Gluten-Free, Vegan Chocolate-Covered Raisins + Almonds

It’s the holiday season! Time for party baking and gift giving, just to add another item to your already long end-of-year list.

Luckily neither has to be difficult. Covering things in chocolate is the perfect time-saving solution and raisins and almonds are packed full of nutrients, vitamins, and antioxidants. A freakin’ delicious combination!

Sweet raisins, nutty almonds, and rich chocolate. Creamy and crunchy. Semi-healthy and inexpensive. You can eat these on their own, add them to trail mixes, or just snack on one here and there.

And if you’re not into raisins no worries, substitute raisins with another type of dried fruit. Perhaps cranberries or apricots.

They’re not going to be as smooth and perfect as the ones from the store, but they are made with love and the taste is spot-on!

So when that snack craving comes knocking, these chocolate-covered raisins and almonds will be there to catch you.

GLUTEN-FREE, VEGAN CHOCOLATE-COVERED RAISINS + ALMONDS

Ingredients

For Raisins:

• 1/2 cup vegan dark chocolate chips (like Enjoy Life)
• 1/2 tbsp coconut oil
• 2 - 2 1/2 cups raisins (depending on how heavily you coat them)

For Almonds:

• 1 cup vegan dark chocolate chips (like Enjoy Life)
• 1 tbsp coconut oil
• 1 1/2 - 2 cups raw, unsalted whole almonds (depending on how heavily you coat them)
• Coarse sea salt
• Raw Sugar (optional)

Directions
(Repeat this process twice, once with raisins and once with almonds)

1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Melt chocolate chips and oil in a double boiler.
3. When chips are completely melted and smooth, add raisins or almonds and stir until well coated.
4. Using a fork, lift the chocolate-covered raisins or almonds out of the chocolate, gently topping the fork against the side of the bowl to release excess chocolate and transfer the raisins or almonds onto the prepared baking sheet, separating them so there are not large clumps.
5. For Almonds: Lightly sprinkle almonds with sea salt and sugar (optional).
6. Place tray in freezer for 15 minutes or until chocolate is hardened.
7. Break apart additional clumps before mixing raisins and almonds together and serving.
8. Keep leftovers in the fridge.

NOTES:

1. Be very careful not to get any water (including steam moisture) into the melted chocolate or it will seize.
2. You can coat the raisins and almonds in the chocolate at the same time, but I recommend coating them separately because its easier to sprinkle the almonds when they’re not intermingled with the raisins.