Tanghulu Recipe Without Corn Syrup
About this recipe
Tanghulu is a fun and delicious Chinese street food made by coating fruits in a hard candy shell. This version, created by Canan from Simple and Delish, skips corn syrup, making it a straightforward treat to whip up at home.
With just a few simple ingredients—strawberries, grapes, and tangerine—you can create a colorful and sweet snack that's perfect for parties or just a fun dessert.
Ingredient notes
- You can use strawberries, grapes, and tangerine for this recipe, but feel free to experiment with other fruits if you like.
Tips from Simple and Delish by Canan’s video
- Make sure to wash and thoroughly dry the fruits before inserting the sticks; this helps the candy adhere better.
- If you don't have a candy thermometer, look for the syrup to turn light amber in color and perform the water test to check for the hard crack stage.
Good to know
- What is the hard crack stage for the candy syrup?
- The hard crack stage is reached when the syrup reaches 300ºF or when it turns light amber in color and forms brittle threads that easily crack when dropped into cold water.
- Can I use other fruits for tanghulu?
- Yes, you can use other fruits, but the recipe specifically mentions strawberries, grapes, and tangerine.
No life story here — the video and the recipe are the whole point. All credit to Simple and Delish by Canan: watch the original on YouTube.
The recipe
Ingredients
Steps
- 1
Wash and thoroughly dry the strawberries and grapes. Peel the tangerine. Insert the sticks into the fruits and set aside.
- 2
Combine sugar and water in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-low heat.
- 3
Bring the mixture to a boil and cook until it reaches 300ºF (the hard crack stage). If you don’t have a thermometer, wait until the syrup starts to turn light amber in color. Perform the water test by dropping a small spoonful of syrup into cold water; it should form brittle threads that easily crack and snap.
- 4
Remove the candy mixture from the heat and dip the fruits into the mixture, swirling to coat them thoroughly.
- 5
Transfer the coated fruits to a cookie sheet and allow them to cool until the candy has fully hardened.
Credit where it’s due: this recipe was transcribed from Simple and Delish by Canan’s original video on YouTube. Follow them there — it’s their dish.
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