Tanghulu

This tanghulu recipe highlights delicious crunchy candied strawberries or other fruit made popular as a favorite Chinese street food!

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Tanghulu is a popular candied fruit snack popular throughout northern China. This Chinese street food is different from a traditional candied fruit. Instead of a soft candied fruit, the hardened sugar syrup creates a hard crunchy shell around the fruit. It is served on a long bamboo skewer. If you were wondering how to make tanghulu, you have come to the right place!

Why this recipe works

This delicious candied fruit is easy and beautiful.
If you have ever wondered how to make candied fruit, this is an excellent starter option. You can even make this tanghulu recipe without a thermometer!
Tanghulu without corn syrup is even more delicious and easy to make!

Ingredients for this recipe

labeled photo of individual ingredients to make tanghulu

Granulated Sugar
Water
Strawberries or other fruit of choice

Best fruit for this tanghulu recipe

Tanghulu is traditionally made with the hawthorn fruit which is prevalent in China. It is also known as mountain hawthorn, shanzha or hawberry and the flavor is tart, not overly sweet with a texture similar to an apple.

This candied fruit snack, also referred to as hawthorn candy or candied haw, works well with almost any fruit! I recommend candied strawberries, grapes, mandarins, blueberries, oranges, pineapple and kiwi. My favorite is the candied strawberries recipe!

How to make this recipe

Wash and pat dry strawberries or fruit of choice.
Arrange fruit on bamboo skewer. I recommend 1-3 pieces per skewer.
Bring water and sugar mixture to a boil.
Using candy thermometer, boil sugar water mixture until the temperature reaches 300 degrees Fahrenheit. This will take approximately 5-10 minutes. If you do not have a candy thermometer, you can test the temperature by dipping a spoon into cold ice water and then dipping the spoon into the syrup. If it hardens immediately, then you have reached the proper temperature.
When sugar water mixture has reached the desired temperature, dip your fruit skewer into the sugar mixture to coat the fruit.
Place each fruit skewer on your sheet pan, silicone baking sheet or parchment paper. If you parchment paper is not good quality, your candy may stick to the paper. You can spray parchment paper with pan spray to help prevent sticking.
Sugar coating should harden almost immediately. This recipe is best eaten right away. If you need to store, cover lightly with plastic wrap and store in refrigerator.
Enjoy!

FAQ and expert tips

How to store tanghulu?

Tanghulu is best when it is first made so that you can enjoy the delicious crunchy shell. If you wish to store it, it is best to store in the refrigerator to maintain the candy shell

How to make tanghulu sugar?

Bring a combination of sugar and water to a vigorous boil. Once the temperature reaches 300 degrees Fahrenheit, your tanghulu sugar is ready to coat your fruit. The sugar coating should harden quickly.

How long does tanghulu take to harden?

If your tanghulu sugar reached the proper temperature of 300 F, it should harden almost immediately.

Can I make this tanghulu recipe without a thermometer?

Your sugar and water combination will need to boil for about 10 minutes and start to reduce to a very thick syrup. You can test the temperature by dipping a spoon into cold ice water and then dipping the spoon into the syrup. If it hardens immediately, then you have reached the proper temperature.

tanghulu strawberries on white plate with orange strawberry and grapes in background

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Tanghulu

This tanghulu recipe highlights delicious crunchy candied strawberries or other fruit made popular as a favorite Chinese street food! Print Pin Course: Dessert, SnackCuisine: asian, Chinese Prep Time: 5 minutesCook Time: 15 minutesTotal Time: 20 minutes Servings: 4 people Calories: 423kcal Author: Aubrey Cost: $8

Equipment

Candy thermometer, sheet pan, parchment paper or silicone baking mat

Ingredients

2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup water
1 lb strawberries or other fruit of choice

Instructions

Wash and pat dry strawberries or fruit of choice.
Arrange fruit on bamboo skewer. I recommend 1-3 pieces per skewer.
Bring water and sugar mixture to a boil.
Using candy thermometer, boil sugar water mixture until the temperature reaches 300 degrees Fahrenheit. This will take approximately 5-10 minutes. See Note 1 if you do not have a candy thermometer.
When sugar water mixture has reached the desired temperature, dip your fruit skewer into the sugar mixture to coat the fruit.
Place each fruit skewer on your sheet pan, silicone baking sheet or parchment paper. See Note 2 about parchment paper.
Sugar coating should harden almost immediately. See Note 3 regarding storage.
Enjoy!

Notes

Note 1: If you do not have a candy thermometer, you can test the temperature by dipping a spoon into cold ice water and then dipping the spoon into the syrup. If it hardens immediately, then you have reached the proper temperature. Note 2: If you parchment paper is not good quality, your candy may stick to the paper. You can spray parchment paper with pan spray to help prevent sticking. Note 3: Best eaten right away. If you need to store, cover lightly with plastic wrap and store in refrigerator.