Tanghulu
Fresh strawberries threaded on skewers and dipped in a glass-thin, hard-crack sugar shell for the crackly-crunchy candied fruit skewers that keep going viral on TikTok. Best eaten the same day, before humidity softens the shell.
Ingredients
- 2 pints strawberries, hulled
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
- 2 tbsp light corn syrup
Instructions
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1
Wash 2 pints hulled strawberries and dry them completely with paper towels; any surface moisture will keep the sugar shell from sticking. Thread 3 to 4 strawberries onto a bamboo skewer, leaving a bare handle at the bottom.
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2
In a small heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine 2 cups granulated sugar, 1 cup water, and 2 tbsp light corn syrup. Cook over medium heat, swirling the pan occasionally but not stirring, until the sugar fully dissolves.
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3
Increase the heat to medium-high and clip on a candy thermometer. Boil without stirring until the syrup reaches 300 to 310 degrees F, the hard crack stage; it will turn from cloudy to perfectly clear.
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4
Candy safety note: molten sugar syrup is far hotter than boiling water and causes severe burns instantly on skin contact. Keep children and pets away from the stove, use long-handled tools, and keep a bowl of ice water nearby in case of a splash.
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5
Remove the syrup from the heat immediately, since residual heat keeps cooking it. Working quickly before it hardens, tilt the pan and dip and swirl each skewer to coat the strawberries in a thin, even layer of syrup, letting any excess drip off.
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6
Set the coated skewers on a parchment-lined tray or lightly oiled surface, not touching each other, and let stand until the shell hardens into a glassy, crackable coating, about 3 minutes. Serve the same day; the shell softens if refrigerated or left out in humid air.