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    Home ยป Recipes ยป Christmas

    Christmas Hot Chocolate Bombs

    Published: Oct 23, 2024 by Lisa Killian ยท This post may contain affiliate links. Please read myย  disclosure policy.

    Jump to Recipe

    Christmas Hot Chocolate Bombs are such a fun and festive way to spread Christmas cheer! Easy to make and fun to gift, these treats are a great holiday treat!

    Christmas hot cocoa bomb in white dish
    These are so fun to make and decorate!

    A few years a go I shared my hot cocoa bombs post and it went crazy viral on Youtube. This was during the peak craze of all things hot cocoa bombs.

    Although the craze has calmed down a bit, I still love to make them and give them as gifts, especially around Christmas!

    green stripped hot cocoa bomb
    You can make them as intricate or simple as you want!

    If you like these fun decorated Christmas Treats, check out my Christmas Cake Pops, Christmas Rice Krispies, and these Christmas Oreo Balls!

    What you need for Christmas Hot Cocoa Bombs?

    • Candy Melts- Use different colors for different designs!
    • Sprinkles, Luster Dust, or other Decorations
    • 3-Piece Molds or Silicon Molds
    • Clear Plastic Baggies to wrap them in if giving as gifts
    Christmas Hot Cocoa Bombs ingredients
    Just a few ingredients need!

    Silicone vs 3-Piece Molds

    In my last hot cocoa bomb post, I used silicone molds. The worked fine but did have a learning curve that I did not enjoy.

    When I first used my 3-Piece Molds- WOW! It was so easy and produced way more consistently good set pieces of chocolate.

    molds for hot cocoa bombs silicon vs 3 pieces
    3-piece molds are so easy to use!

    Plus, the 3-piece molds come is so many different shapes that the possibilities are numerous!

    For these hot cocoa bombs, I went with 3 different molds. The classic smooth ball, a Christmas Ornament mold, and a geometric sphere style mold. (amazon affiliate links)

    striped hot cocoa bombs
    Even decorated very simply these are so cute!

    How big should molds be?

    My silicone molds are ~2 ยฝ inches in diameter and the 3-piece molds are just under ~2 inches in diameter (50 mm).

    Doesnโ€™t sound like a huge difference but the size of each bomb is significantly different.

    3 piece mold components
    The 3-piece molds clean up easy too!

    Although the big ones are fun, I still prefer the smaller ones. Not only do they make more for how much chocolate you use, but they are already so sweet as the small ones that the large ones can get overly sweet very easily.

    Donโ€™t get stuck on just round hot cocoa bombs either. There are tree molds, Santa molds, stocking molds and so many more!

    How to make Christmas Hot Cocoa Bombs?

    • Mark your 3-piece mold fill lines. This makes using theme even easier!
    • Melt your candy melts at 50% power in the microwave. I recommend melting the candy melts in batches, using up a batch before moving on to melting more.
    fill line on 3-piece mold
    Mark the fill line to make it easier to see!
    candy melts added to mold
    Fill to the line with chocolate.
    • Fill the mold up to the fill line with chocolate, add the insert, and then flip the mold upside down. Gently press the mold to smoosh the chocolate all the wat to the edge if it needs help.
    • Stick the mold in the freezer (my preference) or refrigerator until set.
    inserts added to molds
    Add the other pieces of the mold.
    chocolate after it's hardened in molds
    Then refrigerate.
    • Once set, the hardened chocolate should easily pop out.
    hardened chocolate in molds flipped over
    Freeze until set.
    hot cocoa bombs removed from molds
    They pop out very easily!
    • Fill one ยฝ of the chocolate bomb with hot coca mix and marshmallows or small candy pieces.
    • With either a hot plate or a warm fry pan, place an empty chocolate shell rim down and allow the edge to melt slightly.
    • Stick the slightly melted edge against one of the filled chocolate shells and gently press together.
    filling hot cocoa bombs with hot cocoa powder
    Fill hot cocoa powder.
    rolling hot cocoa bomb in luster dust and sprinkle bag
    Assemble and decorate!

    Save this for later!

    We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!

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    • Allow each hot chocolate bomb to set up completely, then drizzle melted candy melts over them if desired or decorate to look like the character you want.
    • Enjoy by pouring hot milk over the hot cocoa bomb and watch it melt!
    placing hot cocoa bomb into milk
    I like to mix with hot milk!

    Hot Cocoa Bomb Tips

    • Donโ€™t stack the molds in the freezer/refrigerator. This can cause the chocolate to bloom.
    • Place the molds on a flat surface, dome side up, in the freezer to help the chocolate set correctly.
    • If the chocolate doesnโ€™t easily pop out of the mold, this means the chocolate isnโ€™t full set. Return the molds to the freezer or refrigerator for another 5-10 minutes and try again.
    • If making large quantities, some people like to decorate each half of the cocoa bomb first before filling and assembling.
    • To avoid finger prints when decorating, where food safe plastic gloves.
    • Using a cupcake pan upside down, to hold the cocoa bombs as the decorations dry, so they donโ€™t roll!
    • Hand wash your molds. Do not put in the dishwasher!

    How to make Grinch Bombs?

    Use green candy melts, with green lines piped on, and a heart sprinkle.

    grinch hot cocoa bomb
    The red heart really makes these!

    How to make Snowman Bombs?

    Use white candy melts, with a little black, orange, brown, and red piped on for the featured, and mini reeses for the hat.

    snow man hot cocoa bomba
    These snowmen are adorable!

    How to make Reindeer Bombs?

    Use brown candy melts, pretzel for the antlers, 2 black dots for the eyes, and a red candy for the nose.

    reindeer hot cocoa bombs
    Pretzel antlers? So cute!

    How to make Santa Bombs?

    Use red candy melts, then pipe on black and yellow melts for the belt and buckle.

    santa belt hot cocoa bomb
    I think the belts are so festive!

    How to make Snow Ball /Glitter Ball Bombs?

    Use extra melted chocolate and sanding sugar. Smooth some melted chocolate melts over the bomb then quickly roll in the sanding sugar so it sticks and covers the hot cocoa bomb.

    Christmas hot cocoa bomb with sanding sugar
    These are the trickiest to make!

    How to make Ornament Hot Chocolate Bombs?

    The easiest and best way Iโ€™ve found to cover chocolate bombs with a shine is use food grade luster dust. Place a small amount of luster dust in a ยผ filled baggie of round sprinkles.

    different luster dusts in bags with sprinkls
    Use different bags for different colors.
    adding luster dust to hot cocoa bomb
    Add each half or a assembled chocolate bomb.

    Place the hot cocoa bomb in the bag and gently roll the sprinkles over the chocolate. This will adhere the luster dust but not the sprinkles.

    rolling hot cocoa bomb in luster dust and sprinkle bag
    Roll around in the sprinkles.
    hot cocoa bomb covered in luster dust
    Admire that coverage!
    shiny ornament hot cocoa bomb
    These might be my favorite way to decorate!
    Can you use chocolate chips to make hot cocoa bombs?

    Only if you temper the chocolate. Tempering chocolate is quite a process that if you get wrong, the chocolate wonโ€™t set and will be soft at room temperature. Not what you want for hot cocoa bombs.

    Are hot cocoa bombs better with milk or water?

    This is up to your preference, but milk has a little fat in it so it can help cut through some of the sweetness of the cocoa bombs.

    Do hot cocoa bombs need to be refrigerated?

    Not typically. Only if they have a perishable filling added to the center.

    Make sure to check out all my Christmas Recipes, especially this tasty Christmas Cheesecake, my Grinch Cookies, and this Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake Dip!

    close up of christmas hot cocoa bombs
    Don't forget to save this recipe for later!
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    Christmas hot cocoa bombs featured image

    Christmas Hot Chocolate Bombs

    Christmas Hot Chocolate Bombs are such a fun and festive way to spread Christmas cheer! Easy to make and fun to gift, these treats are a great holiday treat!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin
    Author: Lisa Killian
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Chill Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 10

    Equipment

    • Molds*- Classic Sphere, Trees, Bulbs etc

    Ingredients

    • 12 oz Chocolate candy melts (makes ~6-15 hot cocoa bombs depending on size of molds.
    • ยฝ-1 tbs Hot cocoa mix per bomb
    • Mini marshmallows optional
    • Crushed Peppermint Pieces optional

    Instructions

    • If using 3-piece molds (highly recommend), mark the fill line on the outside of the molds with a sharpie. This makes it easy to see. If using silicone molds check out this post hear to see how to use them.
      fill line on 3-piece mold
    • Place ยฝ of the chocolate candy melts in a microwave safe dish. Microwave at 50% power for 30 seconds, stir, and repeat until melted. I like to work with the melts in batches.
      melted candy melts
    • Spoon the melted candy melt into the mold up to the fill line, place the insert into the mold. Then flip the mold and gently press the chocolate around so it covers all the mold.
      candy melts added to mold
    • Pop the molds into the freezer or refrigerator, set flat and not stacked one on top of another. * Freeze for 8-10 minutes or refrigerate for at least 15 minutes.
      hardened chocolate in molds flipped over
    • Gently remove each half of hardened melts and the inserts from the molds. Then repeat steps 1-4 with the remaining chocolate candy melts. The chocolate should come away from the molds very easily if set fully. If they are sticking and not popping out, return the molds to the freezer/refrigerator for another 5-10 minutes and try again.
      hot cocoa bombs removed from molds
    • Fill half of all the chocolate shells with your preferred Hot Cocoa.
      filling hot cocoa bombs with hot cocoa powder
    • With either a hot plate or a warm fry pan, place an empty chocolate shell rim down and allow the edge to melt slightly.
      melting the rim of a chocolate shell
    • Stick the slightly melted edge against one of the filled chocolate shells and gently press together. You may need to smooth out the melted chocolate over the seam for it to seal.
      combining two halves of a chocolate shell
    • Allow each hot chocolate bomb to set up completely, then drizzle melted candy melts over them if desired or decorate to look like the character you want.
      striped hot cocoa bombs
    • Enjoy by pouring hot milk over the Hot Cocoa Bomb so it melts, then stir and enjoy!

    Grinch Bomb

    • Use green candy melts with a heart sprinkle
      grinch hot cocoa bomb

    Snowman Bombs

    • Use white candy melts, with a little black, orange, and brown with some mini reeses for the hat or use a marshmallow for the head.
      snow man hot cocoa bomba

    Reindeer Bombs

    • Use brown melts, with pretzel for the antlers, 2 black dots for the eyes, and a red candy for the nose
      reindeer hot cocoa bombs

    Santa Suit Bombs

    • Use red candy melts, pipe on black and yellow melts for the belt
      santa belt hot cocoa bomb

    Snow Ball /Glitter Ball Bombs

    • Use extra melted chocolate and sanding sugar. Smooth some melted chocolate melts over the ball then quickly roll in the sanding sugar so it sticks and covers the hot cocoa bomb.
      Christmas hot cocoa bomb with sanding sugar

    Shiny Ornament Bulbs

    • The easiest and best way Iโ€™ve found to cover chocolate bombs with a shine is to use food safe luster dust. Place a small amount of luster dust in a ยผ filled baggie of round sprinkles. Place the hot cocoa bomb in the bag and gently roll the sprinkles over the chocolate. This will adhere the luster dust but not the sprinkles.
      shiny ornament hot cocoa bomb

    Notes

    Tips and Tricks
    • *Although Iโ€™ve used silicone molds in the past, I love using 3-piece molds. They are much easier to use, more efficient, and waste less chocolate. 50 mm sized mold are what I use in the picture here. 2 ยฝ inch bombs are what I use in my original hot cocoa bomb post.
    • *Stacking the molds can lead to the chocolate blooming.
    • Nutrition is an estimate and doesn't include variety in fillings, decorating pieces, or milk used for drinking.
    • Can you use chocolate chips to make hot cocoa bombs? Only if you temper the chocolate. Tempering chocolate is quite a process that if you get wrong, the chocolate wonโ€™t set and will be soft at room temperature. Not what you want for hot cocoa bombs.
    • Are hot cocoa bombs better with milk or water? This is up to your preference, but milk has a little fat in it so it can help cut through some of the sweetness of the cocoa bombs.
    • Do hot cocoa bombs need to be refrigerated? Not typically. Only if they have a perishable filling added to the center.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 78kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 0.02g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.002g | Sodium: 22mg | Fiber: 0.03g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 0.1IU | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 0.01mg

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    Comments

      5 from 1 vote

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Lisa says

      October 03, 2024 at 5:36 pm

      5 stars
      These Christmas cocoa bombs are so fun!

      Reply
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