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    Home » Recipes » Tasty Treats

    Tanghulu

    Published: Feb 16, 2022 · Modified: Feb 16, 2022 by Andrea · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe
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    Candied strawberry on a bamboo skewer

    Tanghulu is a fun and simple recipe to make delicious candied fruit like strawberries, grapes and mandarin oranges. This simple recipe candies fruit without using corn syrup and is similar to the Chinese street food known as Hawthorn candy.

    candied strawberries, grapes and oranges on serving plates on bamboo skewers

    Making candied strawberries, or your other favorite fruit, is a fun and simple thing to do with your kids. They will love the sweet treat!

    This recipe makes a simple, yet decadent dessert that can be a fun way to entertain guests at a party. Try our other fun entertaining desserts like our Oreo Trifle.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Substitutions
    • Variations
    • Equipment
    • Storage
    • Cleaning the pan
    • Top tip
    • Recipe

    Ingredients

    water, sugar, strawberries, grapes, oranges, bamboo skewers
    • Bamboo Skewers
    • Water
    • Granulated Sugar, white
    • Strawberries, or other fruit like grapes, mandarin oranges, or blueberries

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Instructions

    Begin by washing and drying your desired fruit. I like to keep the tops of the strawberries on for a cute look, but you can remove the tops if desired.

    Using bamboo skewers, skewer 1-4 pieces of fruit on each skewer. Keep the fruit the same, or create a cute pattern.

    bamboo skewered strawberries, grapes, and oranges

    Prepare a sheet pan and line it with either a silicone mat, or parchment paper.

    In a medium sized pan, combine the sugar and water. Mix briefly.

    sauce pan with sugar and water mixed together

    On medium heat, bring the sugar water to a boil. Boil until the temperature reaches 300 degrees, about 10 minutes. Measure the temperature using a candy thermometer.

    boiling sugar and water in a sauce pan to make a sugar syrup

    When the desired temperature of 300 degrees is met, dip the skewered fruit into the boiled sugar water and remove once the fruit is covered in the syrup.

    dipping a skewered strawberry into the boiling sugar syrup

    The sugar water syrup mixture should harden around the dipped fruit almost immediately upon removal.

    candied strawberry being held above other candied fruit

    Place each bamboo skewer on the lined sheet pan to finish cooling.

    Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You can also cover any leftovers with plastic wrap and put in the refrigerator.

    Hint: If your sugar water syrup is done, the fruit should harden almost immediately after you dip the fruit. If it doesn't reach the correct temperature, the sugar water mixture will create a sticky coating but will not harden.

    Substitutions

    You can use any type of fruit when making this hard shell fruit. Tart fruits are fun to candy as the hard candy shell brings a delicious sweet and sour taste.

    oragnes, strawberries, and grapes
    • Strawberries
    • Grapes
    • Mandarin Oranges
    • Blueberries
    • Cherries - remove the pits before dipping
    • Raspberries
    • Blueberries

    Variations

    Depending on how you want your bamboo skewers to be presented, you can mix up which fruit goes on each skewer. Make sure to only go as high as you can dip in your pot.

    • All one fruit - A single strawberry or a row of grapes makes a nice presentation.
    • Mixed fruit - create a cute pattern with your fruit alternating back and forth ⅓ up the skewer.

    Equipment

    It is important to use a candy thermometer when making this dessert.

    You will also need bamboo skewers, a medium pot, a sheet pan and a silicone mat or parchment paper.

    Storage

    Candied fruit is best when first made. If needed, store any extra candied fruit in and airtight container in the refrigerator in order to maintain the hard shell. Humidity and moisture will break down the hard sugar coat. If kept properly, the candied fruit will last up to two weeks.

    Cleaning the pan

    When boiling sugar and water, the syrup mixture can get stuck to the bottom of the pan. To clean, sprinkle the scorched bottom with baking soda and then cover with water. Bring the water to a boil for 20-30 minutes. This will help loosen the burnt on sugar.

    candied strawberry on a bamboo skewer.

    Top tip

    Use a candy thermometer when boiling the sugar water. Other methods to check the temperature of the sugar water are not as reliable and may cause you to burn your sugar water. If the temperature of the sugar water doesn't get hot enough, the dipped fruit will have a sticky and gooey coating but the will not have a hard shell you are looking for.

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    Recipe

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    a serving platter with candied fruit on it, all on bamboo skewers

    Tanghulu


    ★★★★★

    5 from 1 reviews

    • Author: Andrea
    • Total Time: 25 minutes
    • Yield: 6-8 servings 1x
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    Tanghulu is a fun and simple recipe to make delicious candied fruit like strawberries, grapes and mandarin oranges. This simple recipe candies fruit without using corn syrup and is similar to the Chinese street food known as Hawthorn candy.


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 1 pound fresh fruit of your choice - strawberries, grapes, mandarin oranges, blueberries
    • 2 cups granulated sugar
    • 1 cup water
    • 10 bamboo skewers
    • Candy Thermometer

    Instructions

    1. Begin by washing and drying your desired fruit. I like to keep the tops of the strawberries on for a cute look, but you can remove the tops if desired.
    2. Using bamboo skewers, skewer 1-4 pieces of fruit on each skewer. Keep the fruit the same, or create a fun pattern.
    3. Prepare a sheet pan and line it with either a silicone mat, or parchment paper.
    4. In a medium sized pot, combine the sugar and water. Mix briefly. On medium heat bring the sugar water to a boil. Boil until the temperature reaches 300 degrees. This will be about ten minutes. Measure the temperature using a candy thermometer.
    5. When the desired temperature of 300 degrees is met, dip the skewered fruit into the boiled sugar water. Immediately remove once the fruit is fully covered in the syrup.
    6. The sugar water syrup mixture should harden around the dipped fruit almost immediately, upon removal.
    7. Place each bamboo skewer on the lined sheet pan to finish cooling.
    8. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. You can also cover any leftovers with plastic wrap and put in the refrigerator. 

    Notes

    1. Use a candy thermometer when boiling the sugar water. Other methods to check the temperature of the sugar water are not as reliable and may cause you to burn your sugar water. If the temperature of the sugar water doesn't get hot enough, the dipped fruit will have a sticky and gooey coating but the will not have a hard shell you are looking for. 
    2. Keeping any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator is crucial to maintaining that hard shell. Humidity and moisture will break down the hard coating is not stored properly. 
    • Prep Time: 10 minutes
    • Cook Time: 15 minutes
    • Category: Dessert
    • Method: Stove Top
    • Cuisine: American, Asian

    Keywords: Tanghulu, Tanghulu recipe, Hawthorn Candy. Chinese Street Food, Candied Fruit, Candied Strawberries, without corn syrup

    Did you make this recipe?

    Share a photo and tag us @simplyscrumptiouseats_

    What is Tanghulu

    A method to candy fruit like strawberries, grapes, blueberries, and oranges. It is similar to the Hawthorn candy which is a Chinese street food.

    What is Tanghulu made of?

    Different from other candied fruit, this method is a hard sugar syrup that surrounds the fruit. This recipe does not use corn syrup.

    What does Tanghulu taste like?

    This candied fruit has a sweet taste from the sugar coating and depending on the tartness of your fruit, it can have a sweet and sour taste to it.


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    Comments

    1. Dre

      February 24, 2022 at 6:04 pm

      I had a really fun time making this fun treat with my kids. They thought making fruit into candy was so much fun. We also used this recipe for a party and people thought they looked so cute!

      ★★★★★

      Reply

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    nicole and andrea

    Hi, we are Nicole and Andrea! As busy moms our favorite meals are easy, healthy and delicious. While we love eating nutritious meals, we also strongly believe in moderating them with yummy desserts! We love hiking, going to the beach and doing Spartans.

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