Bon Bon Boxes for Painted and Coloured Shells
Shallow printed boxes with a tray that holds each moulded bon bon by its base, so the painted shells stay unmarked. Book style, lid and base or sleeve, from 4 to 24 pieces.
From £0.25 a box, exact price on your quote
Bon Bon Boxes specification
| Pieces | 4, 6, 9, 12, 16 or 24, or your own count |
|---|---|
| Tray | Food-safe PET formed to your mould, or a card insert |
| Depth | Shallow, set from the height of your shell |
| Box styles | Book style, lid and base, sleeve and tray |
| Board | Printed card or rigid board |
| Food-safe inks, with a printed inside cover | |
| Finish | Matt, gloss, soft touch or foil on the logo |
| Production | 4 to 6 working days after proof approval, 8 to 10 for rigid styles |
| Delivery | Free tracked UK mainland delivery, 2 to 3 working days |
| Price | From £0.25 a box; the exact price depends on size, insert, finish and quantity |
Protect the shine
Painted and airbrushed bon bons are the most fragile thing in a chocolate shop. A fingerprint or a scrape shows straight away.
A tray formed to the shape of your mould holds the shell by its base and keeps the glossy dome clear of everything.
Shallow is better
Bon bons are usually lower than truffles, so a shallow box shows them off and wastes no space.
We set the box depth from the height of the shell plus a little air above it.
Design Your Chocolate Box
Drop your logo on a real photo of our bon bon boxes, move it and size it, and send it. A designer sets it up to scale and sends a free proof.
Your logo sits on a real photo of our box. A designer redraws it to scale on the box artwork and sends a free proof before anything is printed.
What is a bon bon box?
A bon bon box is a shallow printed box with a tray for moulded chocolates: the glossy, often painted shells filled with ganache, caramel or praline. The tray holds each bon bon in its own cup so the coloured surfaces never touch.
The three photos show bon bons in a red book-style box on marble, a twelve piece red box with a white tray and a yellow and red six piece box. In every case the box is shallow and the tray is the hero, because the bon bons are the point.
The style of box matters less than the fit of the tray. That is where most of our time goes when we draw a bon bon box.
Why does the tray matter so much for bon bons?
A bon bon shell is thin and its surface is polished. If it rubs against a neighbour or the wall of a cup, the colour scuffs and the shine dulls. A good tray holds the bon bon by its base, with the top clear of the cup edge and the lid.
That is why we usually recommend a food-safe PET tray formed to the shape of your mould for bon bons, rather than a flat card insert with round holes.
| Tray | Holds the bon bon by | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| PET formed to your mould | Its own base shape | Painted and airbrushed shells |
| PET with round cups | A round seat | Dome and half-sphere moulds |
| Card insert | A hole in a raised deck | Firm, plain shells sold by the counter |
How do we size a bon bon box?
We need the footprint of the bon bon (the size of the base) and its height, in mm. If you can, send the name of the mould shape or a photo from above and the side.
The box depth follows the height of the shell plus a few millimetres of air, which is why bon bon boxes are usually shallower than truffle boxes.
- Measure the base and height of one finished bon bon.
- Choose the count and the layout.
- Choose the tray type and colour.
- Choose the box style: book, lid and base or sleeve.
- Check the free proof, which shows tray layout and box size together.
Which box style shows bon bons best?
A book-style box opens like a cover and shows the whole tray at once, which is why it is so popular for bon bons. A lid and base box is simpler and stacks well in a cabinet. A sleeve and tray lets the tray slide out like a drawer and suits a long row of five or six.
- Book style for gift boxes and tasting sets
- Lid and base for counter boxes of 9 to 24
- Sleeve and tray for a row of five or six
- Window lid for shelves where the colours need to show
- Rigid book box for corporate gifts
Which tray colour suits coloured shells?
White and clear trays make bright colours look brighter. Black trays give a dramatic look and suit metallic or deep red shells. Gold trays suit dark chocolate shells with gold lustre.
If your bon bons change colour with each collection, a white or clear tray works with all of them.
Ask for two tray colours on the proof if you are unsure. Seeing your own shells against black and against white usually settles it in a minute.
What can be printed on a bon bon box?
The cover or lid carries your logo and collection name. The inside cover is the obvious place for a flavour map, often with a small coloured circle for each bon bon so customers can match colour to flavour.
The base carries ingredients and allergen information. Every panel is printed in food-safe inks. Soft touch with a foil logo is a favourite finish for bon bon gift boxes.
Read more about finishes in our guide to printing and finishes for chocolate packaging.
Who orders bon bon boxes?
Chocolatiers and pastry chefs who make moulded bon bons, cafes with a chocolate cabinet, and patisseries adding a small box beside the till. Event caterers order small two or four piece boxes as favours, and companies order larger book-style boxes as client gifts.
Because the tray is shaped to the mould, the same box can serve every flavour in your range, as long as the mould shape stays the same.
Can bon bon boxes be posted?
Yes, with care. A PET tray formed to the mould, a soft pad under the lid and a snug outer carton keep the shells from moving. In warm weather, post early in the week with a cool pack.
If you post often, tell us on the quote and we will keep the tray cups a little deeper so the bon bons sit lower.
What mistakes should you avoid with bon bon boxes?
Sizing a round cup for a square or faceted mould is the first. The bon bon then sits on its edges and rocks. Send the real shape and we form the tray to match.
The second is a lid that touches the top of the shell. Even light contact leaves a mark on a polished dome. The third is a glossy tray under very glossy bon bons, which can make the box look busy; a matt white or black tray is calmer.
How long do bon bon boxes take?
A card bon bon box leaves us 4 to 6 working days after proof approval; a rigid book box needs 8 to 10. Delivery is then free, tracked and takes 2 to 3 working days to UK mainland addresses.
Trays arrive nested and boxes arrive flat, except rigid styles, which arrive made up.
How do you order bon bon boxes?
Send the count, the size and shape of your mould, the tray colour and the box style, with your logo if you have it. The panel near the top of this page is the quickest route.
A price arrives by email within one working day. Minimums are low and quoted per job, and misprints or damage reported within 10 days are reprinted or refunded.
Related boxes
Other boxes chocolate makers often order alongside this one.
All truffle and bon bon boxes
Bon Bon Boxes questions
More answers in Help, or WhatsApp us on +44 7578 382054.
Can a bon bon tray be formed to my own mould shape?
Yes. Send the base size and height, or a photo from above and the side, and the PET tray is formed to match.
Will a bon bon box scratch painted shells?
Not if the tray holds each bon bon by its base and the lid clears the top, which is how we size them.
How deep is a typical bon bon box?
Shallow: the height of your shell plus a few millimetres of air, usually less than a truffle box.
What tray colour shows coloured bon bons best?
White or clear trays make bright colours look brighter; black suits metallic and deep red shells.
Is a book-style box good for bon bons?
Yes. It opens to show the whole tray at once, which suits painted bon bons.
Can a bon bon box hold 24 pieces?
Yes. A 6 x 4 layout is common for 22 mm bon bons.
Can the flavour map inside a bon bon box use colours?
Yes. A coloured dot for each bon bon helps customers match colour to flavour.
Is the PET tray in a bon bon box food-safe?
Yes. The trays are made from food-safe PET.
Can bon bon boxes have a window lid?
Yes. A window lid lets the colours show on a shelf.
Can I post bon bon boxes to customers?
Yes, with a formed tray, a pad under the lid and a snug outer carton.
Can a rigid book box be used for bon bons?
Yes. Rigid styles are quoted higher and take 8 to 10 working days to make.
Do bon bon trays arrive separately from the boxes?
Yes. Trays arrive nested and drop into the folded box when you pack.
Tell us what you make
Send the piece count, the size of one chocolate, a rough quantity and your logo. We reply by email within one working day with a price and a free design proof. Prefer to talk? Call +44 7578 382054 or message us on WhatsApp.