Cozy up with a cup of hot chocolate with a twist and learn how to make hot chocolate bombs using only four ingredients. Hot chocolate bombs are essentially a ball of chocolate with mini marshmallows inside. Pour hot milk on top and watch them open up to make a delicious cup of hot cocoa. This hot chocolate bombs recipe is perfect for movie night, the Holidays or to give to friends.
Hot chocolate bombs have exploded on the internet this year and it’s fun to watch! I’ve been making them for a while now for friends and family and there’s no denying they add a fun twist to movie night.
However, while learning how to make hot chocolate bombs may seem simple (the idea is!) there are lots of little tips I’ve learned along the way.
Don't want to read? JUMP to the recipe!
How To Make Hot Chocolate Bombs: What You’ll Need
The idea behind this indulgent cup of cocoa is really simple: melt, pour, freeze, seal, decorate. However, there’s more to it than that.
Personally, I find that they take time and a bit of patience.
To do them correctly, and especially if you’re giving them as gifts you do need some equipment:
- Silicone circular molds (I also use the middle ones in this pack to make mini chocolate bombs for kids!)
- Latex gloves
- Double boiler or specific pot/bowl for the chocolate
- Slightly rounded silicone spatula
- Candy thermometer
The reason you want latex gloves is that the chocolate is very delicate. Meaning, when you remove it from the freezer while holding it to seal you will leave fingerprints or break it.
The gloves make the difference from the hot chocolate bomb working and looking decent or not.
As for the spatula, you can use what works. I know some people use a mini paintbrush but I’ve found the best luck with a small, slightly curved silicone spatula.
Which Chocolate To Use For DIY Hot Chocolate Bombs
There’s a lot of hearsay on this when it comes to how to make hot chocolate bombs. I have personally tried both semi-sweet chocolate chips as well as chocolate candy melts.
In my experience, they work better with the chocolate melts.
The chocolate chips tend to be a little too fine and end up cracking more when you’re getting them out of the molds.
Can They Be Made Dairy-Free Or Vegan?
Yes! I've made these DIY hot chocolate bombs with vegan chocolate chunks and they did work. You do still want to temper the chocolate though so don't skip that step.
How To Heat The Chocolate
For best results, you need to temper you’re chocolate. Tempering chocolate is the art of heating the chocolate to a specific point and then cooling it. This creates a shiny texture and makes it so the chocolate “snaps” when you bite into it.
For darker chocolate, you want to heat it up in the double boiler to around 100, let it cool, and then reheat to roughly 88 degrees. Learn more about how exactly to temper chocolate here.
You can also temper the chocolate in different ways. This YouTube video shows you how to do it in the microwave, stovetop, etc.
Tempered chocolate will create a better end result than just melting the chocolate.
Topping The Homemade Hot Chocolate Bombs
Part of the fun of learning how to make hot chocolate bombs is that you can decorate them! Now, given I am not a chocolatier, nor am I overly coordinated in the kitchen with stuff like this, I keep it simple.
Personally, I just decorate mine with white chocolate melted and drizzled down. However, you can use:
- A combo of white and dark chocolate melted
- Sprinkles
- Anything crunchy (candy canes, crumbles wafers, etc)
The choice is yours. Get creative!
Making The DIY Hot Chocolate Bombs Into Gifts
If you’re looking give these as a gift there are two main ways:
- Place them in a muffin cup and wrap them in cellophane
- Line a mini box with parchment paper and place the ball into the box
I opt to use the boxes when I give them as gifts because they are delicate. This way I know they have some protection and won’t smear on the sides of the cellophane wrap.
From there, I add a little sticker with the ingredients, tie it up with some twine and you’re good to go! Another great idea, especially if you want to ramp it up a bit is to pair the hot chocolate bomb with a mug and a mini whisk. It’s a very thoughtful gift and definitely the full experience.
Crucial Tips & Notes
After having made over one hundred of these bombs I’ll be the first to say that they are finicky. There’s a lot of steps when it comes to making them and you do need to pay attention. Below are a few things I’ve learned along the way to hopefully make the process easier for you!
- As I mentioned, temper the chocolate. Without this step, it makes the hot chocolate bombs so much more delicate
- Move fast when lining the molds but be thorough. As the chocolate drops down a bit in the mold it can leave “thin spots” which are more prone to breaking so inspect them before freezing
- Chocolate shrinks when melted so be gentle when popping them out of the molds after their frozen. Pull the sides apart gently and press from the bottom
- Do not hold the chocolate molds for any longer than a few moments as they do melt to your touch easily
- Be fast when sealing them together. The longer the heat in the pan the harder it is to not leave marks or to not cave the sides when picking them up
Learning how to make hot chocolate bombs can be a lot of fun and a whole new experience for nights cozied up with the kids. But you do need a bit of trial and error with them. So, don’t get frustrated the first time if you struggle.
How To Store Hot Chocolate Bombs?
I store my bombs in the freezer because I only keep them for a short time. You can store them in the fridge temporarily but make sure it’s in an airtight container as moisture can get in.
If the bombs are tempered, they can store at room temperature for about two weeks. But again, make sure they’re in an airtight container.
How To Use The Hot Chocolate Bombs?
When it comes time to enjoy the hot chocolate bombs, simply heat your milk of choice over medium to high heat to a rolling boil. Make sure you don’t overheat the milk as it will burn.
However, you do need to milk to be hot enough to melt the chocolate.
So, heat the milk and place the hot chocolate bomb into a large mug. Very slowly pour the milk over the hot chocolate bomb and watch it break open and the marshmallows rise to the top!
Use a mini whisk to stir up the hot chocolate and enjoy.
And of course, these hot chocolate bombs are perfectly paired with vanilla cake balls if you want the best possible indulgence!
Ingredients In The Homemade Hot Chocolate Bombs
- 1 cup dark chocolate melts
- 2 tbs white chocolate chips (for topping)
- Mini marshmallows
- 5 teaspoon coconut oil (for topping)
- 1 1/14 very hot milk (to enjoy them)
Don’t Forget To Pin These Tips On How To Make Hot Chocolate Bombs
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Hot Chocolate Bombs
Ingredients
- 1 cup chocolate melts dark chocolate
- 2 tbs white chocolate chips
- 50 mini marshmallows
- 1.5 teaspoon coconut oil
Instructions
- Heat the water in the double boiler over medium heat. Add in the cup of chocolate. Stirring frequently, heat the chocolate to roughly 90-100 degrees Fahrenheit. Once it hits temperature, remove from the heat and let cool. Stir around to cool faster.
- Reheat the chocolate to 88 degrees Fahrenheit, stirring frequently. Turn the heat off but keep warm.
- Use a silicone spatula to portion a dollop of chocolate into one of the molds and swirl until the mold is covered.
- Try not to go over the sides of the mold too much or the chocolate is more likely to break when popping it out.
- Freeze the chocolate for 45 minutes. In the meantime, prep your marshmallows and pan.
- Portion out the marshmallows you’ll need (I use 10-12 marshmallows per bomb) so that they’re ready to go.
- Remove the bombs from the freezer and (with gloves!), very carefully pop the chocolate out of the mold. Place the halves on a plate.
- Heat a nonstick pan to very, very low. Gently press one half of the chocolate into the pan so that the rim becomes heated. Fill the half with marshmallows and press the other half into the pan. Press the two halves together lining them up properly to seal.
- Place back into the silicone mold. Repeat with the remaining hot chocolate bombs and pop back into the freezer.
- Now, make your topping. Heat the chocolate chips and coconut oil in a double boiler until melted and slightly runny. Use a piping bag or a filler, scoop the chocolate out into it. Let it cool slightly, otherwise, you may melt the chocolate bombs when it’s drizzled on top.
- Remove the hot chocolate bombs from the freezer and quickly drizzle the topping over the bomb. Add any crunch on top that you want too.
- Place back in the freezer for ten minutes to set. Portion into however you wish to store the bombs!
Notes
Nutrition
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These chocolate bombs are a fun way to spice up your hot cocoa and can be customized for any season. Adults and kids alike think they’re neat and you can’t deny that they make great stocking stuffers. Learn how to make hot chocolate bombs and give the gift of yumminess to your friends!
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