Have you ever wanted to make your own chocolate chip-shaped soap embeds, candle decorations, or wax melts? Instead of buying a specialty mold, you can make one yourself using real chocolate chips and a silicone mold-making kit!
I recently made my own chocolate chip silicone mold, and I was surprised by how easy it was. I used a small cardboard box to hold everything in place, lined it with Press and Seal to keep the silicone from leaking, and arranged real chocolate chips inside to create the impressions.
Once the silicone cured, I had a reusable mold with little chocolate chip-shaped cavities. Of course, I had to test it out! I melted some melt and pour soap, added brown mica, and poured it into the mold. The finished soap chocolate chips turned out so cute!
The best part is that you can use this same technique to make molds from other small objects, too. If you enjoy making handmade soap, candles, wax melts, or other crafts, this is a fun way to create custom molds without spending a lot of money.
Here’s exactly what I used, how I made mine, and a few things I learned along the way.
Watch the Full Video Tutorial
Want to see how I put everything together? Watch the full tutorial to see how I built the mold box, arranged the chocolate chips, mixed the silicone, and removed the finished mold.
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Materials You’ll Need
You don’t need a lot of supplies to make this mold. Most of the materials are easy to find at a craft store or online.
- Cardboard – To build your mold box. You can use a small shipping box or make one from scrap cardboard.
- Press and Seal – I highly recommend this! It lines the box and helps prevent the silicone from leaking into the cardboard.
- Silicone mold-making kit – Choose a two-part silicone that is suitable for your project. Follow the manufacturer’s mixing instructions.
- Real chocolate chips – These will be used to create the impressions in your mold.
- Hot glue gun and glue – To hold the chocolate chips in place.
- Mixing bowl and stir stick – For combining the silicone.
- Scissors and tape – To assemble your box.
If you want to test your mold with melt and pour soap, you’ll also need:
- Melt and pour soap base
- Heat-safe container
- Microwave
- Brown mica powder
- Optional: Fragrance oils
How to Make a Chocolate Chip Silicone Mold
Making your own silicone mold is pretty straightforward. The biggest things to pay attention to are sealing your box properly, securing the chocolate chips, and mixing your silicone according to the manufacturer’s directions.
1. Build Your Mold Box
Start by making a small box out of cardboard. The size depends on how many chocolate chip impressions you want in your finished mold.
I made mine approximately 4 x 6 inches, which gave me enough room for several chocolate chips.
Tape the corners and seams securely. You want a sturdy box that won’t fall apart or shift when you pour in the silicone.
2. Line the Box With Press and Seal
This is one step I wouldn’t skip!
Line the inside of your cardboard box with Glad Press and Seal. Make sure the bottom and sides are completely covered, paying particular attention to the corners and seams.
Why? Silicone can seep into small openings, and cardboard can absorb moisture from the silicone. The lining creates a barrier and makes removing the finished mold much easier.
Smooth out any large wrinkles so they don’t create unwanted impressions in your finished silicone.
3. Arrange and Secure the Chocolate Chips
Place your chocolate chips inside the lined box with the flat side facing down.
Use a small amount of hot glue to secure each chocolate chip to the bottom. This keeps them from floating or shifting when you pour the silicone.
Leave a little space between each chip. You don’t want the silicone walls between the impressions to be so thin that they tear when you remove your finished pieces.
One thing I noticed is that the heat from the glue gun can soften the chocolate chips. If yours are getting too soft, place them in the refrigerator for a little while before gluing them into the box.
4. Mix the Silicone
Now it’s time to prepare your silicone!
My silicone kit uses two parts, A and B, that need to be combined in equal amounts. However, not every silicone kit has the same mixing ratio, so check your product instructions before getting started.
Measure the correct amounts and mix thoroughly, scraping the sides and bottom of your mixing container as you go.
Follow the recommended mixing time and instructions for your particular silicone. Incomplete mixing can leave areas that don’t cure properly.
I recommend wearing gloves and working in a well-ventilated area.
5. Pour the Silicone Over the Chocolate Chips
Slowly pour the mixed silicone into your prepared box, making sure all of the chocolate chips are completely covered.
Pouring slowly helps reduce the amount of air introduced into the mixture.
I didn’t find that I needed to worry too much about bubbles with this particular project, but results can vary depending on the silicone you’re using and how you mix it.
6. Allow the Silicone to Cure
Set your mold somewhere level where it won’t be disturbed.
My silicone took approximately 6–8 hours to cure, but I left mine overnight just to be safe.
Curing times vary between products, so always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Don’t try to remove the chocolate chips before the silicone has fully cured.
7. Remove the Mold and Chocolate Chips
Once the silicone has cured, carefully remove the cardboard box and peel away the Press and Seal.
Gently remove the chocolate chips from the silicone. You should now have a reusable mold with individual chocolate chip impressions!
Wash the finished mold with soap and water, following the silicone manufacturer’s cleaning recommendations, and allow it to dry.
Look at all those little impressions! Now you’re ready to make some chocolate chip embeds.
Testing My Chocolate Chip Mold With Melt and Pour Soap
Naturally, I had to see how well my new mold worked!
I decided to make chocolate chip-shaped soap embeds using melt and pour soap. This is a really simple way to test your finished mold.
Here’s what I did:
Cut your melt and pour soap base into small, evenly sized pieces and place them in a heat-safe container.
Microwave in short 10-second bursts, stirring between each interval. Continue until the soap is completely melted.
Add a little brown mica powder and stir until the color is evenly distributed. You can also add a small amount of skin-safe fragrance oil if desired, following the supplier’s usage recommendations.
Carefully pour the melted soap into the chocolate chip mold.
Allow the soap to cool and harden completely before removing the pieces.
And here’s how they turned out!
I think they turned out absolutely adorable! These little soap chocolate chips would be perfect for decorating dessert-inspired soaps.
You can use the mold for other craft projects, too. Try candle wax, wax melts, or resin, as long as the material is compatible with your silicone and the mold is suitable for that use.
Tips for Making Your Silicone Mold
A few things I learned while making this mold can help make your project go more smoothly:
- Chill your chocolate chips first. This helps prevent them from softening when you attach them with hot glue.
- Don’t skip the box lining. Press and Seal helps prevent silicone from leaking through the cardboard and makes cleanup much easier.
- Leave enough space between chocolate chips. Very thin silicone sections can be more likely to tear when removing your finished pieces.
- Mix your silicone thoroughly. Follow the exact mixing ratio and instructions for your particular kit to ensure proper curing.
- Give it enough time to cure. Don’t rush this step. An incompletely cured mold can be difficult to work with.
- Choose the right silicone for your project. The silicone I used is not food-safe. If you plan to make molds for food, use a silicone specifically certified for food contact and follow its instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use this chocolate chip mold for food?
Not with the silicone I used for this project. My silicone is intended for crafting and is not food-safe.
If you want to make chocolate or other edible items, you’ll need a silicone specifically rated and certified for food contact. Don’t assume that all silicone mold-making kits are food-safe.
How long does it take for silicone to cure?
My mold took approximately 6–8 hours, although I left it overnight.
The curing time depends on the silicone product, the amount you’re using, and the manufacturer’s recommendations. Always check the instructions for your particular kit.
Why do I need to use Press and Seal?
Press and Seal creates a barrier between the cardboard and the liquid silicone. Without it, silicone can seep through gaps in the box or absorb into the cardboard.
It also makes removing the finished mold much easier. This was one of my favorite little tricks for this project!
Will the hot glue melt the chocolate chips?
It can soften them a little, especially if you hold the glue gun against them for too long.
I recommend chilling your chocolate chips before attaching them and using just a small amount of hot glue to hold them in place.
Can I use something other than chocolate chips?
Absolutely! The chocolate chips are simply the objects I chose to create the impressions in my mold.
You can use other small objects to create custom silicone molds, as long as they’re compatible with the silicone you’re using and can be safely removed after curing.
Can I use this mold for resin, candles, or wax melts?
Yes, provided your silicone is compatible with the material and temperature you’re using.
This particular mold is great for experimenting with different craft materials. Just remember that a mold used for crafting should never be repurposed for food.
Final Thoughts
Making your own chocolate chip silicone mold is a fun little DIY project, especially if you enjoy making handmade soap or candles.
I love that you can use something as simple as real chocolate chips to create a custom mold that you can reuse for all sorts of projects. And if you want to make other shapes, the same basic technique can be used with different objects.
If you give this project a try, I’d love to hear what you make with your finished mold! Leave a comment and share your ideas.