I’m a huge fan of the sweet and salty combination. Dipping french fries in a milkshake, adding chocolate candy to popcorn at the movie theater, salted caramel anything – the combination just works. But lately, I’ve been gravitating toward a different kind of combo: sweet and spicy.

That curiosity is exactly what led me down the rabbit hole of Dulces Enchilados (which literally translates to “chili candy”). The Mexican treat took over social media a few years ago. I couldn’t scroll for five minutes without seeing someone eating or making candy covered in chamoy and spicy seasoning. Though I’m late to the trend (as usual), I fully understand why everyone was going crazy for this candy. 

This recipe is incredibly easy to make with just a few ingredients, and it is completely customizable to your spice tolerance. If you have been curious about the spicy candy trend but have not tried making it yet, this is the easiest place to start. 

What are Dulces Enchilados?

Dulces Enchilados are a popular style of Mexican spicy candy where traditional sweets are coated in a mixture of chili powder and tangy sauce, typically Tajin and Chamoy respectively. You can use everything from Gushers to Skittles, though gummy candies like gummy bears and peach rings are a personal favorite because their chewy texture holds the coating perfectly. The result is a flavor explosion of sweet, salty, sour, and spicy all at once.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Minimal Ingredients: You only need three main components.
• Quick and Easy: The longest part of the recipe is waiting for the gummies to dry.
• Customizable: You can adjust the spice level to however mild or hot you want.

Ingredients You Will Need

Here is everything you’ll need to make easy Tajin gummy bears.

• 1 bag (approx. 9 oz) of Gummy Bears: Any brand works, but classic gelatin-based bears hold up best. I used Albanese brand gummy bears.
• Juice from half a lime: You want the gummy bears to be fully coated for the seasoning to stick.
• 1-2 teaspoons Tajin Clásico Seasoning: You can adjust the amount based on how coated and spicy you want them.

Optional Extras: For an even more authentic Mexican candy experience, you can add a squeeze of Chamoy to the mix or a drizzle of hot sauce for extra heat.

How to Make Tajin Covered Gummy Bears

Step 1: Coat with Lime Juice

Place your gummy bears in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Squeeze the juice of half a lime over the bears. Using a spatula, gently mix the bears until every single one is coated with lime juice. They should look glossy and wet. If there is still lime juice at the bottom of the bowl, dump it out into the sink as too much lime juice will prevent the seasoning from properly sticking to the gummy bears.

Step 2: The Tajin Dusting

Sprinkle about half of your Tajin seasoning over the wet gummy bears and mix. Keep adding Tajin and mixing until every bear is evenly coated. You can taste test at this point to determine how much more seasoning you want to add.

Step 3: Let them Rest

Place the coated gummy bears onto a wire cooling rack. Let them sit at room temperature to dry for around 1 to 2 hours. You’ll know the bears are dry when the Tajin crust hardens slightly on the outside and they no longer feel sticky. Once the gummy bears are fully dry, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. They should keep for up to two weeks, though I doubt they will last that long!