Candies, milk chocolate coated raisins

Chocolate covered raisins pair the chewy, faintly tart bite of dried grapes with a thin shell of milk chocolate, giving a snack that is sweet on the outside and tangier once you reach the center. They are a lunchbox and movie-theater staple, but they also work stirred into trail mix, scattered over vanilla ice cream, or folded into cookie dough for pockets of fruit and chocolate in every bite. Because the raisin core holds its shape, they hold up well in baking without turning to mush the way fresh fruit can, and a handful mixed with nuts makes a quick homemade snack mix.

Store them in a cool, dry, airtight container away from direct sunlight, since the chocolate coating softens in heat and can develop a dull white bloom that does not affect taste but looks unappetizing. Unlike plain sugar candy, these carry some of the mineral content of the raisins inside them: about 11% of the Daily Value for potassium, 11% for magnesium, and 10% for iron per 100 grams, along with 3.1 grams of fiber and 4.1 grams of protein. That said, they still run 390 calories and 62.2 grams of sugar per 100 grams, so they are best measured out by the handful as an occasional snack rather than a routine one.