invite your friends and family over and have everyone bring a different brand of chocolate covered raisins to try. Rate each one and see which brand comes out on top!
Recipes for National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day
If you want to take your celebration to the next level, try out one of these delicious recipes featuring chocolate covered raisins:
- Chocolate Covered Raisin Cookies – Add chocolate covered raisins to your favorite cookie recipe for an extra burst of flavor.
- Chocolate Covered Raisin Trail Mix – Mix together chocolate covered raisins, nuts, and dried fruit for a tasty snack.
- Chocolate Covered Raisin Granola Bars – Make your own granola bars and add chocolate covered raisins for a sweet twist.
Fun and Interesting Facts about Chocolate Covered Raisins
Chocolate covered raisins are a classic treat that has been enjoyed for generations. Here are some fun and interesting facts about this delicious snack:
- One of the most popular brands of chocolate covered raisins is Raisinets, which was first introduced in the United States in 1927 by the Blumenthal Chocolate Company.
- It is interesting to note that Raisinets are polished to give them their signature shiny appearance. In the past, these delightful treats were handcrafted in small mixing and polishing pans, with a 350-pound batch taking around 90 minutes to coat and an additional 60 minutes to polish. However, with the advent of modern technology, Raisinets are now produced by machines, in batches of nearly 2,500 pounds. This means that each batch can yield close to one million Raisinets, or over 21 million in a single day!
- It is important to note that chocolate-covered raisins can be a nutritious snack due to the fact that raisins themselves are an excellent source of fiber, potassium, iron, calcium, and various B vitamins. Moreover, when combined with chocolate, they make for a delicious and somewhat healthy treat! If you opt for dark chocolate as your coating, you will not only enjoy a rich and indulgent flavor, but also receive a beneficial dose of antioxidants and essential minerals, making this sweet snack a great option for both satisfying your cravings and nourishing your body.
- The special grape variety used to make Raisinets is the Thompson Seedless grape, which is exclusively selected for this purpose. These grapes are grown and harvested in California’s Central Valley, and Raisinets are proudly made in the USA!
- Did you know that the amount of Raisinets produced in a year, if lined up end-to-end, would be long enough to wrap around the Earth 2.5 times? Additionally, if this yearly production was divided equally among every man, woman, and child in the United States, each person would receive approximately 17 Raisinets. That’s definitely a handful of delicious goodness!
| Category | Fun and Interesting Facts about Chocolate Covered Raisins |
|---|---|
| Brand | Raisinets is one of the most popular brands of chocolate covered raisins |
| Production | Raisinets are produced in batches of almost 2,500 pounds, yielding close to one million Raisinets per batch |
| Nutrition | Chocolate covered raisins can be a nutritious snack, with raisins being a good source of fiber, potassium, iron, calcium, and certain B vitamins |
| Grape Variety | The special grape variety used to make Raisinets is the Thompson Seedless grape, exclusively grown and harvested in California’s Central Valley |
| Production Output | The amount of Raisinets produced in a year, if lined up end-to-end, would wrap around the Earth 2.5 times, and each person in the US would receive approximately 17 Raisinets if production was divided equally |
I’m Griffin and I make my living as a freelance writer and wannabe sci fi author. Besides my obsession with words, I have a few others which may or may not include craft beer, backcountry hikes and spending time with loved ones – preferably in that order. Thanks for checking out my work and I hope you enjoy it!
