* Raisins are simply dried grapes. These shriveled, bite-sized morsels of sweetness offer a healthy snack and burst of energy. Raisins are a delicious ingredient used in a variety of foods, from sweet bread and desserts to savory dishes found in cuisines throughout the world. Raisins may be best known as a snack that you can eat out of hand, but they're also found in a variety of recipes. While you might need to plump raisins up before adding them to a dish, they're one of the easiest dried fruits to prepare. Raisins are just as nutritious as grapes and a good source of iron as well as potassium. Like all dried fruits, they do have more sugar than grapes, though raisins have a little more fiber as well. Raisins are low in fat and cholesterol