International Chocolate Day

International Chocolate Day is September 13th. I didn’t know there was such a day until I saw a facebook post that it was coming up.

A great time to share my cocoa bombs and of course Cool Coffee Clique’s Gourmet Milk Chocolate hot cocoa. Which is perfect for cocoa bombs.

How did International Chocolate Day Start?

According to Wikipedia: World Chocolate Day, sometimes referred to as International Chocolate Day or just Chocolate Day, is an annual celebration of chocolate, occurring globally on July 7, which some suggest to be the anniversary of the introduction of chocolate to Europe in 1550. The observance of World Chocolate Day dates back to 2009.

Other Chocolate Day celebrations exist, such as National Chocolate Day in the United States on 28 October. The U.S. National Confectioners Association lists 13 September as International Chocolate Day, coinciding with the birth date of Milton S. Hershey (September 13, 1857).

Ghana, the second largest producer of cocoa, celebrates Chocolate Day on February 14.

In Latvia, World Chocolate Day is celebrated on July 11.

The U.S. National Confectioners Association lists four primary chocolate holidays on their calendar.

Chocolate Day (July 7), two National Chocolate Days (October 28 and December 28), and International Chocolate Day (September 13), in addition to variants such as National Milk Chocolate Day, National White Chocolate Day, and National Cocoa Day.

Wow! That’s a lot of celebrations of chocolate.

International Chocolate Day Cocoa Bombs

International chocolate Day

Last year I made cocoa bombs for the holidays and our grandkids absolutely loved them.

I plan to make more this year and will be using Cool Coffee Clique Milk Chocolate gourmet cocoa.

They will certianly love it.

Be looking for a future post on how to make cocoa bombs. For now, here is a brief description of how to do it if you would like to give it a go.

You will need:

12 ounces high-quality semi-sweet chocolate bars or chips, such as Ghirardelli
6 tablespoons Cool Coffee Clique Hot Cocoa Mix
1 cup mini marshmallows
Sprinkles, for decorating (optional)

Set up a double boiler. Fill a 4-quart pot halfway with water and set over medium-high heat. Find a heat proof bowl that fits securely on top of the pot without touching the water.

Chop and temper the chocolate. If using bars, finely chop 12 ounces semisweet chocolate. Set 1/3 aside (about 4 ounces).

Transfer the remaining 2/3 (8 ounces) to the bowl and fit over the double boiler.

Melt the chocolate in the double boiler, stirring regularly with a silicone spatula to help with melting and keep it from getting too hot. Do not exceed 100° F. Remove the bowl from the double boiler.

Add the reserved chocolate in 3 increments, stirring until incorporated and melted after each addition. Continue mixing until the chocolate is between 88 and 91°F. You can check this with a digital probe thermometer. If you don’t have a thermometer you can test it on your wrist. It should be body temp.

Coat silicone molds with the tempered chocolate

Drop 1 tablespoon tempered chocolate into each well of 2 half sphere silicone mold trays.

Use a brush to spread the chocolate up the sides and over the edges of the molds by just a bit. Let sit at room temperature until the chocolate is hardened, 5 to 15 minutes.

Repeat with another teaspoon each to achieve a thick, even coating.

Let sit at room temperature until completely hardened, 15 to 30 minutes.

Fill half the spheres with cocoa and marshmallows

Place 1 tablespoon hot cocoa mix, 1 heaping tablespoon mini marshmallows, and 1/2 teaspoon sprinkles if desired into each of half of the wells.

Seal the molds

Warm up a skillet. Keep it on low. Take your top mild and melt slightly and then cover the other half that is filled with cocoal and marshmallows.

Use a small paint brush and more tempered chocolate to seal the 2 halves together.

There you have it; cocoa bombs. Perfect for an amazing hot chocolate. Try it in hot milk. Yummy!

Recipes you may like to try

Hearty Bacon Corn Chowder

Fall Time Caramel Corn