You know what is missing from your life? Tanghulu. Grapes are sweet and delicious on their own, but adding a candy shell takes them to a whole other level. Tanghulu is skewered fruit covered in a hard candy coating. It is so satisfying to bite into the sweet crunchy outside and then experience a juicy ripe grape inside. It’s so good!
Tanghulu originated in Northern China during the Song Dynasty (960-1279). Traditionally it’s made from hawthorn or haw fruits. Nowadays there are a variety of fruits used like grapes, strawberries, and mandarin oranges. This popular Chinese street food can also be found in South Korea and Japan.
Visually, these little fruit kabobs are stunning with their shiny glass coats. Taste them, and you will quickly find out why they have been around for centuries. Tanghulu would be fun to make with kids.
Happy Eating!
Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail. Proverbs 19:21
Grape Tanghulu
Ingredients
2 cups sugar
1 cup water
grapes (approximately 75)
Equipment needed:
bamboo skewers
parchment paper
candy thermometer
Instructions
- Prep all the grapes by putting 5 grapes per skewer. Set aside.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment to use after dipping the fruit in the hot candy coating.
- In a medium sauce pan mix 2 cups sugar and 1 cup of water. Do not stir again. Heat over medium-high heat for approximately 20 to 30 minutes until the temperature reaches 300℉. The sugar will be an amber color and very bubbly when it’s ready.
- You need to reach hard crack stage. If you do not have a thermometer, take one of the bamboo skewers without fruit on it, and dip it in the hot sugar, then dip it in cold water. If it is hard and cracks, the sugar is ready. If it’s still soft it’s not ready.
- While the sugar and water is cooking, fill a large bowl with lots of ice and water.
- Once the sugar has reached hard crack stage, take the pan off the heat and immediately start rolling your prepared skewers in the hot sugar. Then put each skewer in the ice cold water bowl. The candy will harden immediately. Work quickly since the hot sugar will harden fast.
- Place each candy coated skewer on a parchment lined sheet pan to let some of the excess ice water drip off.
Notes
- Enjoy tanghulu right away.
- Store them in the refrigerator for several days.
- They freeze well and taste good frozen too.
- Try other fruits like strawberries, or apples, or whatever you prefer.
- Do not stir the sugar water once it’s cooking. Crystals can form if you stir the mixture. Just let it cook.
- The skewers only need to sit in the ice water for maybe ten seconds to harden the candy and cool the outside. It’s ok if they sit in the ice water while you finish the rest of the skewers.
Meghan E White 