You came looking for the best currant substitutes because you simply love currants. Who doesn’t love those little, crumbled, black-colored, juicy, dried berries merged in a yummy cake? Yes, I am talking about dried currants! They can be yum even when eaten raw.
But what happens when you eagerly prepare your cake dough and realize you are out of them? Don’t sweat it. Let us talk about the substitutes of currants today. Some of the best currant substitutes are raisins, dried cherries, dried dates, dried plums, dried cranberries, and dried blueberries.
Currants are tiny, seedless raisins made from Corinth grapes. They have an intense, sweet flavor and can be a great addition to your cereals, cakes, or desserts. In fact, they are a healthy bunch of tiny tots who can even be a nutritious snack.
But what can you do if you are out of them? You can’t leave your cake preparation midway, right? Let us delve a bit into currants and then look at their best substitutes.
Quick Peek: Currants
The following scribbles tell you what currants are, their flavor, texture, culinary uses, and health benefits.
What Is Currant?
The word ‘currant’ is a derivative of the name of the ancient city of Corinth in Greece. Currants are also known as Zante currants, Corinth raisins, and Corinthian raisins. Small black Corinth grapes are dried to become currants. They are produced only in Greece.
Currants Vs. Raisins
I get it! Currants, raisins, sultanas – you might have seen all of these in the grocery store, and now you are probably wondering about these differences. I will sort them out for you.
Currants, sultanas, and raisins are all basically varieties of dried grapes with the following specifications:
- Dried, red, seedless grapes are called currants.
- Dried, white grapes are called raisins.
- Dried green, seedless grapes are called sultanas.
Also, fresh currants are not the same as dried currants (our focus ingredient today). Fresh currants are tiny berries that grow on shrubs and come in red, black, or white varieties.
Describing Currants: Flavor and Texture
Currants are small in size with a sweet, intense tangy flavor. Most of the varieties of currants have a slightly acidic taste in them that matches or rather balances the sweetness they have. These have a plump, firm texture.
Uses Of Currants
Currants render texture and sweetness in both sweet and savory recipes. Whether oatmeal, porridge, muffin, cookie, scone, or variety cake, currants are here to perk up the sweetness! They have a wide variety of uses in baking and other things like salads etc.
Currants On The Health Radar | Looking Through The Wellness Telescope
Currants are undoubtedly super healthy snacks. In fact, two big spoonfuls of currants will suffice to meet your nutritional needs. They aid in proper digestion and weight management and boost the cardiovascular system. Being high in manganese also helps in maintaining the nervous system.
Why Should We Substitute Currants?
Currants are one of the varieties of dried grapes that are often short in supply due to various reasons. Also, they are costly as well. This makes it imperative to find the best substitutes for currants.
With the help of the best substitutes for currants, you can actually emulate and relish the flavor of currants without actually using them. Isn’t that great? So let us find out the best currant substitutes with no more talking other than that.
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10 Best Currant Substitutes
Now that you know everything you need to know about currants let us discuss the ten best substitutes for currants.
1. Raisins
Well, the closest substitute for dried currants is truly raisins. Raisins are dried, processed grapes very similar to currants in texture as well as color. Raisins can be obtained by drying any grapes, making them available in various colors.
Raisins can do whatever current can; in terms of flavor and texture in your recipes. Plus, it is easily available as well in almost every grocery store. So go ahead and keep in mind the number one alternative for currants!
2. Dried Cherries
Dried cherries can be another best alternative for currants considering their flavor profiles. Dried cherries have a sweet, tart flavor and look dashing in a bright red color.
Except for the color, cherries can easily replace your porridge or cakes’ currants. If you wish to mellow down the intense sweetness, add a spoon of vinegar while replacing currants.
3. Dried Dates
Dried dates have a rich, fragrant aroma and sweet flavor and can readily work as a substitute for currants in any recipe. They are natural sweeteners with a luscious caramel-like flavor.
You don’t have to scratch your head wondering if you will have to reduce the intensity or anything as such. Dates blend in very well with other ingredients in your recipe. Use them as alternatives in cookies, pastries, or cakes.
4. Dried Plums
Looking for an alternative with a heavenly sweet taste? Go for dried plums, called prunes. They have an extraordinary caramel-like sweetness that can brighten up the flavor profile of your baked dishes.
They can also serve as a wonderful addition to roasted meat with their unique, sweet flavor. Being rich in fiber and Vitamin K, prunes are one of the best options worth considering to replace currants in your recipes.
5. Dried Cranberries
Cranberries are versatile, evergreen, round, red fruits with a rich, tart flavor. They are incredibly healthy with low sugar and carbohydrates and loaded with essential nutrients. They should be irreplaceable in your everyday diet.
As an alternative for currants, dried cranberries can work really well if added with sugar or other sweeteners (keeping in mind the sour flavor they have). They are great at replacing currants in pies, cakes, or bread.
6. Dried Blueberries
I personally am a big fan of blueberry muffins solely because of blueberries! Blueberries are many nutritious berries that are calorie-deficit but rich in fiber, vitamin C, and vitamin K.
They have a mild sweet taste with an acidic flavor. Unripe blueberries actually taste sour. You can consider replacing currants with dried blueberries if you don’t mind adding a pinch of sugar to counter the acidic flavor.
7. Dried Apricots
Apricots are yellow-colored small, stone fruits. They are closely related to peaches, cherries, and almonds. They have a sweet and tart flavor and are usually used to prepare jams, pies, desserts, and cakes.
Apricots, when dried, are great sources of good health as well as yummy flavor. Apricots have an intensely sweet flavor that can absolutely replace currants in cakes and muffins.
8. Jujube
Chinese dates or jujube are small, round fruits that are sweet and tart in flavor and chewy in texture. Dried jujube fruits are similar to apples in taste and crispy texture.
Jujube may not be available easily, but in case you find them, don’t be hesitant to buy. Jujube fruits are good alternatives for currants in jams, jellies, cakes, or bread.
9. Kumquat
Coming to us from the land of China, kumquats are edible citrus fruits. They are known as golden oranges in the Chinese language. They resemble tangerines and oranges to a great extent but are basically egg-shaped. Though they have sweet skin, they have a sweet-tart flavor and a smooth texture.
Kumquat is a considerable alternative to currants due to their sweet flavor in them. But you might have to add sugar or a sweetener of your choice to balance the tart flavor of kumquat.
10. Gooseberries
Gooseberries are small, round fruits that are available in many varieties. These are highly nutritious with low calories and are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They have a tart flavor with subtle hints of sweetness as well and a firm texture.
Gooseberries can be used to substitute for currants if you don’t want an intense sweet flavor in your recipes. Instead of currants, these can be used in pies, stuffing, jams, or desserts. Gooseberries are one of the best snacks for better brain activity.
Short Recap For Best Currant Substitutes
That must have been an exhaustive read on the best currant substitutes, right? Let me make it easy for you to remember the details with the help of some points.
Flavor: The best currant substitutes in terms of flavor are raisins, dried cherries, dried dates, and dried plums.
Texture: The best currant substitutes in terms of texture are raisins, dried cherries, dried apricots, and jujube.
How To Use Currant Substitutes In A Recipe
Currant Substitutes
Ingredients
- Raisins
- Dried Cherries
- Dried Dates
- Dried Plums
- Dried Cranberries
- Dried Blueberries
- Dried Apricots
- Jujube
- Kumquat
- Gooseberries
Instructions
- Go through the substitutes and see which one seems fit for the recipe.
- Collect your ingredients and use your preferred substitute.
- Use the substitute in the required amount and proceed to make the dish according to the recipe.
Final Musings
You must have now understood how currants differ from raisins. I hope I saved you from a panic attack when you realize you are devoid of currants in the midst of cooking. These substitutes are all unique in taste and flavor.
It is for you to decide what should be chosen that works best for your recipe. Whatever that is, make sure you let me know in the comments. Until then, bye!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I replace sultanas for currants?
Sultanas can be replaced with currants due to the similarities in flavor.
What dried fruit is a currant?
Dried grapes, especially black corinth grapes are what we know as currants.
What do currants taste like?
Currants have a sweet and sour flavor.
What are the substitutes for Black currants?
Raisins, kumquats, blueberries or dates are some of the substitutes for black currants.
Are currants the same as raisins?
Currants are not the same as raisins. Both of them are varieties of dried grapes.
