‘Pouring’ over Kerker’s ‘Bombtastic’ Side Hustle

A few years ago, Lori Kerker was scrolling through Pinterest when she came across an intriguing hot chocolate bomb recipe. Motivated by her love of both baking and crafting, she decided to give it a try herself. 

Lori began making these decorative chocolate spheres for her friends and family as a “fun extra gift.” After receiving so much positive feedback, she was able to turn her creative outlet into a profitable business. Today, Lori’s homemade hot chocolate bombs are a much sought-after delight, especially around the holidays.

“I make them all on my own,” Lori says, “from creating the chocolate molds to tying the tag on to finish.” 

While the process can take a while, Lori admits that it’s relaxing for her and has now become her designated “me time.”

Hot chocolate bombs are filled with chocolate powder; with a simple pour of hot milk over the top, the bomb melts into a deliciously rich drink. Lori offers a variety of hot chocolate and outer shell flavors including dark chocolate, white chocolate and milk chocolate. She also makes small, medium and large sizes distinguished by the amount of milk needed to create the perfect cup of hot cocoa.

Lori begins selling her hot chocolate bombs annually in October and continues selling them through St. Patrick’s Day, providing her with a break around the summertime. Most of her sales come from Facebook and referrals.

“Sometimes, I get custom orders; once, I did a Wizard of Oz theme, and another time, I created unicorns for a birthday party. Those were a fun challenge to take on, but I usually stick to the simpler holiday designs,” Lori says.  

Beyond her side gig as a business owner, Lori is also proud of her position as a construction administrator at O’Shea Builders. Lori notes that this business endeavor has taught her multiple lessons that she can transfer over to her day job at O’Shea.

“I have learned better time management skills, and that kindness goes a long way,” Lori says.

Interested in placing an order? Contact Lori Kerker at 217.210.0178

Article by Anna Phalen