Wingstop Put Sour Patch Kids on Chicken Wings and Called It Wicked Punch

Somebody at Wingstop looked at a bowl of Halloween candy, looked at a basket of wings, and refused to choose. The result is Wicked Punch, a limited time flavor Wingstop built with Sour Patch Kids, announced October 13 and honestly one of the strangest wing ideas to ever get a national rollout.

Here is the build. The wings get a Redberry glaze that runs sour first, then sweet, the same one-two punch the candy is famous for. Then they finish the whole thing with Sour Patch Kids Bitz, actual chopped up pieces of the candy scattered over the top. This is not a sauce inspired by candy. It is candy, on chicken, on purpose. You can get it on every protein they sell, classic wings, boneless, and tenders.

This is not a sauce inspired by candy. It is candy, on chicken, on purpose.

Wingstop CEO Michael Skipworth basically dared everybody to doubt him, saying the flavor "has no business being this good." The drop also kicks off the candy brand's 13 Days of Mischief run. Club Wingstop members get early access October 23, it opens nationwide October 27, and it is gone after November 5.

Sour and sweet on fried chicken is not new. Glazes have played that game forever. But crunchy candy bits on a hot wing is a texture gamble, and I respect anybody willing to take it in public.