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Homemade Magic Shell (+Video)

It’s so easy to make your own Homemade Magic Shell to pour over your favorite ice cream. This recipe has only two ingredients!

THE PERFECT ICE CREAM TOPPING

I think one of the most fun recipes I have tried in ages and its for Homemade Magic Shell. Oh yeah, you read that right. You can make this stuff at home! And it is so easy to put together. It only takes two ingredients and it tastes so good when you make it yourself! It’s a simple way to take your ice cream to the next level!

chocolate magic shell drizzled over vanilla ice cream in a small clear bowl.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

What is Magic Shell?

Magic Shell is a brand name for a chocolate ice cream topping that is in a liquid state and hardens when it comes into cold ice cream – forming a “shell”. However, the shell is soft enough so that it is easily broken up with a spoon.

What is in Magic Shell that makes it harden?

Coconut oil! You need to use refined solid coconut oil – not liquid – or it won’t set up properly. The refined coconut oil doesn’t have a strong coconut taste like the unrefined stuff.

How to make Magic Shell without coconut oil?

You can substitute real, solid butter for the coconut oil but the coconut oil gives the more ‘real’ Magic Shell flavor.

Do I have to use semi-sweet chocolate chips?

This will work with pretty much any flavor of chocolate chip. So if you prefer milk chocolate, dark chocolate, mint chocolate, butterscotch or even white chocolate – they all work!

How to make magic shell without chocolate chips?

If you don’t have or don’t want to use chocolate chips, you can substitute with cocoa powder as well as honey or maple syrup. Melt the 2 tablespoons of coconut oil in a bowl. Then whisk in 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder and 1 1/2 teaspoons of honey or maple syrup. Then you’re ready to use once its combined well.

Does Magic Shell only work on ice cream?

No. It works on any frozen food. Try drizzling it over frozen fruit like bananas or strawberries! Absolutely delicious!

How do I store leftovers?

The shelf life is about 2-3 weeks. Keep it stored in a lidded container. You may need to reheat it in the microwave (without the lid) for about 15-30 seconds when you need to use it to get it back to a liquid stage.

Homemade Magic Shell recipe from The Country Cook, magic shell poured over scoops of vanilla ice cream in a small clear glass serving bowl.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)

  • semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • coconut oil
semi sweet chocolate chips, coconut oil.

HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE MAGIC SHELL:

Melt chocolate chips and coconut oil in the microwave about 1 minute. Give it a stir. You may need to microwave it for a few more seconds.

semi sweet chocolate chips and coconut oil in a microwave safe measuring cup.

You want it to be runny but not boiling over and burning. Stir again.

microwaved chocolate and coconut oil, softened, in a clear measuring cup.

Pour into a bottle or glass jar (something that can be re-heated safely in the microwave). This doesn’t need to be stored in the refrigerator.

liquid Homemade Chocolate Magic Shell in a small mason jar shown with chocolate chips sprinkled around the jar.

The shelf life is about 2-3 weeks. You may need to reheat it in the microwave (without the lid) for about 15-30 seconds when you need to use it to get it back to a more liquid stage.

Magic Shell with Vanilla Ice Cream shown on a serving spoon

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Easy Homemade Magic Shell recipe

Homemade Magic Shell (+Video)

It's so easy to make your own Homemade Magic Shell to pour over your favorite ice cream. This recipe has only two ingredients!
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 1 minute
Total Time: 6 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients

  • 1 ¼ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 2 Tablespoons coconut oil, measured when solid

Instructions

  • Melt chocolate chips and coconut oil in the microwave about 1 minute.
  • Give it a stir. You may need to microwave it for a few more seconds. You want it to be runny but not boiling over and burning. Stir again.
  • Pour into a bottle or glass jar (something that can be reheated safely in the microwave)
  • Do not store in the refrigerator. The shelf life is about 2-3 weeks.
  • You may need to reheat it in the microwave (without the lid) for about 15-30 seconds when you need to use it to get it back to a more liquid stage.

Video

YouTube video
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Calories: 256kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 18g | Sodium: 3mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 13g

Nutritional Disclaimer

“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

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23 Comments

  1. Just an fyi…I came over to your site via Pinterest to scope out that awesome take on Magic Shell ice cream topper and I couldn't read the whole article because of the LARGE ad on the right side of your site. It couldn't be moved nor could I find an X to close it. It was really a distraction. Just wanted you to know so you could make some adjustments.

  2. Just made this tonight in less than 5 minutes. Better flavor than the store bought. Thanks for the recipe it was so easy!

  3. I LOVE coconut oil! I put it in my hair and go to hot yoga, or sleep in a shower cap and it's a wonderful conditioner! I also put a tbsp in my fruit smoothies. I love how it's solid then the minute it hits my tongue it melts great texture and flavor. I'm making this magic shell tonight! Thanks

  4. My parents got me try the coconut oil. Mine doesn't have that coconut flavor. I think it's extra virgin or something like that. It really does give you energy. Helps with acne too. I put it in my coffee some times. Fry an egg with it. It's wonderful stuff. Some ppl have even lost weight off of it. And some ppl may not loose the weight but loose inches. Like me. Not weight loss, but I have lot several inches. 🙂

  5. So I remember I made this magic shell last year and then forgot about it … until I've been hearing again all the good things about coconut oil. So I just bought a 32 oz container and LOVE IT! I've been putting it in my oatmeal and coffee mainly, but then remembered the magic shell idea! YUMMO. Although I forgot to check your recipe and just used chocolate syrup … it wasn't as chocolately as I'm sure it would be with the choc. chips, so I'm def. using chips next time!

  6. I love Magic Shell! I have a jar of coconut oil sitting in my pantry just waiting to be used and this is the perfect recipe!

  7. I can't wait to try this out. I have a jar of coconut oil in the pantry that I just haven't gotten around to figuring out what to use it for! This is perfect! 🙂

    Willa

  8. I came across your blog on At the Well and I love your post! My kids will go crazy over this homemade Magic Shell!

    I would love it if you would come by my blog and link up to Fusion Fridays with your favorite or most recent recipes, handmade crafts, diy projects, tips & tricks, and how to's! { open through Wednesday! }http://janedeereblog.blogspot.com

    I would love it if you would come by Friday and link up!

  9. Made this for dinner tonight after seeing it on my facebook wall this morning! It was amazing!!! I added one package of cubed ham to it as well and served it with a wonderful lettuce salad. My daughter said it was just like Bennigans, her favorite, so that was a huge compliment. Its worth making and I'm sure will now be one of our faves! Thanks!

  10. I found your blog through Mommy's Kitchen Sunday Potluck. So glad too! My dear hubby loves Magic Shell! I am loving all your recipes. I have spotlighted you on my blog. Stop by and grab my button. I will be back regularly for more recipes! Thank you so much for sharing!
    4growingboys.blogspot.com

  11. I order my coconut oil from Tropical Traditions in 5 gallon buckets (yes, we use it for EVERYTHING). I buy the kind that has been expeller pressed, so it has no flavor at all….which means I can use it in place of all other bad oils to cook anything, without coconut flavoring.

  12. 5 stars
    Fun! Coconut oil has a melting/freezing point of 76F. So to harden your homemade Magic Shell, it only has to be poured on something colder than 76F. This might be why you have to microwave it to make it pourable even at room temperature.

    The chocolate it's combined with melts at closer to 90F, so the two items together would make a hardening point more in the 80-degree range.

    In the winter it'll be even more firm sitting in the pantry.

  13. Mmmmm … I have a feeling that stuff smells amazing! I just wish the husband would love coconut as much as I do. (I'd use coconut oil for probably just about all of those things you mention.) I'm sure he'd love this magic shell, though! And we'd be happy thinking it's all just magic. 😉