Description
A classic Chinese street snack made with fresh fruit skewers coated in a shiny, crunchy sugar shell—Tanghulu offers a perfect balance of sweet crunch and juicy fruit.
Ingredients
1 lb strawberries, grapes, or other firm fruits (about 30 pieces)
2 cups white sugar
1 cup water
Instructions
- Wash fruit and pat completely dry. Remove stems or leaves, then thread 1–3 pieces of fruit onto skewers.
- In a small pot, combine sugar and water. Heat over medium without stirring until boiling. Cook 10–20 minutes until amber in color or 300°F (hard-crack stage).
- Test syrup by dropping into ice water—if it hardens and cracks, it’s ready.
- Dip fruit skewers quickly into syrup, swirling for even coating. Immediately dip into ice water to harden.
- Place on parchment to cool. Serve immediately for best crunch.
Notes
- Use fruits like blueberries, kiwi, pineapple, or mandarin slices for variety.
- Add food coloring for colorful coating.
- Sprinkle sesame seeds before sugar hardens for texture.
- Brown sugar creates a deeper caramel flavor.
- Slightly freeze fruit before dipping for easier handling.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15–20 minutes
- Category: Snack, Dessert
- Method: Candying
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 skewer
- Calories: 160 kcal
- Sugar: 38 g
- Sodium: 5 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 39 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
