There's nothing like a hot cocoa bomb to set the tone for the season. Hot chocolate, after all, is popular during the Christmas months—but why stop there? With this fabulously festive DIY, you can create disco ball-inspired hot chocolate bombs, just in time for New Year's Eve.
Made with a faceted sphere mold, chocolate chips and sprinkles, this DIY follows the basic steps for making hot cocoa bombs. The disco ball vibes come from edible silver dust, which can be brushed on the chocolate sphere once it has set.
Video of the Day
But of course, as with all homemade recipes, you can customize this tutorial to your liking. For example, try making it the hot cocoa bombs with white chocolate. Not a fan of sprinkles in hot chocolate? Ditch them and use mini marshmallows instead. If you don't eat dairy, go for dairy-free chocolate and hot cocoa mix, then add the treat to your favorite plant-based milk.
Ahead, learn how to make hot chocolate bombs that look like disco balls, complete with step-by-step instructions and tips.
Video: New Year's Eve Hot Cocoa Bombs
Things You'll Need
2 cups chocolate chips, plus more as needed
Hot chocolate mix or cocoa powder
Festive sprinkles
Disco ball sphere mold
Wide paint brush
Thin paint brush
Fluffy paint brush
Silver edible pearl dust
Tip
Instead of chocolate chips, you can also use chopped baking chocolate bars. Feel free to use dark chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate or milk chocolate as well. Regardless of the type, go for a high-quality chocolate (such as Ghirardelli) for the best flavor. You can also use candy melts in fun colors, though keep in mind that they’re very sweet.
1. Melt the chocolate
To prevent melted chocolate from sitting at room temperature for too long, work in batches. Start by adding half the chocolate chips to a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in the microwave in 15-second increments, mixing each time, until melted.
Tip
If you don’t have access to a microwave, you can melt the chocolate on the stovetop by using the double boiler method. Add water to a pot until it’s about 1/3 full. Put a heat-safe bowl on top, ensuring the bottom of the bowl is not touching the water. Place the chocolate in the bowl, bring the water to a simmer and stir the chocolate until melted.
2. Fill molds
Add a scoop of melted chocolate to each sphere cavity.
Tip
If you don’t want to buy a disco ball chocolate mold, feel free to use a plain sphere dome silicone mold.
Using a clean paintbrush (that's used only for food) or the back of a spoon, spread the chocolate so that it's coating the entire mold.
If your mold came with silicone inserts, place them on each layer of chocolate while it's still warm. This will help flatten the inside of the chocolate shell.
3. Fill the chocolate domes
Place the hot cocoa bomb mold in the fridge for 15 to 30 minutes, or until it has completely hardened. (The total time it takes for the chocolate to set will depend on several factors, including your specific fridge and the exact temperature of the chocolate.)
Carefully remove the half spheres from the mold.
Tip
As you handle the chocolate, it might begin to melt. Put the domes back in the fridge for five to 10 minutes to let them re-harden after this step.
Turn over half of the domes. Fill with sprinkles and at least 1 Tbsp. hot cocoa mix. You can also add mini marshmallows, more chocolate chips or even crushed candy canes, if you'd like.
4. Make the hot cocoa bombs
Spread room-temperature (not hot) melted chocolate on a plate. It's essential that the chocolate is not hot; otherwise, it will melt the chocolate half spheres. If it's still too warm to the touch, let it cool slightly.
Dip the edge of an empty half dome in the melted chocolate.
Gently press it on to a filled half dome to seal. If needed, brush additional melted chocolate along the seam.
Chill in the fridge for 5 to 10 minutes.
5. Brush with silver dust
When you're ready to enjoy your hot cocoa bombs, add one to a mug and pour hot milk on top. Once the chocolate melts, stir and drink up. (For a boozy twist on this recipe, add a splash of peppermint schnapps to your drink!)
Store leftover hot cocoa bombs in an airtight container in the fridge.
Happy New Year!