How Long Do Cocoa Bombs Last?
Cocoa bombs are a fun way to enjoy hot chocolate with a bit of dramatic flair.
But how long do cocoa bombs last? Cocoa bombs can last up to a month in an airtight container at room temperature. They can last several months and even up to a year if you choose to refrigerate or freeze them.
Read below to learn more about cocoa bombs, how they are made, their types, and how to store them!
What Are Cocoa Bombs?
Cocoa bombs are all the rage on social media, especially on TikTok!
Cocoa bombs are spherical chocolate containers that contain hot chocolate powder, mini marshmallows, and a few decorative ingredients.
The basic idea is to contain the hot chocolate ingredients within the sphere, then melt it using hot milk to create a delicious cup of hot chocolate.
If you think about it, these chocolate spheres are just fancy hot chocolate delivery systems that are designed to add a dramatic flair to your regular cup of hot chocolate!
How Are Cocoa Bombs Made?
Cocoa bombs are easy to make. But they do require some effort and time!
The spheres are made from plain chocolate that has either been tempered or chilled.
In most cases, commercial chocolate bombs are usually tempered so they can last longer at room temperature and won’t accumulate fingerprints as you hold them with your naturally warm hands.
To make cocoa bombs, you will need to melt chocolate using any heating method. We prefer the double-boiler method because it gives you more control over the temperature!
Types Of Cocoa Bombs
Before continuing, you will need to first choose between tempered or not-tempered chocolate.
Tempered chocolate is considered to be a much more stable version of chocolate that is reinforced using a specific arrangement of crystal structures.
Once tempered, the chocolate will have a smooth and shiny exterior with a stable structure and a characteristically “crispy” texture when it is broken in half.
Non-tempered chocolate cocoa bombs are easier to make, but they do require careful handling and may not be a great option for gifting during the holiday season.
If you don’t have a lot of experience with baking or working with chocolate, then we highly recommend that you stick with the non-tempered version.
How To Make Cocoa Bombs
To understand how to store cocoa bombs and how long they can last, we must first learn how to make them!
Here is how to make non-tempered cocoa bombs:
- Melt semi-sweet chocolate chips (or bars, finely cut) in a double boiler and then use the residual heat to keep the mixture in a fluid state.
- Keep stirring the chips until they melt. Try to keep the chocolate around 90°F for the best results. Once melted, remove the melted chocolate from heat and set it aside.
- Take a baking mold with a hemispherical shape, and carefully brush the inside of each mold.
- Make sure that you thinly coat the interior of the mold. Remove the excess and do not let the chocolate pool in the center!
- Store the mold in the freezer for about 5 minutes. Now repeat step 3, creating a second coat! Finish by storing the mold in the freezer for 10-15 minutes.
- Gently lift and remove the set chocolate from the mold. By now, you will have plenty of hemispheres (half circles).
- Set the hemisphere over a rounded cookie cutter to create a stable base. Then fill each dome with around 2 tablespoons of your favorite hot chocolate powder. Top the powder with mini marshmallows.
- Keep the marshmallows away from the corners and pile them up in the center because you will need to seal the dome around the edges.
- Heat a pan to medium. Take the other chocolate hemisphere and lay it flat-side down on the hot pan for 1-2 seconds.
- A great way to do this would be to hold the sphere with your hand as you lay it down, this way you can control how much it melts.
- Set the lightly melted hemisphere over the one with the powder and marshmallow to create a sphere.
- Brush around the gap of each hemisphere using the melted chocolate and then allow the sphere to rest in the fridge for about 10-15 minutes so the seam will seal.
- Decorate the spheres using melted white chocolate, sprinkles, or whatever you like. Voila! The cocoa bombs are ready to entertain and tantalize!
- To use, put each bomb in a mug and then top it off with scorching hot milk. Watch as the balls melt and release all the hot chocolate powder and marshmallows into the cup!
How Long Will Cocoa Bombs Last?
Notice how homemade cocoa bombs are just a combination of commercial ingredients? You just use commercial-grade chocolate, hot chocolate, and even marshmallows!
Each of these ingredients already contains preservatives and stabilizers to keep them from going bad and this quality also passes over to the cocoa balls too.
This means that you can ideally store chocolate bombs at room temperature for about one month! However, non-tempered cocoa bombs will likely need to be refrigerated to maintain their shape and finish.
You must remember to take into account the type of cocoa bombs you have — here are a few storage indications for each type.
Commercial Cocoa Bombs
If you have received cocoa bombs as a gift, then you should ideally follow the storage instructions mentioned on the packaging.
If the cocoa bombs are made from tempered chocolate, then you can store them at room temperature. Please keep the cocoa bombs away from sunlight and moisture.
Store them in the fridge at 40°F for about 6 months, or in the freezer at 0°F for about a year.
Homemade Cocoa Bombs
If you think that melting tempered chocolate and using its liquid form to make cocoa bombs will give them similar qualities, then you would be very wrong!
Once tempered chocolate is melted, it loses its unique properties. The liquid must be tempered again to regain its structural benefits!
So, if you are making homemade cocoa bombs using non-tempered chocolate, then we recommend that you store them in the fridge at 40°F. Use the cocoa bombs within 3-4 weeks for the best experience.
You can also freeze them at 0°F. Use frozen homemade cocoa bombs within 6 months for the best shape and flavor.
Signs Of Spoilage
As mentioned, cocoa bombs can be resilient and can last for quite a while – but that doesn’t make them impervious to spoilage!
Here are a few key signs to look out for.
Grainy Texture
Cocoa bombs are known for their smooth texture. If you notice graininess around the exterior, then this could indicate that the chocolate has spoiled.
If you do not immediately notice a grainy or powdery texture, but see visible clumps or grains after adding hot milk, then this could also hint toward spoilage.
The best way to definitively know is to look for other signs!
Stale Odor
Cocoa bombs will either smell like nothing or have a familiar chocolatey aroma. If you notice any off-putting aromatic notes, then this could mean that the chocolate bombs have started to go bad.
Check the mixture after adding hot milk. Mix the contents properly and then whiff the top of the mug to confirm.
If you don’t get a distinct foul smell, then the bombs may still be consumable — but if you do notice a stale or foul odor, then just discard the batch!
Color Changes
Cocoa bombs are fairly consistent dessert items. What goes in is usually only what comes out — nothing changes.
So, if you added plain white marshmallows and light-colored hot chocolate powder into the balls, then you can expect to see the same in the mug.
But if you notice any gray, green, or discoloration on the marshmallows or the beverage itself, then you should avoid drinking it!
Related Questions
Cocoa bombs are perhaps the best way to surprise someone and add a fun twist to a regular cup of hot cocoa.
Now that you know how long cocoa bombs last, here are some related questions.
Should you defrost frozen cocoa bombs?
Ideally, you should let the cocoa bombs defrost in the fridge overnight. But if you are in a hurry, then you can go ahead and use the frozen balls to make hot cocoa.
Just add a splash of hot milk, let the balls thaw and melt, and then continue adding more milk until the mug is full.
This method will allow the balls to reach a hotter temperature without changing the overall temperature of the beverage.
Can you add fresh fruit to cocoa bombs?
Please avoid using fresh fruit or other perishable ingredients if you plan to store the spheres for longer. If you do add fresh fruit, then just adjust the storage time accordingly and look closely for signs of spoilage before consuming the cocoa.
Cocoa bombs can be paired with any decorative ingredient. You can fill the balls up with edible confetti, sprinkles, and even brownies.
As a basic rule of thumb, you can use any type of ingredient so long as it fits perfectly within the sphere.
