Scare up some fun this Halloween by serving Hot Chocolate Bomb Brains filled with strawberry hot cocoa mix.
When you pour hot milk over these bloody-looking white chocolate brains, they will melt into a vibrant red-colored hot chocolate.
If you love to make creepy-looking treats for Halloween, you will have so much fun creating these brain-shaped hot cocoa bombs.
I never imaged my Cake Ball Brains, Bleeding PB&J Brains, or my Gumdrop Brains would be so popular, but apparently, a lot of you go nuts for gross Halloween food.
I have to admit that I have served up lots of brain-shaped desserts and appetizers at our Halloween parties. Our food tables at our Zombie party were loaded with edible brains. I've even made savory brains too. Check out my Stuffed Pizza Brains.
Let's Make Hot Cocoa Bomb Brains!
Be sure to watch the video to see how to make these brains. I share a step-by-step tutorial below as well.
To make these brains you will need:
white candy melts - Any type of compound white chocolate, also known as candy melts, melting wafers, confectionery coating, or almond bark (made using palm kernel oil or other vegetable oil) will work.
You could also use pure white chocolate, but note that it must be melted and tempered in order to firm up properly.
Check out my How To Make Hot Chocolate Bombs tutorial for detailed information about the two types of chocolates and how to melt/temper them.
red candy melts - You can purchase bags of pre-colored candy melts which I highly recommend.
Coloring white chocolate red is really challenging. You will need to use a lot of coloring! If you do choose to color your white chocolate, be sure to use oil-based candy coloring, not water-based icing coloring.
dehydrated marshmallows - If you want marshmallows in your hot chocolate bomb brains, use tiny dehydrated marshmallows. Mini marshmallows would be too large.
strawberry hot cocoa mix - It's easy to make homemade strawberry hot chocolate mix and it tastes amazing!
You'll need about 2 tablespoons of cocoa mix to fill each brain.
STRAWBERRY HOT COCOA MIX RECIPE
This makes enough for 4 hot cocoa bomb brains.
Sift together:
- 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons powdered milk
- 3 tablespoons crushed freeze-dried strawberries
- (crush the strawberries and push through a fine-mesh sieve to remove the seeds before measuring)
silicone brain mold - To make these hot chocolate bombs, you will need a silicone brain mold.
I used a brain ice cube mold to create these treats. It's the perfect size mold. Each brain fits nicely into a coffee mug or hot cocoa mug.
They also hold just enough hot cocoa mix to flavor an 8-ounce mug of hot milk.
food-use-only paintbrushes - Grab some paintbrushes from the craft store and keep them in your kitchen to use only when making food crafts. Be sure the paintbrushes are clean and DRY before using with chocolate.
How to make Brain Hot Chocolate Bombs?
step 1 - Paint a thin layer of white chocolate into the brain molds.
- You want to be able to see through this layer of white chocolate.
- Pop the molds into the freezer for 2-3 minutes just until the candy melts harden.
step 2 - Paint a thin layer of red candy melts into the brain molds.
- Once again, you want to make this layer somewhat see-through. You want to see some of the white candy melts showing through the red candy melts.
- Chill for 2-3 minutes until the chocolate hardens.
step 3 - Add another layer of white candy melts.
- This time you want to paint in a thick layer of white candy melts. If the chocolate shells are too thin, your brains will crack when you try to get them out of the mold.
- Freeze for 3-5 minutes until the white chocolate hardens.
step 4 - Fill the hot chocolate bomb brains with marshmallows and strawberry hot cocoa mix.
- Start by adding a spoonful of dehydrated marshmallows then top them with about 2 tablespoons of strawberry hot cocoa mix.
- Gently tap the mold a few times on the counter to remove any air bubbles. Leave ¼-inch of space above the hot cocoa mix in each brain mold.
step 5 - Top with a ¼-inch thick layer of red candy melts.
- Spoon red candy melts over the strawberry hot cocoa mix then freeze for about 10 minutes until hardened.
- The red candy melts will help to color your mug of strawberry hot cocoa adding to the creepy effect of the melting brain.
- Making this layer of candy melts extra-thick will help to weigh down the hot chocolate bomb brains when hot milk is poured over the top. If this layer is not thick enough, the brain may turn upside down as the hot liquid is poured over it, ruining the effect of a melting brain.
step 6 - Unmold the brains.
- Tug on the outside of the silicone mold and push the brains out from underneath. If you use the Fred and Friends Brain Freeze mold the silicone will curve around the chocolate so you really have to pull on it to get it off the chocolate.
- As I mentioned, if your chocolate layer is too thin, your chocolate bomb brains may crack.
step 7 - Store and package your brains.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Package in boxes, plastic food cupcake containers, or cellophane bags.
You can find the supplies and ingredients needed to make these chocolate brains from Amazon. I earn a small commission when you use the links below at NO extra cost to you.
Printable Recipe
Serve these bloody-looking white chocolate brains filled with marshmallows and strawberry hot cocoa mix in a mug of hot milk this Halloween.
- 4 ounces white candy melts, melted
- 4 ounces red candy melts, melted
- 6 teaspoons dehydrated marshmallows
- 8 tablespoons strawberry hot cocoa mix (see the recipe in notes below)
-
Paint a thin layer of white candy melts into the four brain cavities in the silicone mold.
-
Freeze for 2-3 minutes until the chocolate hardens.
-
Let the mold sit at room temperature for a few minutes.
-
Brush a thin coat of red candy melts over the white candy melts.
-
Freeze for 2-3 minutes until the chocolate hardens.
-
Let the mold sit at room temperature for a few minutes.
-
Brush a thick layer of white candy melts over the entire surface of each brain mold.
-
Freeze for about 5 minutes until the chocolate hardens.
-
Spoon a heaping teaspoon of tiny dehydrated marshmallows into each brain.
-
Then, spoon in about 2 tablespoons of strawberry hot cocoa mix.
-
Tap the mold on the counter a few times to allow the hot cocoa mix to settle into the marshmallows and to remove any air bubbles.
-
Leave ¼ inch of space over the top of the hot cocoa mix.
-
Pour red candy melts over the cocoa mix, smoothing it out, making sure it completely seals around the edges of the mold.
-
Freeze for about 10 minutes until the chocolate hardens.
-
Remove the brains from the mold by pulling the mold away from the hot chocolate bomb brain and pushing up from underneath.
-
Let the brains come to room temperature before packaging them in hot chocolate bomb boxes, cellophane bags, or plastic cupcake boxes.
Store your hot cocoa bomb brains in an airtight container for up to 2 months.
RECIPE Strawberry Hot Cocoa Mix
- Sift together:
- 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons powdered milk
- 3 tablespoons freeze-dried strawberry crumbs
More Hot Chocolate Bomb Recipe Ideas
If you like these hot chocolate bombs, you might also like these recipes...
Conversation Heart Hot Chocolate Bombs
- Snowman Popcorn Bucket - December 24, 2022
- Peanut Butter Popcorn - December 20, 2022
- Peppermint Popcorn - December 8, 2022
Please leave a comment.