Quick and Easy Tanghulu Recipe (Chinese Candied Fruit) : A Sweet Treat Your Family Will Love!

Name: Quick and Easy Tanghulu Recipe (Chinese Candied Fruit)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients: 1 lb strawberries, grapes, or other fruit of choice (~30 pieces); 2 cups white sugar; 1 cup water

Posted on November 17, 2025

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This delicious Quick and Easy Tanghulu Recipe (Chinese Candied Fruit) comes together in about 30 minutes and is no-bake for a quick and easy treat that your family will love! Switch up the fruit to suit your taste or use it as a means to “clean out the fridge.” I mean, who doesn’t love a tasty treat that can help use up whatever fresh fruit you have lying around? Plus, it adds a fun touch of sweetness to any occasion!

Ingredients

1 lb strawberries, grapes, or other fruit of choice (~30 pieces)
2 cups white sugar
1 cup water

Ingredient Breakdown

Let’s dive into the ingredients!

Fresh Fruits

You’ll want about 1 pound of fresh fruit, which can be strawberries, grapes, or any other fruit that your family loves! You can mix and match according to seasonal availability or whatever is wilting away in your fridge. Kiwi, pineapple chunks, and even orange slices can work wonders! This is my favorite part, getting to use what I have on hand. My kids absolutely adore strawberries, so we often go with those!

Sugar

You’ll need 2 cups of white sugar for this recipe. The sugar creates that satisfying crunchy coating we all know and love. Just a heads up this is a dessert, so it’s definitely on the sweeter side. If you wanna play around, you can also try using brown sugar for a deeper flavor!

Water

We’ll combine that sugar with 1 cup of water to create our syrup! This will help transform simple ingredients into a sugary wonderland.

Let’s Get Cooking!

Now that we have our ingredients, here’s how easy it is to make Tanghulu!

Wash and Prep the Fruit (About 5 minutes)
First, wash your fruit thoroughly and dry them really well! Any moisture will mess with that fabulous candy coating we’re aiming for. Remove leaves and stems as you prep each piece. Some folks like to slice larger fruit into chunks, great idea for a fun assortment!
Skewer the Fruit (About 10 minutes)
Grab your skewers and thread about 3 pieces of fruit onto each one. Feel free to mix up your combinations for a rainbow effect! You’ll have a real fun project ahead as you build your colorful skewers, it’s like an edible art project!
Make the Syrup (About 10 minutes)
In a small pot, combine your 2 cups of sugar and 1 cup of water without stirring. Bring it to a boil over medium heat. Keep an eye on it and let it bubble away, just stirring occasionally. You want it to reach a beautiful, thick amber color that smells heavenly… it’s like sugar magic!
Check the Syrup (About 5 minutes)
Test the syrup by dropping a spoonful into a glass of ice water. If it hardens quickly, it’s ready for dipping! If it’s still gooey, give it a few more minutes on the heat.
Dip and Cool the Fruit (About 5 minutes)
Now for the thrilling part! Dip your fruit skewers quickly into the syrup, covering them well. Then immediately dunk the skewers into ice water to cool and harden. You can almost hear it crackling! Place dipped skewers on a parchment-lined plate. Let them cool completely before serving.
Serve and Enjoy!
Once cooled, your Tanghulu is ready to devour! These beauties can be enjoyed right away or displayed for some delightful eye candy, if you can resist!

Why I Love This Recipe

This Quick and Easy Tanghulu Recipe is absolutely my go-to recipe for gatherings, celebrations, or just a sweet treat for my kids. I’m a real sucker for anything that combines creativity and simplicity! It’s comfort food wrapped up in a glamorous shell literally. My kids especially love the crackly texture of the candy coating contrasting with the juicy, fresh fruit inside. It’s just one of those familiar recipes that makes you feel like a superhero in the kitchen!

I also adore how versatile it is! You can customize the fruits with whatever is at hand, making it a perfect solution for a busy weeknight when you want something sweet but don’t have a ton of time. Plus, it’s so delightful to see how bright and colorful they are on a platter. My little ones always marvel at the different colors!

If you loved this Tanghulu recipe, be sure to check out my Cherry Cheesecake Fluff, my Easy Christmas Rice Krispie Bars, or my Cinnamon Roll Cookies!

Why This Recipe Works

Quick & Easy

This Tanghulu recipe really is a breeze! It comes together in under 30 minutes, making it perfect for a last-minute dessert.

Customizable

With tons of fruity options available, you can literally use whatever goodies you have lying around. One day it’s strawberries, another day it’s whatever is left in the fruit bowl, no complaints here!

Comfort Food

There’s something wonderfully nostalgic about crunchy candy-coated fruit. It brings back childhood memories, whether it’s a fairground or a summer festival, and the whole family will love it!

Budget-Friendly

This recipe uses affordable, everyday ingredients. You likely already have sugar and water at hand; just grab whatever fruit is appealing, and voila!

Minimal Cleanup

The beauty of this recipe is all of this can be done without requiring a mountain of dishes to clean up afterward, always a win in the kitchen!

Storage and Serving Suggestions

How to Serve This Tanghulu

Seriously, it’s just plain fun to serve your Tanghulu skewers at parties. Arrange them on a tray to show off that shiny exterior! They make a perfect centerpiece for birthday parties, family gatherings, or just for a fun snack for your little ones after school.

Keeping Leftovers Fresh

But if you have any leftovers (which is a long shot, let’s be real!), keep them in an airtight container in the fridge. They’ll stay good for about 2 days but be aware that they will start to lose their crunchy exterior as they sit. The best part is to enjoy them fresh!

Reheating Instructions

There’s no need for reheating, these are best served cool and crunchy! Trust me; they’ll be just as sweet and delicious even if they’ve lost a bit of that initial crisp.

Freezer Friendly?

Um, not really. The syrup won’t hold up well to freezing, so enjoy these beauties fresh!

A Final Note

Food is really about bringing people together, you know? I can’t help but smile when I see my kids gobbling these Tanghulu skewers down. The crunchy candy and juicy fruit combo is an elegant twist on dessert!

So go ahead, gather up your family and get ready to whip up this fun treat, you’re going to love every minute of it.

And just remember, life’s too short to skip dessert. Happy cooking!

This is a delightful recipe that meets all your sweet tooth cravings in no time. Enjoying this scrumptious treat while cleaning out the fridge never tasted so good! So let’s get sweetening!

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