Viral Tanghulu Recipe: How to Make Glass-Candied Strawberries (Fail-Proof)

I watched at least 50 TikTok videos of people crunching into these glossy, glass-like strawberries before I finally tried to make them. My first attempt? A sticky disaster that stuck to my teeth. Why? Because I stirred the sugar (big mistake!). But once I learned the “patience rule” and the ice bath trick, I finally got that satisfying *SNAP*. Now, this is my favorite party trick—it looks like expensive jewelry but tastes like pure joy.

The 3-Ingredient Magic

• 🍓 12 Fresh Strawberries (Small ones work best. Wash and remove leaves).
• 🍚 2 cups Granulated White Sugar (Do not use brown sugar!).
• 💧 1 cup Water (Room temperature).
• 🧊 Ice Water Bath (A bowl full of water and ice cubes—essential!).

How to Get the Glass Crunch

1. Dry the Fruit: This is the most important step. Pat your strawberries completely dry with paper towels. If they are wet, the candy won’t stick! Skewer them (2-3 per stick).
2. The Syrup: In a saucepan, combine sugar and water. Turn heat to medium-high. DO NOT STIR. I repeat, do not stir, or the sugar will crystallize. Just swirl the pan gently if needed.
3. The Bubble Test: Let it boil for about 10-15 minutes until it reaches 300°F (Hard Crack Stage). No thermometer? Dip a chopstick in the sugar and drop it into the ice water. If it crunches instantly, it’s ready. If it’s chewy, keep boiling.
4. Dip & Chill: Working fast, tilt the pan, dip the fruit skewers, spin once to coat, and immediately plunge into the ice water bath for 2 seconds. This hardens the shell instantly.