The latest food trend to hit the internet is quite the bombshell.
Hot chocolate bombs have burst on to the culinary – and social media – scene in recent weeks, and are sure to quench the thirst of those whose winter drink of choice is a cup of frothy, delicious cocoa.
The concept is fairly simple: an edible chocolate sphere packed with hot chocolate mix and (optional – but highly recommended) tiny marshmallows.
The chocolate shell is typically kept very thin so that when one dunks it in a cup of hot milk – or places it in a cup and pours boiling milk over the top – the “bomb” melts into the liquid, leaving little marshmallows floating on top.
Many have started recording these Instagram-worthy “explosions” for social media. Indeed, a cursory scan of the hashtag #hotchocolatebombs reveals more than 85,000 posts on the photo-sharing platform alone.
So, how did it all start? Like with most of this year's food trends this year, the bomb is believed to have been born on TikTok.
User Cathy Ortiz, founder of sweet shop Love Meets Sugar, started making them as early as July, with her videos of different flavours racking up more than 100,000 views.
"I was part of a cake pop group and somebody had mentioned a hot cocoa bomb and I'm like, I used to make bath bombs, so let me set this up because it's perfect for me," she told Today Food.
The trend is catching on in the UAE, too
With the trend combining the showmanship of a bath bomb with the indulgence of chocolate, it’s no surprise that it’s blown up on social media.
Today, there are several flavours and fillings – from peppermint to Nutella – to choose from, while some have been experimenting with different shapes (think snowmen and reindeers). And UAE residents are also warming up to the chocolate bomb's allure.
“I first spotted this trend on Instagram about a month ago when I saw a couple of fellow bakers take up this fun treat," says Ayesha Nemat Khan, a Dubai home chef. "Since then, I have seen multiple versions of the hot chocolate bomb every day, and they’re all unique in their own way."
Though admitting she usually finds food trends "disappointing", Khan gave it a go, finding the treat made her "feel like a child again".
"Although it’s technically just a cup of hot cocoa, the whole experience – watching the chocolate melt and the mini marshmallows pop up – makes me squeal with excitement every time."
There's also another reason the trend has gained traction in recent weeks – with their appearance similar to Christmas baubles, bombs make a tasty gift for the festive season.
As a result, a number of restaurants and cafes in the UAE have been whipping up chocolate spheres to cater to demand.
When North 28 Restaurant, which overlooks Ski Dubai in Mall of the Emirates, started selling a penguin-shaped hot chocolate bomb for Dh45, it proved to be so popular, it is now sold out.
JLT venue LDC Kitchen + Coffee has launched limited-edition chocolate bombs via Deliveroo, with each sphere packed with cocoa and marshmallows (Dh28 for one or Dh70 for three).
Meanwhile, Spontiphoria, a cafe in Dubai's Wasl Square, has been making approximately 200 hot chocolate bombs a day.
“We launched them in November after seeing a couple of enquiries on social media about places that were making them,” says owner Wajiha Ghayas. “Within a few days, I got a call from the chef saying that he needed more equipment to keep up with demand.”
The cafe currently sells three flavours, marshmallow, Nutella and caramel, with prices starting from Dh10. They’ve also started selling special shapes – snowmen, penguins and reindeers – for Dh12 each.
“A lot of people have been gifting them or saving them as something special to drink on Christmas Eve,” says Ghayas.
If you can’t buy them, make them
One of the advantages of this trend is that they're easy to replicate in your own kitchen.
“You don’t have to spend hours in the kitchen and don’t need any professional dessert or baking skills, either. All you need are a few simple ingredients and a little bit of time,” says Khan, who has experimented with different flavours such as salted caramel and cinnamon.
“You can have fun and customise it – and both children and adults will enjoy making it and drinking it after."
How to make your own hot chocolate bombs
Ingredients
100gm milk or dark chocolate
2 tbsp hot chocolate mix
½ cup mini marshmallows
Equipment
Two semi-circular moulds (such as silicon half-circle trays)
A food thermometer
Method
1. To temper the chocolate, melt it in the microwave in 30-second intervals until completely liquid. Bring the temperature of the chocolate down to 29°C, stirring constantly until it comes to temperature.
2. Once the chocolate reaches the above temperature, immediately pour it into the moulds.
3. Fill each mould with half of the melted chocolate and use a spoon to spread the chocolate around so that it covers the entire hemisphere.
4. Flip the mould over and tap it a few times to get rid of any excess chocolate. Let it sit upside down for two minutes; this creates even and thin chocolate shells.
5. Clean the edges and let the chocolate set in the fridge for one hour. Once set, remove the shells very carefully from the moulds.
6. Fill one of the shells with the hot chocolate mix and marshmallows.
7. Heat a plate and rub the base of the other shell on a warm surface to melt it slightly, and immediately place it on top of the filled shell. The melted chocolate will help seal the two shells together. Rub your finger along the line to make sure the shells are sealed together properly.
7. Decorate it any way you like with your favourite toppings.
8. Place the bomb in a mug, pour hot milk over it, and watch the magic unravel.
Recipe by Ayesha Nemat Khan
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Abu Dhabi GP schedule
Friday: First practice - 1pm; Second practice - 5pm
Saturday: Final practice - 2pm; Qualifying - 5pm
Sunday: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps) - 5.10pm
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
English Premiership semi-finals
Saracens 57
Wasps 33
Exeter Chiefs 36
Newcastle Falcons 5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The%20specs
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Emiratisation at work
Emiratisation was introduced in the UAE more than 10 years ago
It aims to boost the number of citizens in the workforce particularly in the private sector.
Growing the number of Emiratis in the workplace will help the UAE reduce dependence on overseas workers
The Cabinet in December last year, approved a national fund for Emirati jobseekers and guaranteed citizens working in the private sector a comparable pension
President Sheikh Khalifa has described Emiratisation as “a true measure for success”.
During the UAE’s 48th National Day, Sheikh Khalifa named education, entrepreneurship, Emiratisation and space travel among cornerstones of national development
More than 80 per cent of Emiratis work in the federal or local government as per 2017 statistics
The Emiratisation programme includes the creation of 20,000 new jobs for UAE citizens
UAE citizens will be given priority in managerial positions in the government sphere
The purpose is to raise the contribution of UAE nationals in the job market and create a diverse workforce of citizens
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Friday
Saint-Etienne v Montpellier (10.45pm)
Saturday
Monaco v Caen (7pm)
Amiens v Bordeaux (10pm)
Angers v Toulouse (10pm)
Metz v Dijon (10pm)
Nantes v Guingamp (10pm)
Rennes v Lille (10pm)
Sunday
Nice v Strasbourg (5pm)
Troyes v Lyon (7pm)
Marseille v Paris Saint-Germain (11pm)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Four motivational quotes from Alicia's Dubai talk
“The only thing we need is to know that we have faith. Faith and hope in our own dreams. The belief that, when we keep going we’re going to find our way. That’s all we got.”
“Sometimes we try so hard to keep things inside. We try so hard to pretend it’s not really bothering us. In some ways, that hurts us more. You don’t realise how dishonest you are with yourself sometimes, but I realised that if I spoke it, I could let it go.”
“One good thing is to know you’re not the only one going through it. You’re not the only one trying to find your way, trying to find yourself, trying to find amazing energy, trying to find a light. Show all of yourself. Show every nuance. All of your magic. All of your colours. Be true to that. You can be unafraid.”
“It’s time to stop holding back. It’s time to do it on your terms. It’s time to shine in the most unbelievable way. It’s time to let go of negativity and find your tribe, find those people that lift you up, because everybody else is just in your way.”
About Proto21
Date started: May 2018
Founder: Pir Arkam
Based: Dubai
Sector: Additive manufacturing (aka, 3D printing)
Staff: 18
Funding: Invested, supported and partnered by Joseph Group
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg
Rating: 4/5
Brief scores:
Day 1
Toss: South Africa, field first
Pakistan (1st innings) 177: Sarfraz 56, Masood 44; Olivier 4-48
South Africa (1st innings) 123-2: Markram 78; Masood 1-4
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
Sour%20Grapes
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