Mexican candy shot | Recipe + Non-Alcoholic Option (2025)

Introduction: What Makes the Mexican Candy Shot So Unique?

Craving something bold, fun, and a little bit spicy for your next celebration? The Mexican Candy Shot might just be your perfect match. Inspired by Mexico’s iconic spicy-sweet candies, this popular drink delivers a flavorful punch that delights taste buds and starts conversations.

Whether you’re enjoying it at a party, mixing it at home, or looking for a non-alcoholic option, this shot has become a sensation for all the right reasons. And if you’re curious about how to make it — or where it came from — you’re in the right place.

What’s in a Mexican Candy Shot? (Ingredients Breakdown)

At its core, the Mexican Candy Shot is a flavor explosion of sweet, spicy, and sour — mirroring the famous Vero Mango or Pelon Pelo Rico candies beloved across Mexico.

🔍 Mexican Candy Shot Ingredients (Alcoholic Version)

• Tequila – Most commonly silver (blanco) tequila for a clean base

• Watermelon schnapps or melon liqueur – Delivers fruity sweetness

• Hot sauce (like Tapatío, Cholula, or Tabasco) – Adds heat and kick

• Lime juice – Balances the sweetness with citrusy tang

• Chamoy – A tangy, spicy, savory sauce made from pickled fruit (like apricot or plum), chili peppers, and lime juice

• Tajín – A chili-lime-salt blend used to rim the glass

These ingredients create a taste that dances between fruity and fiery, sweet and sour.

How to Make the Perfect Mexican Candy Shot (Step-by-Step Recipe)

Non-Alcoholic Mexican Candy Shot (Mocktail Option)

Don’t drink alcohol? No problem — you can still enjoy the fun of this vibrant shot!

🧃 Kid-Friendly or Dry Version

Ingredients:

• 1 oz watermelon juice or soda

• 0.5 oz mango juice (optional)

• 0.5 oz lime juice

• 2–3 drops of hot sauce

• Chamoy and Tajín for the rim

Instructions:

1. Rim your glass with chamoy and Tajín.

2. Mix juices and hot sauce over ice and shake well.

3. Strain into the glass and garnish as you like!

✅ Perfect for baby showers, kids’ parties, or dry lifestyles.

Mexican Candy Shots Chamoy Recipe

Various types of fresh fruit juice or juicy flavor can be used to make the Mexican Candy shot with Chamoy. Depending on the flavour you wish to create, you can also use the juices of mango, watermelon, raspberry, strawberry, or guava. Each shot will have a name based on its unique flavour. My mouth always floods when I take the Mexican Candy shot with mango Chamoy and mango juice. I’ll thus provide the steps below so you may prepare it at home with ease.

INGREDIENTS

one cup of mango juice or mango-flavored Jumex

fruit chamoy

2 teaspoons of Lucas mango-flavored baby powder

Muecas chilli powder, 1 teaspoon

Citrus juice

lime slices as a garnish

Sweetening agent/sugar

Ice-cubes.

Tools

Shotguns.

Take your shotglass and dip the top edge of the glass into the Chamoy sauce over the platter. 2 teaspoons of lime juice should be used to massage the glass’s edge.

Cover the glass edge with dry powders: Next, rotate the borders with spreading particles and reapply the combination deeply along the glass’s margin line. Now put the glass aside.

Add some ice cubes to a different glass: Grab a different glass and add some ice cubes to it. Avoid the cold beverages if you don’t want to. However, you also get a few beverages in cold flavour.

Pour the mango juice. Into the remaining area of the glass together with the other ingredients in this step. Depending on your preference, add some sugar, salt, and lime juice. Once everything has become a thick liquid shot, shake the mixture in a cocktail shaker or continue to stir it.

Now that it is prepared, serve it into a shot glass. Pick up the shot glass you placed aside. Fill the glass with Chamoy sauce. Pour the beverage straight into the shot glass. Add an orange wedges and a mango candy pop to it. Join your friends and gangs in celebrating the Mexican Candy Shot Recipe with Chamoy right now.

Benefits include:

Since it is a fruit-based light drink, the advantages you receive are chock-full of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.

Nutrition facts:

What Does a Mexican Candy Shot Taste Like?

Imagine biting into a spicy-sweet lollipop:

• Sweet from watermelon or mango

• Spicy from hot sauce or Tajín

• Tangy from lime and chamoy

• Savory-sour from chamoy’s pickled fruit base

It’s bold, exciting, and just plain fun.

Popular Variations You Can Try

Add your own twist with these creative versions:

🔥 Mango Mexican Candy Shot

Swap watermelon schnapps for mango liqueur or juice.

❄️ Frozen Version

Blend the ingredients with crushed ice for a slushy-style treat.

🍬 Chamoy Candy Shooter

Garnish with tamarind candy straws or chili-coated gummies.

🍹 Mocktail Sip

Serve the non-alcoholic version over ice in a rocks glass as a longer sipper.

Where Did the Mexican Candy Shot Come From? (Origin)

While the flavor inspiration comes from traditional Mexican candies, the drink itself is widely credited to have emerged in Mexican-American nightlife, particularly in border states like Texas and California during the early 2000s.

Bartenders began recreating the flavors of nostalgic treats like Vero Mango and Pelon Pelo Rico into shots that quickly went viral within clubs and parties — eventually becoming a nationwide (and even international) trend.

FAQs: Quick Answers About Mexican Candy Shots

What’s in a Mexican candy shot?

Tequila, watermelon schnapps, lime juice, hot sauce, and chamoy — inspired by spicy-sweet Mexican candies.

Can I make it without alcohol?

Yes! The non-alcoholic version uses juices and still captures the flavor and fun.

Is it spicy?

Mild to medium, but you control the heat based on how much hot sauce and Tajín you use.

What’s the best garnish?

Chamoy rim with Tajín and a chili-covered tamarind stick or lollipop.

Is Chamoy spicy?

Chamoy is mildly spicy, tangy, and fruity — made from pickled fruit (apricot, plum, or mango), chili, and lime.

Can I use watermelon in place of the mango in this recipe?

Yep! Mango juice can be substituted with fresh watermelon juice. Even better when garnished with a piece of watermelon fruit, it tastes great as a watermelon shot. In fact, you can make this shot using a wide selection of fruit juices, including guava, pineapple, apricot, and orange.

What additional variant of a candy shot are there in Mexico?

Watermelon juice, silver tequila, and spicy sauce (like Tabasco sauce) are common additions to a Mexican candy cocktail. A terrific drink, in my opinion, has roughly 4-5 oz of watermelon juice, 2 oz of tequila, and a few dashes of spicy sauce. Hot sauce gives food a little kick, which I adore. Oh, and add a lime slice as a garnish.

Can we do without tequila and sugar?

Yes, you may use pure honey or simple syrup for the addition of sugar and tequila.

The ideal fruit juice for a Mexican Candy Shot?

The greatest Mexican Candy Shot is the combination of mango and watermelon. It’s also nice to replace strawberry juice.

Conclusion: The Sweet-Spicy Fusion Everyone Should Try

Whether you’re a tequila lover, a fan of bold flavors, or just someone looking for a unique mocktail, the Mexican Candy Shot delivers something truly unforgettable. Its roots in Mexican-American culture, nostalgic candy flavors, and versatility (alcoholic or not) make it a shot worth knowing and sharing.

✅ Add it to your next party lineup.
✅ Make it family-friendly.
✅ Customize it with your favorite fruit and spice.

One thing’s for sure — this isn’t your average shot. It’s a flavorful experience!