I'm pretty sure I saw dried currrants at the Fresh Market in Bearden on the rack with the other dried fruit in the produce section. Otherwise, you can get them at NutsOnline which carries all types of high quality dried fruits as well as nuts.

I believe using fresh currants in a recipe would be akin to using grapes in place of raisins.

You can usually find currants in any grocery along side the raisins.

you could try cranberries instead. they're in season.

Use the fresh currants in a stuffing, and add some chopped dates.

According to my Google search you cannot use fresh currants as a substitute for dried currants. Dried currants are used for baking, fresh are not. Dried currants can usually be found where you find raisins. Or, ask a store employee.

I'm pretty sure you can get dried currants at 3 rivers market.

I'd like to thank everyone for their help.

We found them at Publix, Sun-Maid Zante Currants.

Despite the fact that I've been quite the dried fruit eater over the years, I swear I've never before noticed them. Generally, what baking gets done around here is done by my wife and she was thrilled to maintain her reign as the baking queen by calling, sight unseen and knowledge of fruit unknown, that the dried version of this fruit is what was required. I publicly admit that she was right and I was wrong and thus my bet is paid off.

Can't find a good lingonberry anywhere for any price...

Currants are dried red grapes.

A red currant is not a dried red grape. It is related to the gooseberry. Here is an episode of The Victorian Kitchen that features the making of currant preserves for a Victorian picnic (begins about 19 minutes into the video). This episode also reminds us of one of the follies of the Tea Party dumb asses. Before government regulation (in England anyway) cayenne pepper was commonly adulterated with red lead and flour with chalk.

I recommend watching all nine episodes. It makes you appreciate our modern conveniences and further endears Mrs. Patmore.

So it would appear that the 'currants' used in baking are not true currants but raisins made from a "Zante Currant" variety of grape.

Sun-Maid Natural Zante Currants are sun-dried from the Black Corinth grape, a very special grape grown in only selected vineyards of California.

For many, our Zante Currants have become the preferred delicacy in their favorite baked goods like scones, cookies, breads, muffins, or rolls. Tiny, dark and tart-to-taste, Zantes live up to the reputation of our other natural products... America's favorite.

The original post referenced a fresh red currant at Publix that, based on the pictures I saw at Wikipedia, was indeed a gooseberry.

The subsequent zante currants appear to be a species of dried grape.

My wife still hasn't made the cookies, and everyone in her family appears to be amazed that a discussion amonst food affecienadoes about currants could last a week.

My anal retentive obsession with obscure details has also been duly noted.

Just an update for anyone keeping score at home.

(link...)