Raisins Substitutes

Out of raisins? These are the swaps that actually work, with conversion ratios for any recipe size and notes on how each one changes the result.

Need to convert raisins between cups, grams, or ounces first? Open the raisins converter.

What to use instead of raisins

  • Dates

    Ingredient swap

    1 cup raisins = 1 cup dates

    Chopped dates swap 1:1 by volume for raisins and bring a stickier, caramel sweetness. They weigh more per cup (178 g vs 165 g), so weigh when the fruit ratio drives a fruit cake or oat slice.

    See dates substitutes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I substitute for raisins?
There are 1 workable substitutes for raisins, depending on what you have on hand and which property of raisins matters most for your recipe. The closest swap is usually 1 cup raisins = 1 cup dates. Each option below lists the conversion ratio for any recipe size, plus notes on how the swap changes the texture, flavour, rise, or browning.
Will substituting raisins change how my recipe turns out?
Yes, every swap trades one property for another: fat content, moisture, acidity, or protein. The notes on each substitute describe what changes in texture, flavour, rise, or browning, so you can choose the swap that matters least for your recipe. Open the raisins converter
How do I measure raisins accurately?
Weighing in grams is more reliable than scooping cups, especially when a substitute has a different density from what the recipe expects. The raisins converter on this site converts between cups, grams, ounces, tablespoons, and teaspoons, so you can scale a recipe up or down without losing the ratio. Open the raisins converter

Other ingredient and produce substitutes

Find what to use instead of: