How to Create Christmas Hot Cocoa Bombs
- Nov 29, 2023
We are feeling the holiday spirit at Stover & Company! What better way to cozy up than with a warm cup of hot chocolate made from a rich, chocolatey hot cocoa bomb!
It’s no secret that hot cocoa bombs have taken over the holiday season year after year! Whether you’re a seasoned professional who creates cocoa bombs in their sleep, or you’re a beginner looking for step by step instructions to make your own, we’re here to walk you through the process & share some pro-tips.
Watch Alicia, our Brand & PR Specialist, whip up some adorable Christmas Tree Hot Cocoa Bombs with ease thanks to our Sweet Shoppe Forest Green Coating Wafers!
Ready to make your own hot cocoa bombs?
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Half sphere silicone candy mold or 3 part candy mold
- Sweet Shoppe Forest Green Coating Wafers
- Spatulas
- Ceramic Plate
- Hot Cocoa Mix
- Marshmallows
- Christmas Tree Candy Mold
- Sprinkles
Instructions:
- If you are using a silicone candy mold, we suggest cutting your silicone mold into individual half spheres as it’s easier to coat the inside of the sphere mold if they are separated.
- Make sure your candy molds are clean & dry. Even the smallest amount of water or moisture can ruin your chocolate or compounds. Any dry water spots on your candy mold can make your hot cocoa bombs dull.
If you’re using a silicone mold: Wash candy mold with warm soapy water & let fully dry. Put your candy molds in a preheated oven to 200ºF for a few minutes to ensure all moisture is removed to help eliminate any water spots. Make sure you let cool before making your hot cocoa bombs.
If you are using a 3 part mold: Hand wash & dry all three pieces of your candy mold. Once dry, polish your candy molds using a high proof alcohol & a paper towel to get a nice shiny finish.
PRO TIP: NEVER put your candy molds in the dishwasher. - Melt your Sweet Shoppe Forest Green Coating Wafers. Check out this video on how Alicia melts hers or check out this handy blog post.
If using a silicone mold: pour a small amount of melted Sweet Shoppe Forest Green Coating Compound into your candy mold. Use your spatula to spread the compound coating until the candy mold is fully covered. Swirl your coating around if needed to get even coverage. Let set then add a second coat.
If using a 3 part mold: pour a small amount of melted Sweet Shoppe Forest Green Compound in your candy mold to the designated fill line. Place the insert portion on top of the compound then add the top side of the mold, pressing down until your compound chocolate has evenly spread throughout the mold.
PRO TIP: Make sure to clean the edges of your mold with your spatula between coats to ensure your edges are set nice & flat. - Pop your candy molds in the freezer for about 1-2 minutes to help the chocolate set quickly & ensure your chocolate pieces release properly.
PRO TIP: It’s important that your candy molds are not cold when adding chocolate. If you plan to reuse your candy mold to create additional cocoa bombs, we recommend warming your candy molds to room temperature prior to use. - While your sphere candy molds are chilling in the freezer, it’s time to create your chocolatey decorations! Grab the rest of your melted Sweet Shoppe Forest Green Compound Coating & pour into a Christmas Tree candy mold, or any candy mold of your choice!
- Pop your decoration candy molds into the freezer for about 1-2 minutes to help your decorations set quickly.
- While your chocolate decorations harden, remove your sphere molds from the freezer & gently unmold your chocolate pieces.
PRO TIP: gently pull your silicone molds away from the sphere starting around the edges first. Once the edges have been released, put your hand inside of the sphere for some leverage & gently peel the candy mold back. This method should result in a shiny half sphere. - Heat up an empty ceramic plate in the microwave for about 2 minutes.
- Quickly & gently, place half of your chocolate domes (one by one) with the edges face down, on your warm plate. This process will slightly melt any uneven edges, resulting in nice, flat & even edges that will be easier to adhere together.
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Add approximately 2 TBSP of hot cocoa mix into one half of each sphere & top with marshmallows, sprinkles, edible glitter or whatever fun surprises you want to add inside your hot cocoa bomb!
PRO TIP: Place hot cocoa bomb shells in cupcake liners before assembling to eliminate clean up.
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Using the same warm plate, smooth out the edges to the remaining domes one by one, & while they are melted, adhere the top of the hot chocolate bomb to the filled side like a lid.
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Unmold your hardened Christmas Tree decorations & use some melted compound to adhere these chocolate creations to the top of your hot cocoa bombs.
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Use your favorite brand of sprinkles, or even more chocolate, to decorate your tree or finish off your minimalistic look with a simple drizzle.
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Let hot cocoa bombs fully harden before packaging.
TIPS & TRICKS:
- Three part candy molds tend to be easier to work with + they require less chocolate than with silicone molds.
- There are many different shapes & sizes for hot cocoa bomb molds, so be creative. Standard size is usually 70mm or 2.5 - 3 inches.To avoid fingerprints on your hot cocoa
- bombs, use cotton gloves when handling your chocolate pieces.
- Sweet Shoppe Compound Coating Wafers are perfect for adding a splash of color to your hot cocoa bombs.
- If you are looking for a rich flavor profile & thin consistency without having to temper, we suggest using our Eleven o’one Deluxe European Compound Coatings.
- Want to skip the coating wafers & use real chocolate? We recommend trying our Eleven o’one European Couverture Chocolates.
If you’re using real couverture chocolate, there is no need to add hot cocoa mix. You can simply fill the spheres with marshmallows & goodies, letting the chocolate speak for itself.
We love seeing your creations! Be sure to tag us in your treat photos or videos or post them in our Facebook Group: Stover’s Confection Connection