Tanghulu (otherwise known as candied strawberries) is a popular street food in Asia. It is very easy to make and requires only 3 ingredients – sugar, water and fruit!
Tanghulu originated in China, but you can find these tasty treats in almost any major city in Asia. I often see several tanghulu carts pop up on Hongdae street (a lively hangout spot in Seoul) when the weather is good.
Ingredients
There are only three ingredients needed for this recipe:
- Sugar
- Water
- Strawberries
Sugar
I used granulated white sugar for this recipe, but I’ve also had success with organic cane sugar. Organic cane sugar works really well because it is more difficult to burn since the sugar is closer to its natural state. In addition, I’ve had success with brown sugar. All of the steps are the same, but the tanghulu will have a molasses flavor.
Essential Tips for Success:
- Prepare all of the ingredients in advance! You will only have about 2 minutes max to dip the strawberries until the sugar hardens.
- Dry your strawberries very well. The hard sugar coating will not adhere to fruits with moisture.
- Start the heat at a low temperature when adding the sugar and water to the pot. Gently mix until about half of the sugar has dissolved, then stop mixing and increase the heat. If you continue mixing past this stage, the sugar will crystallize and you will need to start over.
- Use long wooden skewers to dip the strawberries in the hot sugar mixture. This will keep your fingers safe and ensure an even sugar coating. Spooning the mixture over the strawberries will create a mess and leave you with an uneven coating.
- Be careful! The hot sugar mixture is VERY hot. You need to be very careful when dipping the strawberries. Make sure to use long sticks, or use heatproof gloves for extra protection.
Common Questions
Do I need a candy thermometer to make tanghulu?
Absolutely not! A candy thermometer is not needed to make tanghulu. I’ve made this several times and have never used a thermometer. Just keep an eye on it the entire time and you’ll be successful.
Can tanghulu be stored for later?
Tanghulu is best eaten immediately. The strawberry will begin to release juices in the fridge, which will dissolve the hard sugar coating. It can be done, but it’s not recommended!
How long does tanghulu take to make?
The time it takes to cook tanghulu all depends on the temperature you use. Always remember that stoves differ and my low heat may be your stove’s medium heat. I’ve actually used very high heat and medium heat to make tanghulu and both worked. I don’t recommend using a temperature that’s too high, though.
When will the sugar coating harden?
If done correctly, the sugar coating will harden almost immediately! If it doesn’t then you likely did something wrong (you probably did not dry your fruit well). No worries, just try again!
How do I know when the sugar mixture is ready?
The sugar mixture will turn a light golden brown when it’s ready. I recommend watching it closely because sugar is very easy to burn. Also, keep ice water and a wooden chopstick ready to continuously test it. Once you’ve done this a few times, you’ll be a pro and will instinctively know when it’s ready to be dipped.
Tanghulu Fruit Variations
Tanghulu is traditionally made with hawthorne berries, but any fruit with a dry exterior will work! For example, I’ve tried mandarins, grapes, blueberries and even cherry tomatoes! Fruits like pineapples and watermelon will not work – I’ve seen people do this, but they dip it in ice water after and the coating is not very crunchy.
Ice Water + Chopstick Trick
The ice water and chopstick trick is essential to your success. Make sure to use a wooden chopstick, or any sort of wooden utensil. I like to fill a glass completely with ice, then fill with water so it’s extra cold.
Steps:
- Dip a chopstick in the hot sugar mixture
- Then dip it in the ice cold water
- Finally, chew it! If it crunches in your mouth, it’s ready. Alternatively, if the sugar mixture gets stuck in your teeth and is hard to chew, it needs more time on the stove.
Looking for more easy dessert recipes? Try these!
- chocolate covered strawberries
- hanami dango (tri-colored mochi)
- Korea cafe strawberry milk
- lemon mochi tarts
Watch my video tutorial below!
Tanghulu (Candied Strawberries)
Ingredients
- ½ cup water (120ml)
- 1 cup white sugar (200g)
- 12 small strawberries
- parchment paper or oil for lightly greasing the plate
Instructions
- Dry the strawberries very well in order for the sugar coating to stick. Then, skewer each strawberry with one per stick.
- Prepare parchment paper to cool the strawberries later, or very lightly oil a plate so the hot sugar doesn’t stick.
- Add the sugar and water to a pot and gently simmer until the sugar is about halfway dissolved. Then, stop mixing.
- Increase the heat to between medium and medium high and continue to cook the sugar. The sugar mixture should be bubbling.
- Now for the chopstick test, grab a glass of ice water and a wooden chopstick or any other wooden utensil. Start checking the mixture at around 5 minutes by dipping the chopstick in the pot, then immediately into the ice water. Bite the chopstick – it should crunch in your mouth. If it’s still soft and sticks to your teeth, keep cooking!
- Watch the sugar mixture carefully because it’s easy to burn. The time it takes will depend on the heat you’re using. The mixture will turn a light golden brown when ready. It’s taken me between 12 minutes to 22 minutes, which varied because of the heat I used. Don’t use max heat to cook because you risk burning it.
- Dry the strawberries with a paper towel once again to ensure the exterior has no moisture. When the mixture is ready, take it off the heat and quickly dip your fruit for no more than a few seconds, then twist the stick and let the excess drip off. You’ll only have about 2-3 minutes before the sugar mixture hardens, so work quickly!
- Place the tanghulu on parchment paper or the oiled plate you prepared earlier. It should harden almost immediately. Enjoy!
Notes
Please be careful because the mixture is VERY HOT. You can wear gloves, or use very long sticks to protect yourself.
Smaller strawberries work best for tanghulu because it’s easier to eat.
