If you’ve ever dreamed of turning your favorite strawberries into little edible jewels, then this strawberry tanghulu recipe is your answer. Sweet, crunchy, and oh-so-shiny, these candied strawberries are like a bite of magic! Perfect for a romantic dessert, a fun party snack, or just a treat-yourself moment after a long day. With their glassy, crackling shell and burst of fruity flavor, these skewers are as delightful to make as they are to eat.

Ingredients to make this tanghulu fruit recipe

10-12 large fresh strawberries – pick ones that are firm, fresh, and without bruises. Too ripe strawberries may release too much moisture and prevent the sugar coating to stick properly

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup water

Ice cubes

Wooden skewers

Step by step guide to make this strawberry tanghulu

1. Prepare strawberries
Wash and dry the strawberries, leaving the stems intact. Make sure the strawberries are dried really well (you may even use a paper towel to do so) so the sugary glaze sticks properly to them.

2. Skewer your fruit
Skewer 2-3 strawberries on each wooden skewer. Don’t skewer more because it will make dipping harder.

Fresh strawberries are skewered to create strawberry tanghulu and arranged on a wooden board with ice cubes. Sliced strawberries, wooden skewers, a measuring cup, and a cup of sugar surround the display.

3. Prepare the glaze
In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and water. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture reaches 300°F on a candy thermometer (hard crack stage). If you don’t have a thermometer, test by dropping a small amount into ice water; it should harden immediately and snap.

4. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.

A black frying pan filled with white sugar rests on a white surface, surrounded by fresh strawberries, wooden skewers, ice cubes, and a wooden board—perfect for making strawberry tanghulu.

5. Prepare a bowl filled with ice water.

6. Dip each skewered strawberry into the hot sugar mixture, coating it thoroughly. Allow any excess sugar to drip off.

7. Immediately dip the coated strawberries into the ice water bath to cool and harden the sugar coating. Remove and pat dry.

A bowl of ice water chills whole strawberries on skewers being dipped for strawberry tanghulu, surrounded by fresh strawberries on a cutting board and a green towel.

Serve the strawberry tanghulu skewers chilled and crispy, as a delicious and unique treat. For added flavor, you can drizzle melted chocolate over the cooled tanghulu or sprinkle with crushed nuts or edible glitter right after dipping in sugar before it hardens.

Tanghulu is best enjoyed fresh as the sugar coating can become soft if left out too long. If you need to store them, keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for a short time

A wooden skewer with four bright red strawberry tanghulu stacked vertically, held above a glass bowl filled with clear ice water.

Strawberries on wooden skewers, reminiscent of strawberry tanghulu, are lined up on a wooden cutting board with ice cubes scattered around, a green towel, and loose strawberries on a white surface.

Fresh strawberries, some whole and some halved, are skewered on wooden sticks with a few ice cubes, arranged on a rustic wooden surface like strawberry tanghulu treats.

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