Make delicious, sweet, and crunchy tanghulu with the help of your microwave. This easy recipe gives you fruits enveloped in a sugar shell that’s sure to impress.
Add 1 cup sugar and ½ cup water to a microwave safe dish or cup
1 cup Granulated white sugar, ½ cup Water
Stir to mix thoroughly
Microwave the mixture on high for 3 minutes, then check it
Add additional cook time in 30 second increments as needed to prevent overcooking
Sugar mixture is ready when a spoon dipped into it and then into ice water hardens immediately (or a candy thermometer reads 300°F)
Quickly dip your fruit skewers into the hot sugar, or use a spoon to gently pour it over the fruit while rotating the skewer
Place the coated skewers onto wax paper or a silicone mat on a baking sheet or similar to cool
Tanghulu should harden immediately and be cool enough to eat in about 2-3 minutes
Notes
This recipe works with most any fruit. I love strawberries and blueberries. However, oranges, grapes, and star fruit are other great choices. Make sure to wash and thoroughly dry your fruit ahead of time!
You can substitute brown sugar in your tanghulu if desired. It will have a slightly different taste but works the same
This tanghulu recipe scales up or down pretty easily; just follow a 2:1 sugar to water ratio to adjust for the amount of fruits you plan to make
You can do one fruit per skewer or fill the whole thing - it’s entirely your choice! Break your skewers in half to make it easier to work with if you’re only putting one fruit on the end
It took me about 6 minutes in a 1000W microwave in total to get my sugar to the needed temperature. It cools quickly, so the more you check it the more time it will likely take (but it’s important not to overcook)
If your sugar mixture browns and starts to caramelize, you have overcooked it
The sugar hardens quickly - you’ll have about 2 minutes before it crystallizes so you’ll want to work fast
Microwave safe paper cups are highly recommended for this recipe, as they’re easy to dunk skewers into and make cleanup easy (just toss them!) but be sure to protect your hands from the heat
Do not let the sugar sit in your bowl if you’re not using a disposable one. It will harden and take a long time to dissolve afterwards
Exact nutritional values will vary based on types of fruit and quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only
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