55+ Best Raisin Recipes for Every Meal

I have been cooking and baking with raisins for as long as I can remember, and over the past 16 years on this blog, I have built a collection of over 55 recipes featuring them. I also spent several years developing recipes and creating content for Raisins South Africa, so it’s a subject close to my heart. Raisins and sultanas are one of those ingredients that work across a variety of meal types, from breakfast muffins to bobotie. This is a complete round-up of every raisin recipe on the blog, grouped by category so you can find exactly what you are looking for.

Types of Raisins Used in These Recipes

A quick note on the different raisin varieties you’ll come across in these recipes, because the names can be confusing.

All raisins are dried grapes, but the variety of grape and the drying method determine the colour, size and flavour. Sultanas are a type of raisin, made from seedless green grapes and typically lighter in colour with a milder, sweeter taste. In South Africa, we have access to some beautiful varieties.

Thompson seedless raisins are the most common and what most people picture when they think of a raisin. They are versatile and work in just about everything.

Golden sultanas are dried in a controlled environment rather than sun-dried, which keeps them lighter in colour and slightly tangier. They are lovely in baking and salads. These are my favourite type of raisin, and in any recipe that calls for a lot of raisins (like a fruit cake or mince pies), I will always add sultanas to the mix.

Flame raisins are larger and darker with a rich, full flavour that holds up well in savoury cooking and breads.

Crimson raisins are plump and sweet with a deep red colour, and Midnight Beauty raisins are almost black, with an intense, concentrated sweetness. Currants are the smallest of the family, made from tiny Black Corinth grapes, and are perfect in biscuits, scones and traditional baking where you want a more delicate dried fruit.

As a general rule, you can swap one variety for another in most recipes. The flavour will shift slightly, but the result will still be delicious.

Raisin Recipes for Breakfast and Brunch

Raisins add natural sweetness to breakfast dishes without the need for extra sugar. From granola and muesli to French toast and baked oats, these are my favourite ways to start the day with raisins.

Orange and pecan muffins with sultanas

The most delicious orange & pecan muffins recipe

Honey & nut granola with raisins

Raisin pancakes with ricotta & orange

Baked French toast with apples, cinnamon, and raisins

Butter fried raisins on ricotta toast

Raisin Baking Recipes for Tea Time

There is something about raisins in baking that feels timeless. These are the cakes, biscuits, scones and sweet bakes that are perfect with a cup of tea in the afternoon.

The best fruit cupcakes with spiced vanilla buttercream

A cut open fruit cupcake with spiced vanilla buttercream

My best carrot cake recipe (with raisins)

The Best Easy Raisin Scones

Classic Madeira cake with fruit

A slice of cak and a whole Madeira cake with fruit and a lemon frosting

Easy apple cake with raisins

A South African apple tart (cake) with raisins recipe

Easy stout fruit cake

My ultimate indulgent fruit cake recipe

A delicious, luxurious and indulgent fruitcake recipe

Easy raisin hot cross scones

Muesli rusks with oats and raisins

Shortbread mince pie crumble cookies

Hot cross rusks: all the flavours of a hot cross bun

Bran & muesli buttermilk rusks with seeds

Buttermilk bran rusks with raisins and seeds recipe

Soft & chewy oat & raisin cookies

Gooey oat, fruit and nut bars with dark chocolate

Decadent rum & raisin chocolate brownies

Fruitcake shortbread

Apple and mince pie crumble bars

Hot cross biscotti

Easy deep filled Christmas mince pies

Raisin Dessert Recipes

From warm puddings to ice cream, raisins bring a chewy sweetness and depth to desserts that few other dried fruits can match.

Rum raisin ice cream

Classic raisin bread & butter pudding

Baked apples with brandy-soaked raisins & orange

Baked apples with brandy-soaked raisins recipe

Camembert baked in puff pastry with raisins

Rum & raisin chocolate truffles

The best Christmas fruit mince with cherries

How to make Christmas fruit mince with cherries

Raisin Bread and Loaf Recipes

Raisins and bread baking go hand in hand. These are my favourite loaves, from hot cross buns to sweet celebration breads and rusks.

The best banana bread with pecans & raisins

slices of the best Banana bread with pecans and raisins on a board with butter

Stout hot cross bun bread

Stout hot cross buns

Chocolate and orange hot cross buns

Raisin & cinnamon sticky buns

Earl Grey tea loaf

Rosemary seed & nut crackers

Rosemary seed & nut cracker recipe with raisins (Vegan & Gluten free)

Cinnamon swirl raisin bread

Easy whole wheat English muffins with raisins

Hot cross cinnamon sticky buns

Hot cross cinnamon sticky bun on a plate

Salads, Dips and Condiments with Raisins

Raisins work brilliantly in savoury contexts too. A handful of raisins can transform a simple salad, chutney or dip, adding pops of sweetness that balance sharp and spicy flavours. I particularly love pickled sultanas and currents, which develop a delicious umami flavour and are little flavour bombs.

Roast carrot & barley salad with pickled sultanas