A dual composition hard coated chewing gum is provided, which exhibits improved long-term shelf stability under storage conditions involving constant exposure to the moisture contained in the atmosphere. The dual composition hard coated chewing gum is ideally suited for pellet chewing gum having pellet shapes which cannot easily be protected from atmospheric moisture by packaging. The dual composition hard coated chewing gum has a gum center which includes a gum base, a bulk portion, and one or more flavoring agents. The dual composition hard coated chewing gum also has an outer coating which includes layers which contain from about 50 to about 100% xylitol; and layers which contain from about 50 to about 100% of a non-xylitol polyol (preferably lactitol, maltitol or sorbitol, with lactitol and maltitol being particularly preferred). A method of preparing the dual composition hard coated chewing gum is also provided. The non-xylitol polyol is preferably applied first, and covered with a xylitol coating.