Tanghulu Recipe {Juicy Candy Fruits In Minutes}

Hey there, I’m Austin from “Beyond the Bayou Blog“! Today, I’m excited to share a recipe that takes me back to a fun memory.

I remember the first time I tried Tanghulu—it was during a festival where street vendors were selling these beautifully glazed fruit skewers. The sight of those shiny, candy-coated fruits caught my attention, and the first bite was a burst of sweet and crunchy goodness. It was such a simple yet delightful treat that left a lasting impression on me.

Tanghulu is a traditional Chinese snack that’s easy to make at home. It’s all about taking fresh fruit and giving it a playful twist with a candy coating. The contrast between the crispy shell and the juicy fruit inside is simply irresistible.

Join me in exploring this fun and tasty recipe that’s perfect for any occasion. Let’s create some sweet memories together with Tanghulu!

Reasons You Will Love This!

• Simple Ingredients: You only need water, fruit, and readily available ingredients to make this sweet snack.
• Quick and Easy: The process is straightforward and quick. The main wait is for the candy to firm up, which only takes a few minutes.
• Customizable: You can customize this snack easily. For instance, you can use different berries like strawberries or raspberries to make candy grapes.
• Family-Friendly: This dessert is perfect for involving the whole family. It’s a fun activity for kids, from skewering the fruits to dipping them into the candy syrup.

Overview: How To Make Tanghulu?

Today, I’m excited to share a fun and delicious recipe for fruit skewers with a homemade candy coating. These skewers are not only visually appealing but also a delightful treat for any occasion.

To start, I gather fresh strawberries, grapes, and clementine segments, threading them onto wooden skewers. This arrangement creates a colorful and flavorful mix on each skewer.

Next, I prepare a sweet candy coating using white sugar, water, and light corn syrup. Boiling the mixture until it reaches 300 degrees Fahrenheit forms a shiny and crisp coating perfect for dipping the fruit skewers.

Working quickly, I dip each skewer into the hot sugar syrup, coating the fruit evenly before cooling them in an ice bath. The result is a delightful contrast of sweet and juicy fruit with a crunchy candy shell.

These fruit skewers are a hit at parties or as a special treat any day. Serve them immediately for a delightful and refreshing dessert experience. For more colorful recipes try Jello Jigglers and Jello Poke Cake. 

Tanghulu Recipe

These candy-coated fruit skewers are a delightful dessert treat, featuring a crunchy sweet shell surrounding juicy strawberries, grapes, and clementine segments. Quick to make and perfect for any occasion.

3.84 from 6 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: General

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Calories: 150kcal

Author: Austin Carter

Servings: 5

Equipment

• ▢
  Large Baking Sheet
• ▢
  Paper Towels
• ▢
  Wooden skewers (12-inch)
• ▢
  Candy thermometer
• ▢
  Small shallow saucepan
• ▢
  Kitchen Scissors
• ▢
  Heavy cup or saucepan
• ▢
  Ice bath setup (bowl filled with ice and water)

Ingredients

• ▢ 5 hulled strawberries
• ▢ 5 seedless grapes
• ▢ 5 clementine segments
• ▢ 5 12- inch wooden skewers
• ▢ ¾ cup white sugar
• ▢ â…“ cup water
• ▢ 2 tablespoons light corn syrup

Instructions

• Line a large baking sheet with paper towels and pat the fruit dry.
• Thread 3 pieces of hulled strawberries, seedless grapes, and clementine segments onto each wooden skewer, ensuring the fruits cover the end of the skewer and are touching.
• In a small saucepan, combine white sugar, water, and light corn syrup. Bring to a boil over medium heat without stirring.
• Reduce heat to medium-low and cook undisturbed until a candy thermometer reads 300 degrees Fahrenheit (150 degrees Celsius), about 18 to 20 minutes.
• Prepare an ice bath in a bowl filled with ice and water.
• Remove the sugar mixture from heat and let it stand until bubbles subside, about 1 to 2 minutes. Tilt the pan to pool the syrup to one side.
• Working quickly, dip the fruit end of each skewer into the sugar mixture, rotating to coat evenly. Allow excess syrup to drip back into the pan.
• Place the dipped skewers, fruit side down, in the ice bath to cool for about 1 minute. Then place them, fruit side up, in a heavy cup or saucepan.
• Repeat the dipping process with the remaining skewers and sugar mixture, trimming any excess sugar drips with kitchen scissors.
• Serve the candy-coated fruit skewers immediately

Nutrition

Calories: 150kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Sodium: 6mg | Potassium: 40mg

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Tips that Will Help You!

• Use Firm Strawberries: Choose firm, slightly unripe strawberries for this tanghulu recipe. Soft, ripe berries may slide off the skewer and release juice.
• Skewer Limit: Avoid skewering more than two strawberries per skewer. This ensures easier and complete coating of fruit with syrup.
• No Stirring: Do not stir the sugar-water mixture. Stirring causes syrup to crystallize, resulting in a cloudy and sandy texture instead of a clear, liquid one.
• Large Saucepan: Opt for a larger saucepan with a sturdy handle. This allows easier tilting for dipping and rotating skewers.
• Safety First: Handle the hot syrup with care. Use oven gloves to protect your hands whenever handling the syrup.
• Avoid Spooning: Do not spoon syrup onto the fruit. This creates bubbles and a cloudy candy shell. It also accelerates cooling and crystallization.
• Work Quickly: Keep the parchment-lined baking sheet close to the saucepan. The syrup cools rapidly, becoming less manageable if left to cool too long.

What to Serve with Tanghulu?

• Caramel Apple Butter Ice Cream
• Vanilla Ice Cream
• Mexican Coffee 
• Caramel Iced Coffee
• Gimlet 

Storing Tanghulu Is Not That Difficult!

• For Refrigeration: Store any leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container. They will stay fresh for up to two weeks. Allow them to come to room temperature before eating.
• For Freezing: For longer storage, place the skewers in a ziplock bag and store them in the freezer. They will keep well for up to 6 months.