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Fill your cup with chocolaty goodness this holiday, thanks to these adorable hot cocoa bombs.
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You might remember when bath bombs—colorful balls of soap and other ingredients that you drop into your bath, which “explode” into your bath—were all the rage. If you ever wondered what it might be like to consume one of them, now you can… sort of. Hot cocoa bombs (AKA hot chocolate bombs) operate on a similar principle, but they’re designed to be drunk safely (and sweetly).
Whether you’re already familiar with them or you’ve just discovered them for the first time, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve scoured the web to put together this list of the best hot cocoa bombs for this holiday season (and all those to come). So pour yourself a hot cup and enjoy. Cheers!
The Grinch Hot Chocolate Bomb
Beware: This hot chocolate bomb is guaranteed to make hearts grow three sizes larger. Pour yourself a grinning cup of green hot cocoa with this adorable Grinch hot cocoa bomb. Then, snuggle up for family movie night and queue How The Grinch Stole Christmas.
Flavor: White chocolate | Quantity: Available in 1- or 2-packs | Main ingredients: White chocolate, marshmallows, cocoa powder
Classic Hot Chocolate Bombs
Searching for a holiday gift under $20? Look no further than these simple yet sweet striped hot chocolate bombs. They melt to reveal mini marshmallows floating in your cup. Bonus: it doubles as a fun stocking stuffer idea.
Flavor: Milk chocolate | Quantity: 4 | Main ingredients: Milk chocolate, marshmallows, red and white chocolate drizzle
PEANUTS x Williams Sonoma Snoopy Hot Chocolate Bomb
Snoopy lovers will adore this delicious Peanuts hot chocolate bomb, made with milk chocolate, cocoa and marshmallows. Snag it as a single or a two-pack to share the love of this familiar beagle (or save the second for yourself—we won’t tell).
Flavor: Milk chocolate | Quantity: Available in 1- or 2-packs | Main ingredients: Milk chocolate, marshmallows, cocoa powder
Favorite Day Hot Chocolate Bombs
Enjoy a delectable drink with Favorite Day’s two-pack of hot chocolate bombs. Choose between milk chocolate with a white chocolate drizzle or white chocolate with sprinkles, both of which are made with Belgian chocolate and are filled with yummy marshmallows.
Flavor: Milk and white chocolate | Quantity: 2 | Main ingredients: Milk chocolate, marshmallows, white chocolate, sprinkles, cocoa powder
Set of 4 Hot Chocolate Bombs
Handmade by an Etsy seller, these hot chocolate bombs are available in milk, dark or white chocolate varieties. The 4-pack can be delivered via regular shipping or with cold shipping in case you live in a particularly toasty climate.
“These were the bomb!” one shopper raved. “My sister loved them. I got them for her for Christmas and I couldn’t have picked a better gift!”
Flavor: Milk, dark or white chocolate | Quantity: 4 | Main ingredients: Chocolate, cocoa mix, marshmallows
What to Look for in a Hot Cocoa Bomb
As hot cocoa bombs are a sweet, indulgent treat, there’s not too much you have to consider when shopping for them carefully. That being said, you may still want to keep some things in mind. For starters, as these are made from chocolate (and can contain other ingredients), it might behoove you to keep an eye on the nutritional facts and ingredients—especially the latter, as allergens are not to be balked at. This also means paying attention to the serving size.
Secondarily, you should pay attention to the instructions for the best results. Taking a route other than instructed could result in a beverage that isn’t quite up to the intended quality (this can be seen when using water instead of milk, creating a watery beverage). Lastly, ensure you’re getting enough for yourself and anyone you wish to share your hot cocoa with—nothing spoils a party more than when someone only serves enough for themselves.
How We Found the Best Hot Chocolate Bombs
Although the category is relatively new, dating back just a few years to 2019, there’s an abundance of hot chocolate bombs available on the market these days. To best serve you, the reader, we selected options from a number of noteworthy retailers—brands we know and trust—as well as a couple of smaller makers beloved by customers (as evidenced by the reviews). We believe this collection is a satisfactory exemplification of the best hot cocoa bombs presently available.
FAQ
How does a hot chocolate bomb work?
It’s actually quite simple. Hot cocoa bombs are chocolate spheres with coca powder (and sometimes other ingredients, like marshmallows and mints) trapped inside. When submerged in hot milk (or another hot liquid), the external shell melts, releasing the rest of the ingredients into the liquid. With a few simple stirs, voila! You’ve got a delicious, effortless hot cocoa beverage.
Do you put hot chocolate bombs in water or milk?
Technically, you can do either. You can even use coffee or plant-based milk. However, using water (or another alternative) may result in a more watery beverage or a beverage that does not mix as well. Make sure you check the maker’s recommendations beforehand if you’re thinking about using an alternative liquid.
Is it OK to eat a hot cocoa bomb?
Technically, all the ingredients are edible. However, especially if your hot chocolate bomb has powder inside, it might not be as enjoyable as you may think (and you could end up coughing up chocolate dust). We don’t recommend eating them for this reason, but you definitely can.
When were hot chocolate bombs invented?
Inspired by Kinder eggs, the first hot chocolate bomb was invented by a gelato shop worker back in 2019.
Does Trader Joe’s have hot chocolate bombs?
Trader Joe’s sells hot chocolate bombs around the holiday season, but you’ll have to visit a store in person to check out their inventory.
What is the secret to the best hot chocolate?
Besides using a hot chocolate bomb, we recommend using milk. If you’re making hot chocolate from scratch, we suggest ingredients like dry milk powder, confectioners’ sugar, baking cocoa and salt. Top it off with your favorite add-ons, like marshmallows, whipped cream or even a shot of espresso—yum!
Why You Should Trust Us
Madi Koetting pioneered Taste of Home‘s social media shopping team. Her work can be seen across lifestyle brands, including Taste of Home, Reader’s Digest, and Family Handyman. Better still, she has personally reviewed hundreds of items, especially in the home space, including kitchen appliances, cooking gear, cleaning gadgets, furniture and home decor. All this makes her uniquely qualified to speak on hot cocoa bombs.
Additional reporting was contributed by Melissa Lee, Content Updates Editor. Melissa has been in the commerce journalism space for over six years and considers herself a hot chocolate connoisseur.
