Last Updated on December 2, 2021
In 2019, a young man bought ingredients to make a cocoa bomb: a hollow chocolate ball filled with cocoa powder or chocolate chips and mini marshmallows that bursts open to create hot chocolate when you pour warm milk over it. He posted a video of his invention to TikTok, and before he knew it, he had taken a thousand orders for cocoa bombs and had to quickly figure out how to amp up production.
Since then, cocoa bombs have exploded in popularity, with lots of people making and selling custom creations. Some retailers have gotten in on the trend as well, including Aldi, along with Aldi’s cousin Trader Joe’s. After trying the Aldi version recently, I decided to see how the Trader Joe’s Hot Cocoa Snowman compares.
Trader Joe’s Hot Cocoa Snowman cost $1.99 for a 2.65-ounce snowman at the time of publication. It contains milk chocolate chips and mini marshmallows. This is a product of Romania and should be stored in a cool, dry place.
The Trader Joe’s package states:
If a certain walk, talking, button-nose snowman knew this would happen, he might have longed for a hot bath! Rich and sweet, warm and cozy, Trader Joe’s Hot Cocoa Snowman is as cute as it is delicious. A mug of hot milk (or your favorite alternative), a spoon (or broom handle?), and a bit of stirring results in a steamy, dreamy cup of cocoa for a chilly winter’s day.
Nutrition information and ingredients. (Click to enlarge.)
If you’re avoiding allergens, this contains milk, soy, and wheat. It may contain traces of peanut, almond, or hazelnut.
One snowman (75 grams) has 420 calories, 23 grams of total fat (29% DV), 15 grams of saturated fat (75% DV), 5 mg of cholesterol (2% DV), 65 mg of sodium (3% DV), 46 grams of total carbohydrates (17% DV), less than 1 gram of dietary fiber (4% DV), 43 grams of total sugars, 37 grams of added sugars (74% DV), and 3 grams of protein.
To prepare this snowman, heat 1 cup of milk or your favorite non-dairy beverage until warm. Carefully add the snowman to the warmed beverage and allow it to melt. Once melted, stir until completely dissolved and enjoy.
The snowman unboxed.
This is a cute treat for kids or people of any age. When you take the hot cocoa snowman out of the box, you can hear the chocolate chips rattling around inside if you give it a gentle shake. When you add the snowman to a cup of warm milk, it bobs around for a few minutes before melting and settling to the bottom of the cup, while the mini marshmallows pop up to float on top of the milk. You can speed the melting process by prodding the snowman with a spoon, or just give it time to do its thing on its own. You’ll want to thoroughly stir the contents of your mug once the snowman has broken apart, and it will take a couple of minutes to dissolve all the chocolate bits.
The snowman in warm milk.
The hot chocolate itself tastes good and makes a nice indulgent treat. This is one Trader Joe’s product that is fun to buy at least once just for the experience.
The Verdict:
Trader Joe’s Hot Cocoa Snowman is a white chocolate shell filled with chocolate chips and mini marshmallows. When added to warm milk, the snowman melts and creates a delicious mug of hot chocolate.
