Mexican Fruit Cups

Mexican Fruit Cups, or Vasos de Frutas, are a colorful and refreshing snack that combines the tropical flavors of various fruits with a tangy and spicy twist.

Reader Suri Says: “This looks delicious! A great way to try a new twist on fruits this summer. Thank you.”

You’ll find these colorful fruit cups at stands all across Mexico, around the beaches, and even here in the U.S. among Hispanic populations.

The flavors of Mexican fruit cups are so addicting that it’s become the only way my family enjoys fruit, especially in the summertime.

Try my recipe for spicy Mango Salsa or Pineapple Salsa.

What is a Mexican Fruit Cup?

Traditional Vasos de Fruta is an assortment of fresh fruits mixed together and served in a cup.

The combination of fruits are customizable but typically includes tropical fruits such as mango, pineapple, coconut, watermelon, papaya, kiwi, strawberries, and cucumber. And yes, cucumbers are classified as a fruit.

The fruit is either cubed or sliced and placed in a plastic cup for easy on the go eating. The ‘Mexican’ aspect of the fruit cup is the topping, which commonly consists of lime juice, chamoy, and chili-lime salt (Tajin).

Ingredients

These are the ingredients I used, but feel free to customize your fruits based on what you like.

• Mango
• Watermelon
• Jicama
• Cucumber
• Limes
• Chamoy
• Tajin

Most of these fruits are pretty common, but Jicama might be something new for you. It’s actually a root vegetable and a cross between a pear and potato. It has a high water content and is a good source of fiber.

I recently discovered the Siete brand chamoy and prefer it over the regular chamoy. The regular chamoy has high fructose corn syrup and artificial coloring.

How to Assemble

Start by thoroughly washing all the fruit. I prefer to use a few tablespoons of vinegar in a large bowl of water and place the fruit in the mixture for a few minutes. Then rinse again with fresh water. Peel and slice all the fruit into cubes or strips, as shown below.

If you don’t plan on eating all the fruit now, then store them cut like this in an air tight container for up to 3 days. My family always eats more fruit when its already cut and ready to go.

Start by drizzling some chamoy and tajin on the inside walls of the cup or vaso. Then layer the cut fruit and squeeze fresh lime juice over every piece. Top with more chamoy and tajin.

Tajin or Chili Lime Salt is not very spicy, for an extra kick add some ground chile de arbol. You can also add fresh mint leaves for a refreshing bite.

I hope you try these Mexican Fruit Cups and perhaps it’ll be your new favorite way to enjoy fruit!