The real title of this review should be something like Trader Joe’s Hot Cocoa Ornaments with Mint Chocolate Confections Stuffed to the Brim with Mini Marshmallows and a Touch of Holiday Magic. Why? Because you need every single word to capture just how over-the-top these hot cocoa bombs are. They’re not just a drink mix; they’re a three-act play of chocolatey drama, featuring a marshmallow explosion finale that would make even the Grinch crack a smile
I have to say this is probably one of the most beautifully packaged Trader Joe’s products out there. The ornaments from the outside of the box look just like real ornaments. They are the size of real ornaments, which is a little off-putting because you are thinking to yourself, how am I going to get that in my cup with some milk? No worries, they are quite hollow and melt pretty easily.
Let’s back up a bit. These are hollow chocolate spheres, painted with glitter and filled with mini marshmallows. To make these, heat up a cup (according to the directions) of milk to just a boil then drop the ornament into the hot milk and watch it melt. Mine sat there for quite a long time but eventually (with the help of a little spoon), I got it to melt and the tiny marshmallows float to the surface. Make sure you stir because once the ornament has a hole in it, it will sink and all the melted chocolate just goes to the bottom.
On the package, it says, “Mint Chocolate Confections” and I don’t know what they are but the chocolate has a mild mint flavor if that wasn’t obvious to you from the box. Many people on Reddit are complaining that it isn’t on the front but on the side of the box. Trust me, the mint is very mild. So, once this is all melted and incorporated, time to drink. The first thing you’ll notice is how sweet it is.
I’ve had worse but this is one of the sweetest hot cocoa drinks out there. If you drink it the way they recommend, 1 cup of hot milk and one ornament (150 + 400 calories) you have a drink that is about 550 calories! I might make it with two cups of milk next time and split it. The chocolate flavors aren’t that strong so it might not taste good. (If someone does this, let me know how it tastes).
At the end of the day, this was just meh for me. Very sweet, not very chocolatey (dark chocolate next time?) and a huge amount of calories all add up to something I might pass on. My kids on the other hand loved it and if this is a once-a-year special drink after a cold day running around in the snow or something, I would let it pass. But not something I would drink too much of.
At the end of the day, it would make an interesting gift, especially for those that can’t get these Trader Joe’s ornaments.
I will give this a rating of 6 Bells. Trader Joe’s could’ve tweaked this a bit to make it more palatable but it’s 10 Bells on looks alone.
INGREDIENTS:
MILK CHOCOLATE (SUGAR, COCOA BUTTER, WHOLE MILK
POWDER, COCOA MASS, SKIM MILK POWDER, SOY LECITHIN [EMULSIFIER],
NATURAL FLAVORS), MARSHMALLOWS (GLUCOSE-FRUCTOSE SYRUP [CORN,
WHEAT], SUGAR, WATER, PORK GELATIN, CORNSTARCH, NATURAL VANILLA
FLAVOR, GLYCERIN, NATURAL FLAVORS), COLOR ADDED (TITANIUM
DIOXIDE, MICA-BASED PEARLESCENT PIGMENT, IRON OXIDE).
CONTAINS MILK, SOY, WHEAT.
MAY CONTAIN PEANÚT, ALMOND, HAZELNUT.
Product Of Romania
…also contains Titanium Dioxide and Mica based pearlescent pigment.
► Exposure to titanium dioxide can irritate the eyes, nose and throat. since it has been shown to cause lung cancer in animals. a carcinogen. Such substances may also have the potential for causing reproductive damage in humans.