This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, read my disclosure policy.
Homemade Magic Shell is so easy to make! This fun ice cream topping only has 2 ingredients and is ready in 5 minutes. Once you try it, you’ll leave the store-bought magic shell on the shelf – it’s so easy to make it yourself.
What is Magic Shell?
This recipe feels like a trip down memory lane! I have so many childhood memories of this chocolate sauce. Some of my best ice cream topping ideas are the ones I loved as a kid, and this chocolate magic shell is at the top of the list.
Magic Shell is a thin liquid chocolate sauce that hardens when it comes into contact with the cold ice cream. The magic of the sauce is the coconut oil! Coconut oil is solid at room temperature but melts when you warm it. When you mix it with melted chocolate, it makes a silky-smooth homemade chocolate sauce.
How does magic shell work? Pour that chocolate sauce over ice cream, and the coconut oil immediately hardens, creating a hard chocolate shell. Make Homemade Magic Shell with 2 ingredients in 5 minutes at home!
Just 2 Ingredients Needed
- Chocolate: Use a good-quality chocolate bar or chocolate chips. If you are using a bar, you will need about five ounces. For chocolate chips, you will need one cup.
- Coconut oil: I like to use refined coconut oil because the coconut flavor is not as strong.
How to Make Magic Shell Ice Cream Topping
- Place your chocolate and coconut oil in a small microwave-safe bowl.
- Warm them in 30-second intervals, stopping to stir between each increment until the mixture is smooth.
- Pour over ice cream and watch the magic happen!
Substitutions
There isn’t a substitute for coconut oil, but there are a few flavors you can make by switching the chocolate!
- Try using semi-sweet, milk chocolate, or dark chocolate.
- Use white chocolate and make a white chocolate magic shell.
- Swap peanut butter chips for a peanut butter flavor!
- You can also use chocolate almond bark for this recipe – any flavor will work!
- You can add chopped nuts or sprinkles into the melted chocolate for texture.
Tip From Dorothy
Expert Tips
- There’s not much in this easy recipe, so use high-quality chocolate. Trust me – it makes a difference!
- Magic shell isn’t just for a bowl of ice cream. It’s one of my favorite ice cream sundae toppings, banana split toppings, or you can drizzle it over any sweet, cold treat!
Storage
Store magic shell in an airtight container on the counter or in the fridge (if in the refrigerator it will harden; microwave to thin).
FAQ
Place it in the microwave for 20 to 30 seconds or until it’s thinned to a pourable consistency.
No, it only works with coconut oil. It solidifies at room temperature, which makes the magic shell harden.
Homemade Magic Shell Recipe
Recipe Video
Ingredients
- 1 cup (170g) chocolate chips (any kind)
- ¼ cup (50g) coconut oil
Instructions
- Place your chocolate and coconut oil into a small microwave-safe bowl.
- Heat in thirty-second intervals, mixing each time until all the chocolate is melted.
- Pour over ice cream.
Recipe Notes
- Use any flavor chocolate chips (dark, milk, semi-sweet, white chocolate).
- If your coconut oil is too hard to scoop, heat in the microwave for about 20-30 seconds.
- Store leftover magic shell in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 2 weeks. It will harden, so just heat in the microwave to thin.
Recipe Nutrition
Ways to use Magic Shell
- Pour it over homemade ice cream (vanilla ice cream is my favorite)!
- This can also be used as a dip (like those cones you get at Dairy Queen).
