Tanghulu

Total Time Prep/Total Time: 25 min.
Yield 16 strawberries
Test Kitchen Approved
Learn how to make tanghulu, a classic Chinese street food that looks gorgeous and tastes even better. We coat strawberries with a crunchy, candied shell, but this recipe works with many types of fruit.

Ingredients

  • 16 fresh firm strawberries
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 cup water

Directions

  1. Remove strawberry stems. Wash berries and let dry (berries must be completely dry). Thread each berry onto a wooden skewer, leaving berries toward the tips of the skewers.
  2. In a large heavy saucepan, combine sugar and water. Bring to a boil without stirring. Cook, without stirring, over medium heat until a candy thermometer reads 300°-310° (hard-crack stage). Remove from the heat.
  3. Working quickly, dip each berry into syrup. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Let stand until hardened, 2-3 minutes. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts

1 candied strawberry: 101 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 0 sodium, 26g carbohydrate (26g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein.

Tanghulu is a traditional Chinese dessert. This version is made with strawberries, but other firm fruits, like grapes and cherries, are also used. Make sure you use firm strawberries that are completely dry. —Michelle Yang, Detroit, Michigan
Recipe Creator

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