Hot chocolate bombs are the ultimate indulgence, transforming a simple cup of cocoa into a whimsical experience. Elevate your next cup of cocoa with your own created chocolate bombs in rich flavors, making them a must-try treat any time of year!
Indulge in a Sweet Treat: Hot Chocolate Bombs!
Chocolate Bombs, also known as hot chocolate balls, are a fun way to enjoy a cozy cup of cocoa! Furthermore, these chocolate spheres are not only filled with hot cocoa powder, marshmallows, and sprinkles, but they also remain popular throughout the holidays. However, you can savor them at any time of the year. This recipe will guide you through the process of creating and decorating these delightful treats. Additionally, in the Recipe Notes section, you’ll find instructions for making several different flavors.
How Did They Get Their Name?
These bombs are named for the way they burst open when hot milk is poured over them, causing the marshmallows to “explode” or pop out. If you’re not a fan of marshmallows in your chocolate, you can omit them and still enjoy a delicious cup.
Use a Silicone Mold
To create these chocolate balls, you’ll need a silicone mold. Typically, silicone molds come in sets of two, with each mold featuring six cavities. This particular recipe requires eight cavities to make four hot chocolate bombs. For a complete supply list, along with photos and instructions, view my Grinch Hot Chocolate Bombs recipe. If you already know how to make them, feel free to jump straight to the recipe below.
Use Larger Molds for Hot Chocolate Bombs
Use larger 2 1/2-inch molds to ensure there’s plenty of space for all your goodies. Begin by filling half of the mold with hot chocolate, flavorings, and marshmallows. Restrain from adding too many, as the marshmallows can quickly fill up the space! However, keep in mind that if the molds were significantly larger, the finished balls wouldn’t fit into a mug.
Use a Large Mug
These chocolate bombs require a large, wide-mouth mug for preparing the hot cocoa. Additionally, you’ll need 1 1/2 cups of milk (12 ounces) to mix the hot chocolate.
Spread Chocolate Thickly on the Mold
You can use silicone molds in shapes other than balls or spheres. The essential factor in creating chocolate bombs in any mold is to ensure that the chocolate is spread thickly enough to form a solid layer. While spherical shapes are the easiest to make and remove from the mold, other shapes can also work, provided the chocolate is thick enough to handle the removal process without breaking.
Make Your Own Recipe for Hot Chocolate Bombs
You can create your own recipes by incorporating ingredients you love, using high-quality chocolate, and experimenting with the amounts to achieve the perfect cup of cocoa. If you’ve never made these treats before, check out my Grinch Hot Chocolate Bombs recipe for photos, instructions, and tips on using a mold.
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Hot Chocolate Bombs
Equipment
- 1 2 1/2-inch half-sphere silicon mold (This recipe will make 8 half-spheres or 4 finished balls)
Ingredients
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 8 tablespoons hot chocolate mix
- 8 tablespoons mini marshmallows
- ¼ cup white chocolate chips
- pink gel food coloring
- vegetable oil
Instructions
- In a microwave-safe dish, heat 1 cup of chocolate for 30-second intervals until melted, stirring after each interval.
- Use a spoon to paint the inside of the spheres with the melted chocolate. Take care to paint chocolate all the way to the edge of the mold. Gravity may pull the chocolate from the top edges of the mold, so check after coating all the half-spheres to ensure the chocolate reaches the edge. If there are thin spots of chocolate, recoat them because thin spots can easily break. You do not have to grease the mold.
- When all of the half-spheres are "painted" with chocolate, place the mold in the refrigerator to harden the chocolate. This will take 5-10 minutes or longer.
- When the chocolate hardens, remove it by peeling the mold away from the chocolate. Then press the bottom of the mold to release the chocolate half sphere, being careful not to break the chocolate.
- Add 2 tablespoons of hot chocolate powder and 2 tablespoons of marshmallows to half the spheres.
- Heat a non-stick frying pan until it is warm enough to melt chocolate, but not too hot. Place an empty half-sphere in the pan, rim-side down, until the chocolate edge starts to melt. This will only take a couple of seconds. Remove the half-sphere from the pan and place it on a half-sphere already filled with hot chocolate. The melted edge will act as chocolate glue, sealing the sphere. Add leftover melted chocolate from the pan to seal holes around the edge. Wipe off any extra chocolate.
- Melt the white chocolate in the microwave for 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval. Add pink gel food coloring to the chocolate until the desired color is achieved. Add a few drops of vegetable oil to the chocolate to thin it for piping. Place the chocolate in a plastic resealable sandwich bag and snip off a small corner for piping.
- Using a back and forth motion, pipe stripes onto 1 ball one at a time. Repeat for all the balls.
- To serve, place a ball in a large mug. Slowly pour 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cups of hot milk on top of the ball, melting it with the milk. If the sphere doesn't fully melt and the marshmallows pop out, use a spoon to rotate the ball to melt it further, allowing the marshmallows to pop out of the ball.
Notes
Supple List
Click here for a list of supplies, instructions, and photos on how to make hot chocolate bombs.Gel Coloring
- I used Wilton gel food coloring in pink.
- Do not use liquid food coloring, or it can cause the chocolate to seize or become hard and unworkable.
How to Adjust the Sweetness
- Use more or less milk to adjust the sweetness to your taste.
- Reduce the amount of hot chocolate in the sphere. Then adjust the milk to taste.
Heart-Shaped Hot Chocolate Bombs
To make heart-shaped bombs:- Use 2 to 2 1/2-inch heart-shaped silicone molds.
- Make the top of the heart by painting chocolate in one of the molds.
- Then paint just the bottom of a heart-shaped mold to form a flat surface. Chill.
- After the chocolate pieces are chilled to harden, remove them from the molds and fill the heart with hot chocolate ingredients. Heat a small amount of dark chocolate and use it to paint around the edge of the heart shape.
- Place the (flat) heart-shaped chocolate onto the melted chocolate to glue the bottom of the heart in place.
- Use extra melted chocolate to seal any holes in the seam.
White Chocolate Bombs
- The directions for white chocolate bombs are the same as dark chocolate.
- Measure out 1 1/4 cups of white chocolate.
- Set aside 1/4 cup for decorating the tops of the bombs.
- Use the same color of pink gel coloring for both the balls and decorative stripes. Add more pink gel to the chocolate you plan to use for the decorative stripe decoration.
- Use either white hot chocolate mix or regular hot chocolate mix in these chocolate bombs.