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mexican candy shot in tiki glass

Mexican Candy Shot Recipe

Is it sweet? Is it spicy? Well, it’s both. The Mexican candy shot recipe mixes both flavors perfectly. This drink is inspired by a popular Mexican watermelon candy that is dusted with chile powder. Sounds yummy, right?

A very popular brand to try is made by the Lucas Candy Company. Very easily found online and through places like Walmart.com, Amazon, or other online grocery store. A center of a Lucas candy can vary, but most of the time, the candies have a sweet outer layer and a spicy inner layer.

Traditionally, this drink calls for watermelon juice, but feel free to use any pink juice. Think strawberry, guava, or raspberry juice. Let’s start off with the traditional Mexican Candy shots recipe. It’s a very popular drink, especially around the Mexican border.

Traditional

  • 2 oz tequila
  • 4 oz watermelon juice
  • Hot sauce (tabasco) to taste
  • For rim: sugar and lime juice or wedge
  • Garnish: Lime wedge (or slice of passion fruit)
  1. Rim edge of glass with lime and dip into sugar
  2. Add tequila, juice, and hot sauce to a cocktail shaker filled with ice, shake
  3. Strain into glass – garnish

If you want to serve as a shot, omit the sugared rim.

If you want to skip the fruit juice, try this version:

  • 1 oz tequila
  • 1 oz watermelon pucker – feel free to substitute watermelon schnapps.
  • 2 dashes hot sauce

How about Mexican candy Jello shots?

  • 2 oz vodka
  • 1 oz watermelon pucker
  • 1 oz sweet and sour
  • 8 oz hot water
  • 3 oz watermelon Jello
  1. Add watermelon jello to hot water and stir until dissolved. Add sweet and sour and let cool.
  2. Once cooled, add vodka and watermelon pucker. Stir and pour into shot glasses. Place in refrigerator until set.
  3. Once set, spring with tajin seasoning

So… what if you can’t find tajin seasoning??? Here’s a recipe for homemade tajin.

  • 1 tablespoon paprika or red chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried lime zest
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne powder
  • pinch of sugar

Combine all ingredients and store in an airtight container

Of course, this version is closely related to the famous pa-leta shot. It is inspired by the sweet and spicy flavors of the other drinks but has a mix of mango with the addition of hot sauce.

  • 1 oz tequila
  • 1/2 oz mango juice
  • 1/2 oz strawberry juice
  • fresh lime juice
  • Dash of Tabasco
  • Pinch of salt
  1. Combine all of the ingredients into a shaker filled with ice. Shake
  2. Strain into two shot glasses rimmed with tajin

Love the combination of sweet and spicy drinks? Try this Mexican cocktail drink.

Cucumber Watermelon Mexican Candy Cocktail

  • 1 1/2 oz cucumber vodka
  • 1 oz watermelon pucker
  • 1/2 oz peach liqueur
  • 2 oz sweet and sour
  • dash Tabasco
  • Garnish – tajin rim and cucumber slice
  1. Rim a martini glass with a lime wedge and tajin
  2. Add vodka, watermelon pucker, peach liqueur, sweet and sour, and Tabasco to shaker filled with ice. Shake and then strain into prepared martini glass.
  3. Garnish with cucumber slice

Love watermelon? Try these two drinks…

Watermelon Shooters

  • 1 oz tequila
  • 1/2 oz watermelon pucker
  • 2 oz watermelon juice
  1. Rim edge of shot glass with sugar
  2. Add ingredients to shaker filled with ice, shake. Strain into prepared shot glass

Watermelon Kamikaze Shots

  • 1 part vodka
  • 1 part watermelon pucker
  • 1 part lime juice
  1. Combine ingredients into shaker filled with ice. Shake
  2. Strain into shot glass

Another sweet and spice option is a Spicy Strawberry Watermelon Margarita, sounds yummy right? This recipe makes 4 servings

  • 1/2 jalapeno slice lengthwise and seeded
  • 1 cup tequila
  • 4 cups watermelon, cubed
  • 1 cup strawberries
  • 2 limes, juiced
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1/2 cup orange liqueur
  • Garnish – tajin powder on the glass rim and lime wedge
  1. let the jalapeno soak in the tequila for 2 to 4 hours. Better if overnight.
  2. Combine all of the ingredients into a blender and then blend until smooth
  3. Rim the edge of the glass with tajin powder and fill with ice.
  4. Strain mixture into glasses, garnish with lime wedge.

If you prefer a frozen margarita instead of on the rocks, then use frozen watermelon and frozen strawberries. Add ice to the blender to get the consistency you want.

Ok… how about one that combines sweet and spicy, but has chocolate?

Mexican Chocolate Shots

  • 1 oz chocolate liqueur
  • 1/2 oz amaretto
  • 1/2 oz spicy vodka (think Pinnacle Habanero or Atomic Hot Shots)
  • Chocolate or regular whipped cream
  • Ground cinnamon
  1. Combine the chocolate liqueur, amaretto and vodka into a shaker with ice. Shake
  2. Pour into two shot glasses. Top each with whipped cream and a dash of cinnamon.

Want a sweet and spicy candy treat instead of an alcoholic drink? Here’s a video showing how a really simple and easy Mexican Candy recipe. I’m already planning for my next Cinco de Mayo party, what about you?

Want more? Check out our related cocktail recipes!