Make Sweet & Spicy Candy Pickles at Home With Trending DIY Pickle Kits

The Hot New Trend - Candy Pickle Kits

Pickles and candy might seem like an unlikely combination, but the latest food trend sweeping social media is sweet and sour candy pickle kits. These kits allow you to transform ordinary pickles into spicy, tangy, and sweet pickle snacks loaded with chili powder, chamoy sauce, and Tajín seasoning.

What is a Candy Pickle Kit?

A candy pickle kit contains all the ingredients and spices you need to give basic dill pickles a major flavor upgrade. The kit includes chamoy sauce, Tajín Clásico seasoning, chili powder, and sometimes even Takis Fuego spicy rolled tortilla chips to crush up and add texture.

To make candy pickles, you simply pour the chamoy sauce over crisp dill pickle spears. Then sprinkle on the Tajín seasoning, which contains a mix of chili peppers, lime, and salt. Finally, dust the pickles with chili powder for an extra kick of heat and crunch. The end result is a pickle that's sweet, sour, salty, spicy, and seriously addictive.

The Origins of Candy Pickles

Candy pickles started gaining popularity on TikTok and Instagram in 2021. Food influencers promoted the pickled chili pepper trend and showed how easy the kits are to use. But the idea originally came from the pickled snacks served at fruit stands and restaurants in Mexico and Latin America.

Chamoy sauce and Tajín seasoning have long been used in those regions to add unique flavors to fruits, vegetables, and snacks like mangos, jicama, and cucumbers. Applying those same seasonings to pickles gave the classic snack a sweet and spicy twist.

Why Are Candy Pickles Trending?

There are several reasons why candy pickles have blown up online and become a sought-after snack:

• They offer a perfect sweet, sour and spicy flavor combination that appeals to diverse tastes.
• The trend is easy to recreate at home with just a few simple ingredients.
• Eye-catching videos of the snack have gone viral on social media like TikTok.
• Influencers and celebrities have helped promote the trend and make it mainstream.
• Pickles themselves are having a major resurgence lately among health-conscious consumers looking for low-calorie, crunchy snacks.

Popular Candy Pickle Brands

A few major brands have jumped on board the candy pickle craze and now offer pickle seasoning kits of their own:

• Takis Chamoy Pickle Kit - This kit by the popular rolled tortilla chip company includes Chamoy sauce, Tajín Clásico, and Takis Fuego chips for crushing. It's one of the most well-known and widely available candy pickle kits.
• Pickle Pop Candy Pickle Kit - Offering four flavor options like Sour Patch Kids and Hot Cheetos, these smaller pickle kits are tailored to candy and snack lovers.
• Van Holten's Pickleback Kits - Best known for their pickle-flavored sunflower seeds, Van Holten's also offers pickle seasoning kits in flavors like Hot Mamas.

Steps to Make Candy Pickles at Home

It's easy to DIY candy pickles at home with just a few simple steps:

1. Start with a 16-32 oz. jar of whole dill pickle spears. Make sure they're very crunchy and chilled.
2. Drain the jar of pickles and pat the spears dry. Discard the pickle juice.
3. Prepare your seasoning mix. Combine 2 parts chamoy sauce with 1 part Tajín Clásico in a shallow bowl or pan. Stir to blend the flavors.
4. One at a time, coat the pickle spears in the chamoy-Tajín mixture. Make sure they're fully covered.
5. Sprinkle extra Tajín and chili powder over the seasoned pickles. Add crushed Takis chips for more crunch if desired.
6. Enjoy the candy pickles right away for peak tangy-sweet-spicy flavor!

Tips for the Best Homemade Candy Pickles

Follow these tips for next-level DIY candy pickles every time:

• Choose very crunchy, chilled pickles - soft pickles won't hold up to mixing.
• Completely coat each pickle spear so flavors adhere.
• Use just enough chamoy and Tajín - too much can overpower the pickles.
• Top with extra Tajín, chili powder, and crushed chips just before eating.
• Customize flavors to taste - add mango or lime chamoy for a fruity twist.
• Only make what you'll consume in 1-2 days. Candy pickles are best ultra fresh.

Creative Candy Pickle Ideas & Combinations

Once you master the basics, get creative with customized candy pickle flavors:

• Use pickle spears, chips and chili powder to make candied "pickle corn on the cob".
• Mix mango or guava chamoy sauce for tropical pickle pops.
• Coat pickle chips instead of spears for a crunchy candy crisp.
• Dip pretzel rods into the chamoy-Tajín mix with crushed Takis for spicy pickle pretzel bites.
• Sprinkle the seasoning on chilled cucumbers, jicama, or fruit like pineapple and mango.

Where to Buy Candy Pickle Kits & Ingredients

You can find candy pickle kits and supplies at multiple retailers:

• Major grocery store chains - Look in the pickle aisle or with the Mexican foods.
• Discount stores like Dollar Tree, Dollar General, and Five Below.
• Online at Walmart.com, Amazon.com, or directly from brand websites.
• Latin grocery stores and specialty markets.

If you can't find kits, purchase chamoy sauce, Tajín seasoning, chili powder, and pickles separately. Takis chips can usually be found where other tortilla chips are sold.

Enjoy the Sweet, Spicy and Sour Candy Pickle Craze

Candy pickles offer the perfect mixture of flavors and textures - sour pickles, sweet chamoy sauce, salty Tajín, spicy chili powder, and crispy crushed chips. It's easy to see why they're blowing up online and with pickle fans. Just grab a candy pickle kit or make your own at home. Then get ready to experience this addictively tangy and sweet pickled chili pepper treat!

FAQs

What are the main ingredients in a candy pickle kit?

Most candy pickle kits contain chamoy sauce, Tajín Clásico seasoning, chili powder, and sometimes Takis Fuego tortilla chips.

Can you make DIY candy pickles without a kit?

Yes, you can make homemade candy pickles with just store-bought chamoy sauce, Tajín seasoning, chili powder, and fresh crisp dill pickles.

How long do homemade candy pickles last?

It's best to consume any homemade candy pickles within 1-2 days for peak freshness and crunch. The pickles start to get soggy after that.

What can you use chamoy sauce on besides pickles?

Chamoy sauce is also great on fruits like mango, pineapple, and watermelon. You can also use it on jicama, cucumbers, and elote corn.

Are candy pickles safe to eat if you're pregnant?

It's best to check with your doctor before eating candy pickles while pregnant, as they contain some spices and seasonings.