Mexican Fruit Cups

Fresh Mexican Fruit Cups made with juicy fruit, lime juice, and chile powder. A refreshing sweet, tangy, and spicy Mexican street-food snack.

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A clear plastic cup filled with assorted sliced fruits, such as watermelon, pineapple, and cucumber, topped with chili powder and a lime wedge—these vibrant Mexican Fruit Cups offer a refreshing and zesty snack inspired by classic street food flavors.

Mexican Fruit Cups 🍉 are a refreshing Mexican street-food snack made with fresh fruit, lime juice, and chile powder. They’re colorful, juicy, sweet, tangy, and a little spicy—and they take just minutes to make.

If you’ve ever bought a cup of fresh fruit from a vendor in Mexico, you know how good this simple combination can be. Now you can make them at home with your favorite fruits for an easy snack that tastes like a trip to Mexico.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe ❤️

No cooking required. Just cut up the fruit, squeeze on some lime, and add chile powder.
Fresh and refreshing. Juicy fruit and lime make this the perfect snack on a warm day.
Sweet, tangy, and spicy. The combination of ripe fruit, lime, and chile powder is what makes Mexican fruit cups so good.
Easy to customize. Use your favorite combination of pineapple, mango, watermelon, cucumber, jicama, cantaloupe, or coconut.
A taste of Mexico at home. They’re inspired by the fruit cups sold by street vendors throughout Mexico.

-Maggie

Ingredients

🍉 Types of Fruit

The cups are made up of an assortment of fruit. Most typically you’ll find…

Pineapple
Cucumber
Mango
Cantaloupe
Watermelon
Coconut
Jicama

Use all or a combination of these fruits, depending on what you like or what’s available.

Depending on where you go, some people will also add Chamoy or Japanese peanuts.

Assembling Mexican fruit cups with fruit, tajin, and chile powder.

Instructions

Cut the fruit into long spears.
Discard the peels.
Place a few spears of each of the fruit into 4 separate cups.
Drizzle each cup with lime.
Sprinkle with Tajin.
Drizzle with chamoy, if using.
Serve and enjoy.

🌶️ What is Tajin?

Tajin is a very popular brand of chile powder used to make these fruit cups. It’s made of chile powder, dried lime zest, and combination of other spices. It’s tangy and spicy.

In case you can’t find it at your local grocery store, get it here.

Tajín is also often used on Mexican candy and snacks. You can even use it instead of salt on cocktails for an extra kick, like in a Mangonada.

🙋🏻‍♀️ Frequently Asked Questions

What fruit is used in Mexican fruit cups?

Common choices include pineapple, mango, watermelon, cucumber, jicama, cantaloupe, and coconut. You can use any combination you like, depending on what is fresh and available.

What do you put on Mexican fruit cups?

Mexican fruit cups are typically topped with fresh lime juice and chile powder. Tajín is a popular choice because it adds chile, lime, and salt in one seasoning. Some fruit cups are also served with chamoy for extra tangy, spicy flavor.

Are Mexican fruit cups spicy?

They can be as mild or spicy as you like. Start with a small amount of chile powder and add more to taste. You can also leave it off if you prefer your fruit without spice.

Can I make Mexican fruit cups ahead of time?

Yes, but they are best when served fresh. You can cut the fruit a few hours ahead and keep it refrigerated. Add the lime juice and chile powder just before serving for the freshest flavor.

What is the best fruit for Mexican fruit cups?

There isn’t one “best” fruit. A combination of sweet, juicy, and crunchy fruits makes the cups especially good. Mango, pineapple, watermelon, cucumber, and jicama are some of my favorites.

A plastic cup filled with spears of fresh fruit and topped with Tajin.

🍰 More Mexican Fruit Desserts

Mexican Fruit Cups are one of those simple snacks that don’t need much to be delicious. Fresh, ripe fruit, a squeeze of lime, and a little chile powder are all you need.

Make a cup with your favorite combination of fruit and adjust the chile to your liking. It’s an easy way to enjoy a refreshing Mexican street-food favorite right at home.

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