Tanghulu (Candied Fruit Skewers)
Local name: 糖葫芦
In short: Fruit skewers dipped in a clear, crackling sugar glaze, the classic winter street snack of northern China, here made with strawberries. It takes about 27 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 12 min
- Total
- 27 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 150 kcal
Tanghulu are skewered fruit coated in a thin shell of hard sugar. In northern China they are a winter street snack, traditionally made with tart hawthorn berries, which balance the sweetness. At home, strawberries, grapes or mandarin segments work well. The only technique is cooking the sugar syrup to the hard-crack stage and dipping quickly. The shell sets within seconds and shatters when you bite it.
Instructions
- Dry the fruit thoroughly, as any moisture will make the syrup slide off or turn cloudy. Thread 2 or 3 strawberries (or 3 or 4 hawthorn berries) onto each skewer. Line a tray with lightly oiled parchment.
- Put the sugar and water in a small, wide saucepan and stir once, just until the sugar is wet. Bring to a boil over medium heat without stirring.
- Boil for 8 to 10 minutes until the syrup reaches 150°C (300°F), the hard-crack stage. If you have no thermometer, a drop of syrup in cold water should turn brittle at once.
- Take the pan off the heat and tilt it. Dip each skewer, rolling it to coat the fruit, then lift it out and let the excess syrup drip off.
- Set the skewers on the tray and let the shell harden for 5 minutes. Eat them the same day.
Tips
- Hot sugar causes serious burns. Keep children away from the stove and dip the skewers carefully. Soak the pan in hot water afterward to dissolve the hardened sugar.
- Eat tanghulu soon after they set. Moisture from the fruit softens the shell within a few hours, and humid days make it sticky.
Questions and answers
Why did my sugar syrup crystallize?
Usually from stirring after it started boiling, from sugar crystals on the pan's side, or from wet fruit. Do not stir, and brush the side of the pan with a wet pastry brush if crystals form.
What fruit works best for tanghulu?
Traditionally hawthorn berries, but strawberries, grapes, mandarin segments, kumquats and cherry tomatoes all work. Choose firm, dry fruit.
How long do candied fruit skewers keep?
They are best within 2 to 3 hours. The shell absorbs moisture and turns sticky after that, especially in a warm or humid kitchen.
How long does it take to make Tanghulu (Candied Fruit Skewers)?
About 27 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 12 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Tanghulu (Candied Fruit Skewers)?
About 150 kcal per serving, with 1 g of protein, 37 g of carbohydrates and 0 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 150 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 1 g |
| Carbohydrates | 37 g |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 35 g |
| Sodium | 2 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
