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Crispy Melon Seed Brittle — finished dish, ready to serve.

Crispy Melon Seed Brittle (Guazi Ren Su Tang)

又香又脆的瓜子仁酥糖，年货小吃家乡的味道 · pan chinese cuisine

35 min total20 min cooking4 stepssweetnuttycrispy

This crispy seed brittle is a traditional Lunar New Year snack in China, often made at home and shared with family and guests. It keeps well, travels easily, and pairs the nutty crunch of melon seeds with a clean caramel sweetness from rock sugar and maltose.

Tasha Greenleaf's profile photoTasha GreenleafVegan baker converting skeptics one chickpea brownie at a time. Allergic to boring vegetables. Aquafaba evangelist, sorry in advance.

Nutrition & allergens

No supported allergens detected from surveyed ingredients.

Some ingredients are not yet allergen-surveyed; this label is not exhaustive.

Per serving (4 servings)

Energy (kcal)
Unknown
Protein (g)
Unknown
Fat (g)
Unknown
Carbs (g)
Unknown
Sodium (mg)
Unknown

Estimated from verified ingredient data for the original formula — not lab values, and one dish is not a full meal.

Techniques you'll use

Steps

  1. 1

    Step 1

    Crispy Melon Seed Brittle — step 1 visual checkpoint.

    Add the oil to the pan over low heat and cook until softened and warmed through.

    ✅ Done when: The oil is fully melted and flows smoothly around the pan over low heat.

  2. 2

    Step 2

    Sugar caramelizing (chao tang se) ↗
    Crispy Melon Seed Brittle — step 2 visual checkpoint.

    Add the rock sugar and melt it completely over low heat, then stir in the maltose. Do not use high heat — overcooked sugar turns bitter. Once the syrup is ready, add the melon seeds and sesame seeds, stir until evenly combined, and remove from the pan.

    ✅ Done when: The rock sugar has fully dissolved into a smooth syrup with no remaining crystals, and the seeds are evenly coated.

  3. 3

    Step 3

    Crispy Melon Seed Brittle — step 3 visual checkpoint.

    Press the mixture firmly into a compact block, and cut it into pieces while it is still slightly warm — do not wait until it has cooled completely, or it will crumble.

    ✅ Done when: The block holds its shape under pressure and can be cut cleanly while just warm to the touch.

  4. 4

    Step 4

    Crispy Melon Seed Brittle — step 4 visual checkpoint.

    For easy carrying and storage, wrap the pieces in bags — a tasty, good-looking snack ready to enjoy anytime.

    ✅ Done when: Each piece is fully wrapped and holds together without crumbling when handled.