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This Mexican Candy Shot is sure to impress family and friends at your next dinner party! It’s sweet and slightly spicy with lots of fruity flavors. This recipe is easy to make, and you can customize it with different flavors like watermelon, strawberry or guava juice!

Mexican Candy Shot is sure to impress your family and friends at your next dinner party! It’s sweet and slightly spicy with lots of fruity flavors. This recipe is easy to make, and you can customize it with different flavors like watermelon, strawberry, or guava juice.

Mexican Candy is one of my favorite alcoholic drinks, along with Lemonade Cocktails, Watermelon Mojitos, and Strawberry Jello Shots.

While it may seem fancy, it’s actually super-easy to make and you only need a few ingredients. The trick is to use proper ratios and combine them in a balanced way.

What is a Mexican Candy Shot?

No one seems to know exactly who made this shot first, but it’s become so popular that there are many variations. This drink gets its name from a watermelon-flavored Mexican hard candy that is dusted with chili powder. This candy is referred to lollipop, a Mexican-style popsicle.

Mexican Lollipop Candy Shot is a tequila and fruit juice-based cocktail with sweet and spicy flavors.

Mexican Candy Shot is sure to impress your family and friends at your next dinner party! It’s sweet and slightly spicy with lots of fruity flavors. This recipe is easy to make, and you can customize it with different flavors like watermelon, strawberry, or guava juice.

What Kind of Juice is Best for Mexican Candy?

Traditionally watermelon juice is used to make Mexican Candy, but you can use any fruit juice like strawberry, raspberry, or guava juice. Choose one with a pink color for an authentic look.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Mexican candy shot ingredients on the counter.

The best Mexican candy shot has the balanced taste and it’s really refreshing. You’ll find my preferred ingredients in the recipe below.

  • Fruit Juice: If using freshly squeezed juice, you’ll need to strain it to remove the pulp. I used guava juice, but you can use watermelon or strawberry juice.
  • Tequila: Tequila is a classic alcoholic choice for this recipe. Higher alcohol content will have a stronger taste.
  • Sugar: You’ll need sugar to rim the edges of the shot glasses. You can also add sugar to taste to the drink if you’d prefer a sweeter drink.
  • Hot Sauce: It adds a nice heat to the drink. My favorite is Tabaco sauce.
  • Lime: Optional for garnish.
  • Ice cubes

Tequila storage tip: It’s best to store tequila in a cool and dry area. Once you’ve opened the bottle, you should drink it within a year.

How to Make the Perfect Mexican Candy Shot

Mexican candy shot recipe: step 1 and 2 photos.

1. Spread out the sugar on a small plate. Then rub a wedge of lime around the rim of the shot glass.

2. Immediately dip the wet edges into sugar. Set aside.

Mexican Candy Shot recipe: step 3 and 4 photos.

3. Add ice, tequila, fruit juice, sugar, and hot sauce to a shaking glass.

4. Shake well until sugar is completely dissolved (about 10 times).

Mexican Candy Shot recipe: step 5 and 6 photos.

5. Strain the mixture into shot glass.

6. Garnish with lime wedges. Serve and enjoy! (You can suck on the lime wedges between sips! )

Closeup of a Mexican Lollipop Candy Shot with a wedge of lime

Tips for Making Mexican Lollipop Candy Shot

  • Use the right ratio between tequila and the juice. I recommend starting with a 1:2 ratio for a balanced taste. You can adjust slightly based on your preference
  • You may need to add more sugar if your juice is not sweet enough. Always add it gradually to avoid over-sweetening.

Variations

There are many variations to this classic shot and here are some popular ideas:

  • Mango Mexican Candy Shot: Add mango juice to the mix.
  • Mexican Candy Jello Shots: As with Strawberry Jello Shots, you can add Jello to the drink to make it into jello shots.

Looking for more drink recipes?

Mexican Candy Shot is sure to impress your family and friends at your next dinner party! It’s sweet and slightly spicy with lots of fruity flavors. This recipe is easy to make, and you can customize it with different flavors like watermelon, strawberry, or guava juice.
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4.50 from 2 votes

Mexican Candy Shot Recipe

Mexican Candy Shot is sure to impress your family and friends at your next dinner party! It’s sweet and slightly spicy with lots of fruity flavors.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 6 shots

Ingredients 

  • 2 oz tequila
  • 4 oz fruit juice, (You can use watermelon, strawberry, raspberry, or Guava juice. Ideally with pink color)
  • hot sauce, to taste (I used Tabasco)
  • sugar, to taste
  • ice cubes
  • 1 lime, cut into wedges, optional

Instructions 

  • Gather together all the ingredients. If using freshly squeezed juice, strain the juice first.
  • Spread out sugar on a small plate.
  • Rub a piece of lime slice around the rim of the shot glass and then immediately dip into sugar. Set aside.
  • Add ice, tequila, fruit juice, sugar, and hot sauce to a cocktail shaker.
  • Shake well until sugar is completely dissolved (about 10 times).
  • Strain the mixture into shot glasses. Then garnish with lime wedges to serve.

Notes

  • Use the right ratio between tequila and the juice. I recommend starting with 1:2 ratio for a balanced taste, although you can adjust to suit your preference
  • You may need to add more sugar if your juice is not sweet enough. Add i gradually.
Nutrition Facts
Mexican Candy Shot Recipe
Serving Size
 
1 shot
Amount per Serving
Calories
34
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
1
g
2
%
Saturated Fat
 
1
g
5
%
Sodium
 
1
mg
0
%
Potassium
 
30
mg
1
%
Carbohydrates
 
3
g
1
%
Fiber
 
1
g
4
%
Sugar
 
2
g
2
%
Net Carbs
 
2
g
4
%
Protein
 
1
g
2
%
Vitamin C
 
3
mg
4
%
Calcium
 
4
mg
0
%
Iron
 
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Please read our nutrition disclaimer.

Author: Cindy
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: Mexican Candy Shot
Did you make this recipe? Leave a comment below!
Mexican Candy Shot is sure to impress your family and friends at your next dinner party! It’s sweet and slightly spicy with lots of fruity flavors. This recipe is easy to make, and you can customize it with different flavors like watermelon, strawberry, or guava juice.