Hot Cocoa Bomb

A ball made with decadent chocolate, filled with explosive flavor of cocoa mix and marshmallows, this TikTok inspired homemade Hot Cocoa Bomb is the perfect edible gift this Christmas or any holiday. 

Simply add hot milk to watch them burst open and spill their chocolaty goodness. Not just kids, but adults like me are pretty obsessed with them as well.

This tasty treat is so much fun and appeals to the kid in all of us! These hot cocoa bombs will become your favorite way to indulge in this cold weather beverage.

What are hot chocolate bombs?

Hot chocolate bombs are decadent spheres of chocolate filled with cocoa mix, marshmallows, and sometimes with different flavorings.

To turn them into hot chocolate you simply place them in a mug, add some hot milk and watch them melt, releasing all the good cocoa fixings inside.

The basic hot chocolate bomb is made with just three ingredients; chocolate, cocoa mix, and marshmallow, but you can add many other flavorings like crushed candy, chocolate chips, candy canes, coffee, or anything else you can think of.

It looks fancy but they are easier to make. The kids will love to decorate them before they drench them in milk and watch them burst open.

How do they work?

Once you are ready for your rich mug of cocoa, you’ll just boil some milk and pour it over your hot chocolate bombs.

The hot milk will melt the outer layer of chocolate and all of the cocoa powder, marshmallows, and fun flavors inside(if any) will come out.

Stir until everything is melted and you will have the richest, most decadent hot cocoa you could dream of.

Why you will love this?

Fun and Creative – These Cocoa Bombs are a fun and creative way to enjoy a treat.

Easy to Customize – There are so many ways to customize these! Some suggestions are

• Pumpkin Spice –Add a sprinkle of pumpkin spice to the cocoa mix before filling the bombs.
• Crushed Cookie – crushed Cookie added inside and as a garnish provide a crunch.
• Mocha – mix a teaspoon of instant coffee or espresso for a coffee with cocoa powder and fill it

Perfect for Gifting – Not only is a Chocolate Bomb perfect for gifting this holiday, but they are great for gifting on any occasion. Be it Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, or just about any other holiday or festivals. It is also great for gender to reveal party.

Perfect Make ahead treat

Ingredients Required

There are only three must-have ingredients to make these hot chocolate bombs.

Chocolate – You can use milk, semi-sweet, or dark, it’s totally up to you. Here I have used Chocolate chips, white and blue chocolate melts. Choose a higher-quality brand. You can also use good quality chocolate bars or baking chocolate.

Cocoa mix – Use your favorite here. The better quality brand you choose the tastier your hot chocolate will be.

Marshmallows – Mini marshmallows will work best. If you like the colored marshmallows you can use those, or stick with the traditional ones. I have used vegan marshmallows. Got it from Sprouts.

Decorations – I have drizzled some melted chocolates over cocoa bombs. I also like to use a variety of fun-festive sprinkles, but you can use crushed mints, shaved chocolate, or just keep simple with a drizzle of chocolate. Get creative and have fun!

How to make Hot cocoa bomb at home? Step by step process

Melting chocolate using Instant Pot

• I have used Instant Pot as a double boiler to melt chocolates. It keeps chocolate warm and melting the chocolate is done with ease!
• For those who don’t know what the double boiler is – A double boiler is just two pots: a large one and a smaller one. To use one, you fill the bottom pan with an inch or two of water and set the smaller pan on top. Overheat, the water in the bottom pan begins to simmer and transfers a gentle, steady heat to whatever you’re cooking in the pan above.
• The benefit of melting the chocolate in an instant pot is it melts the chocolate quickly and evenly. It stays melted for as long as you need it to keep a warm setting!!
• To melt the chocolate in the instant pot, you will need your Instant Pot, water, and a glass bowl that is slightly larger than your Instant Pot. The bottom of the bowl should fit inside of the Instant Pot but the top should be taller.
• I have used a 6 qt instant pot and 8 cups pyrex bowl. You can use any glass or steel bowl.

Process –

Turn the Instant Pot onto the Sauté NORMAL setting. Don’t do this process on HIGH.

Add 2 cups of water.

Once the water starts simmering and you see steam coming from it, Place the glass or metal bowl on top of it. Add chocolate chips, chocolate melts, or chopped chocolate to it.

Pro-tips – I have used chocolate chips, white and blue meltable. Melt them in a separate bowl. I first melted the chocolate chips, fill the mold, freeze them, then started melting other chocolates in a washed bowl.

Cancel the saute mode and switch to keep warm mode. Stir until chocolate is melted. Keep the “keep warm mode” on to keep the chocolates melted.

Making the cocoa bombs

Once the chocolate is melted, take a silicone mold. I am using 2 inches 6 round silicone mold.

Then place about 1 to 2 tablespoon melted chocolate into each mold. Using a spoon or pastry brush, distribute the chocolate so it coats the inside of each mold evenly.

Place in the freezer for 10 minutes. I didn’t double coat the chocolate mold. The thickness of the layer was perfect for me.

Carefully remove the chocolate from the molds.

Heat a glass plate in the microwave for 1 min to 1 30seconds.  Carefully place each half-circle dome side up on the plate one at a time and melt the edges to clean the edges up and set them back on the plate.

Fill 3 half circles with 1 tablespoon of hot chocolate mix and 1 tablespoon of marshmallows.

Take an empty half circle and even out the edges on the warm plate. Immediately place that half on top of one of the filled halves.

Hold and press for 10 seconds to help the chocolate stick. Repeat this process with the remaining shells.

Place sealed balls in Freezer for 10 minutes.  This is important especially if you wish to add a drizzle on top. 

Decorate your formed bombs with drizzled melted chocolate using a parchment paper cone or fork and sprinkles as desired.

When you are ready to use your hot chocolate bomb, place it in a mug.

Pour one cup of warm milk on top.

Stir it well and enjoy!!

Notes, Pro-tips and FAQs

• For these bombs, I’ve found that 8 to 10 ounces of milk are perfect (about 1 Cup), but of course, that will depend on how strong you like your hot chocolate.
• Check the molded chocolate for thin spots, especially around the mold’s edges, and re-coat with more chocolate if needed.
• You can use any type of chocolate chips or candy melts to make this recipe. But I think chips have a better flavor than the candy melts. Try using dark chocolate, white chocolate, or use colored candy melts for fun.
• You can use Instant pots Egg bite mold too if you don’t have silicone candy mold.
• You can Melt the chocolate slowly using a double boiler on the stovetop or in 15-second increments in the microwave.

How much Milk per cup of Hot Cocoa?

• 2 inch Small Round Chocolate Bomb mix with 1 cup Hot Milk
• Instant Pot Egg Bite Mold Bombs mix with 1.5 to 2 cups Hot Milk
• 2.5 inch or Larger mold, mix with 1.5 to 2 cups Hot Milk

Storage

• Store these in an airtight container in a cool part of your kitchen for the best results.
• These can be stored in your fridge but it’s probably not necessary. If you do, remove them from the fridge well before serving so the melting effect is more dramatic.

If you’re looking for a last-minute stocking stuffer or gift for a party host, make these individual hot chocolate bombs with personalized finishing touches and wrap them in a fancy box or bags. They will love it for sure!

More Holiday recipes –

Orange cranberry shortbread cookies

Non-alcoholic sangria

Stromboli wreath

Warm regards,

Dhwani