Mexican Candy Tanghulu
Mexican Candy Tanghulu gives the classic Chinese-style candied fruit a spicy-sweet twist with tamarindo hard candies and a Tajín finish. Crisp, juicy fruit gets coated in a glossy, tangy tamarindo shell and dunked into an ice bath for that signature glassy crunch. Finished with a sprinkle of Tajín, each bite is sweet, sour, spicy, and totally addictive. It’s a fun, crowd-pleasing treat perfect for parties or a playful dessert.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup ice
- About 15 tamarindo hard candies
- Fruit of choice, grapes, strawberries, kiwi, etc.
- Toothpicks
- Tajín, for sprinkling
Instructions
- Fill a small mixing bowl with the water and ice to prepare the ice bath.
- Insert toothpicks into each fruit piece and set aside.
- Unwrap the tamarindo candies and place them in a microwave-safe bowl.
- Microwave on high in 30-second intervals, stirring occasionally, until the candy is fully melted (about 1.5 – 2 minutes total).
- Carefully dip each fruit into the melted candy to coat, letting the excess drip off.
- Immediately place the coated fruit into the ice bath and let sit for about 5 minutes until hardened.
- Once hardened, remove the fruit from the ice water and sprinkle with Tajín.
- Serve and enjoy immediately!
Notes
- The ice bath is essential—it rapidly hardens the candy coating for that classic crack.
- Use tamarindo lollipops (like Vero Elotes or Pulparindo) for extra flavor.
- Best eaten the same day, as the coating may begin to soften with time.
- Avoid over-microwaving the candy or it will burn—stop as soon as fully melted.
- Experiment with different fruits—grapes, pineapple, and strawberries all work great!
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