There are a couple of things that surprised me when I first heard about “hot chocolate bombs,” AKA the hot chocolate trend that everyone is talking about. The first thing that surprised me was that a concept as well-established as hot chocolate could even have trends. (Who knew?)
And the second thing that surprised me is that I found this particular trend to be absolutely delightful, and I couldn’t wait to share it with all of you! Hot chocolate bombs (or hot cocoa bombs, or just “cocoa bombs,”) are absolutely everywhere online right now, and if you haven’t already heard of them, you’re about to! :-)
What Are Hot Chocolate Bombs?
A hot chocolate bomb is a self-contained, dissolvable sphere containing all the ingredients you need to make a cozy cup of hot cocoa. To prepare it, you just place one in a mug and pour hot milk or water over the top and watch the bomb dissolve into a delicious chocolatey beverage!
There are a few different types of hot chocolate bombs that you can buy in stores or make at home. Some bombs are solid chocolate (these are also referred to as “chocolate drops”) while others have a thin chocolate shell encasing the ingredients, and some are simple while others include tasty toppings like marshmallows or sprinkles.
Many people have eagerly sought out hot chocolate bombs at Costco this year, while other have found them on Amazon, at Walmart, or even at their local candy shops. But with as high as the demand currently is for these fun and festive treats, you might have trouble finding them anywhere this holiday season!
But lucky for you, I’ve found a great method for making your own homemade hot chocolate bombs, I’ll be sharing the recipe and instructions with you today! These would be perfect to try with your kids or grandkids, and everyone will have a delicious cup of hot chocolate to look forward to afterward! :-)
How To Make Homemade Hot Chocolate Bombs
You’ll need:
- 12 ounces chocolate candy melts
- 6 servings hot chocolate mix*
- Add-ins, optional (see Optional Add-ins below)
- White chocolate candy melts, optional
- Half sphere silicone molds
- Spoon
*Note: The serving size will vary depending on which mix you end up using. For example, a single serving of my favorite semi-homemade hot chocolate mix is about 3 tablespoons, while a single serving of Swiss Miss mix is about 2 tablespoons.
Optional Add-ins
Don’t be afraid to get creative with your add-ins! Here are a few ideas of extra ingredients you can use to fill your homemade hot chocolate bombs:
- Mini marshmallows
- Candy cane bits
- Chocolate chips
- Sprinkles
- 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon of peanut butter
- Toffee bits
- Caramel bits
- Chopped candy bars
Directions:
Step 1 – Make The Chocolate Shells
Start by melting your chocolate candy melts until smooth. You can pop them in your microwave in 30-second increments, or melt them in a double boiler or in a glass bowl suspended over a small pot of simmering water. A slow double boil will give you a more shiny finish on your chocolate, in case you’re giving them out as gifts! But either method will produce delicious results!
Next, add a heaping tablespoon of melted chocolate to each cavity of your silicone mold. Use the back of a spoon to spread the melted chocolate around the cavity in an even layer.
Place the mold in your freezer for 5-10 minutes to set the chocolate, then carefully remove each set chocolate cup from the mold. Repeat as needed until you have twelve chocolate cups in total.
Step 2 – Fill Half Of The Chocolate Shells
Next, fill six of the chocolate cups with a single serving’s worth of your preferred hot chocolate mix.
On top of the mix, place any add-ins you want to use (see Optional Add-ins above for some delicious ideas).
Step 3 – Seal The Hot Cocoa Bomb
The next step is to attach the empty shells to the filled ones to form a complete sphere. The best way to do this is with a warm plate, which you can pop in your microwave or dip in boiling water and then dry it off with a towel.
Take one of the empty chocolate shells and twist the flat edge against the warm plate until it melts. Turn the shell over and place the melted edge against the top of one of the filled shells to seal the two sides together. Repeat until the edges of all six of your hot chocolate bombs are sealed together.
If you see a few gaps between the edges of your bombs, you can get a better seal with the help of a hot spoon. Use the back of the spoon to gently melt the gaps just until they close up.
When you’re working with chocolate, it’s best to try and handle it as little as possible. (But if you do end up with one or two fingerprints or a less-than-perfect finish, you can always cover up your sins in the next step!) ;-)
Step 4 – Decorate Your Cocoa Bomb!
Finally, why not spruce up your hot chocolate bombs (or cover up imperfections) with some edible decorations? You can also leave them undecorated, but I think dressing them up a little is worth the extra effort (especially if you plan to give them as gifts!)
I decided to top mine with a white chocolate drizzle, which I did using a spoon to drizzle melted white chocolate candy melts over the top of each one. If you want a neater drizzle or finer lines, I’d recommend putting the melted white chocolate into a piping bag.
I also added some festive sprinkles on top, but you could sprinkle yours with chopped nuts, crushed candy canes, or whatever you like! Once your hot chocolate bombs are complete, put them back in your freezer for 5 minutes (or in your fridge for 30 minutes) to set them.
Store your finished hot chocolate bombs at cool room temperature. (Don’t store them in the fridge, since it can lead to condensation issues.)
How To Prepare A Hot Chocolate Bomb
To turn your hot chocolate bomb into a delicious mug of hot chocolate, you’ll need a mug and a little less than 1 cup of hot milk. (You can use hot water instead if you like, but milk makes for a much creamier cup!)
Place a hot chocolate bomb in the bottom of your mug, then slowly pour the hot milk over the top. Watch as the chocolate shell melts away to reveal the hidden cocoa mix and your delicious add-ins, then stir well and enjoy. Yum!
This part is why I chose to recreate the hollow variety of hot chocolate bombs rather than the solid ones. Adults and kids alike will love watching the shell melt away to reveal the surprise ingredients inside! :-)
Tips For Giving Hot Chocolate Bombs As Gifts
- A batch of homemade hot chocolate bombs would make a great gift for just about anyone!
- Place each bomb in a small cellophane bag tied with a festive ribbon.
- The presentation looks great, and packaging each hot chocolate bomb separately will help prevent them from getting stuck together.
- Include a cute holiday mug or even some homemade cookies to make sure they are fully ready to indulge in a few minutes of wintery bliss!
How do you like your hot chocolate?
Homemade Hot Chocolate Bombs
Equipment
-
Silicone molds
Ingredients
- 12 ounces chocolate candy melts
- 6 servings hot chocolate mix
Instructions
-
Melt the chocolate candy melts until smooth in a microwave or double boiler. Add a heaping tablespoon of melted chocolate to each cavity of a round silicone mold, using the back of a spoon to spread it into an even layer.
-
Freeze the mold for 5-10 minutes to set the chocolate, then carefully remove the chocolate cups from the mold. Repeat if necessary to make twelve chocolate cups in total.
-
Fill half of them with a single serving of hot chocolate mix, along with any desired add-ins.
-
Attach the unfilled shells to the filled ones by melting the edge slightly, then placing the shells edge to edge to seal them together. Continue until you have six sealed hot chocolate bombs.
-
Decorate the bombs if desired, then put them back in the freezer for 5 minutes to set.
-
Store the finished hot chocolate bombs at cool room temperature.
Notes
- Mini marshmallows
- Candy cane bits
- Chocolate chips
- Sprinkles
- 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon of peanut butter
- Toffee bits
- Caramel bits
- Chopped candy bars
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