Chocolate Raisin Clusters

Chocolate Raisin Clusters
Source: Maida Heatter's Book of Great Chocolate Desserts (Andrews-McMeel Publishing, 2006 ed.), pg. 250


I wanted to start out with something really simple and Maida says in her introduction that these are so easy that a five-year-old can make them. I have made them in the past and they are indeed very easy and very delicious. On our vacation a few weeks ago, I packed some of these to snack on instead of a bag of candy bars. It is important that they be stored airtight because they do dry out quickly.

Ingredients:

8 oz. semisweet chocolate
2/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
5 ounces (1 cup) raisins

Place the chocolate in the top of a double boiler over hot water on moderate heat. Stir until melted and smooth.

Remove the top of the double boiler. Add the condensed milk and stir until smooth, then stir in the raisins.

Use a rounded teaspoon of the mixture for each cluster, forming 24 clusters and placing them on a piece of aluminum foil.

Let stand at room temperature for about 3 hours until they are firm. Then release each cluster and turn it over to let the bottom dry.

Store airtight. Do not let these dry out. They may be frozen. (If you freeze them be sure to let them thaw before unwrapping or they will sweat.)