If you’ve ever drizzled store-bought Magic Shell over ice cream, you know it is truly magical! But did you know it only takes a couple of ingredients to make it at home? This Homemade Magic Shell is rich and smooth and sets up perfectly over your favorite ice cream for that satisfying snap. Once you try it you’ll never go back to the bottle!
Ingredients Needed
This is just a preview of ingredients and method, keep scrolling for full printable recipe.
- Chocolate – You can use chocolate chips or a nice bar chocolate. I prefer Semi-sweet or dark chocolate but this will work with milk chocolate as well.
- Coconut oil – This is what makes the magic, since coconut oil is solid at room temperature, and when frozen, it makes the chocolate quickly melt in your mouth. You can use refined or unrefined coconut oil. Refined coconut oil does not have any coconut flavor. If you use cold-pressed, unrefined coconut oil, expect to be able to taste mild coconut flavor. It’s not overpowering though-I actually love the mild coconut taste with the chocolate.
How to Make Homemade Magic Shell
- Combine the chocolate and coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl.
- Heat in the microwave in 20-30 second increments, stirring between each heating, until melted and smooth. Enjoy!
Storing and Other Tips
- Store finished Magic Shell Topping in an airtight container at room temperature and enjoy within 30 days for best results.
- If your house is on the warmer side it will remain pourable. If it solidifies, just pop it in the microwave for 10-20 seconds and stir before use.
Bonus Recipe: Ice Cream Cookie Crunchies
These crunchy cookie pieces, coated in a chocolatey shell, make a great ice cream topping, mix in for homemade ice cream, or addition to an ice cream cake. You can also press them into muffin tins to make little dessert cups.
Ingredients
- 2/3 standard package of Oreo cookies (2 1/2 cups Oreo cookie crumbs)
- about 1 cup of homemade Magic Shell Topping (or one 7.25-ounce bottle store-bought)
Instructions
- Crush Oreos. You’ll need 2 1/2 cups cookie crumbs.
- Add Magic Shell Topping just a little at a time and mix well. You may not need to use a full cup.
- Use as desired. If you’re using as a layer in an ice cream cake, Don’t make a full thick layer of these crunchies or it might be hard to cut! Instead sprinkle them so there’s some give to cut nice slices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! This will work with white chocolate, peanut butter chips, butterscotch chips, etc. If you can find cherry chips, you’ll have a cherry dipped cone like your favorite nostalgic DQ treat. However, you may need to add extra coconut oil to achieve the desired consistency with some of these other chips. Start with what’s written in the recipe here and add more little by little until it’s smooth and drizzles nicely. It’s also helpful to smear a thin layer on a piece of parchment paper and place in the fridge for a few minutes for it to solidify. Taste it and adjust as needed!
You can certainly try! Your topping may just take a longer to set up and have a softer texture once solidified, not the snap Magic Shell is known for. While coconut oil is 100% fat, butter includes water, so it changes the consistency just a bit, but tastes super delicious.
Yes, any neutral oil will work. Vegetable oil or avocado oil. You’ll want to just add a little at a time until you get the consistency you like since it’s a bit different than coconut oil.
Yep! Add a bit of peppermint, orange, or almond extract after melting. Be careful to add just a little at a time or the mixture may seize. You could also try flavoring oils, which are less likely to affect the texture negatively.
Dipped Cones
You can also use this recipe to make dipped ice cream cones. Try making the magic shell with a variety of chips for fun flavors! TIPS:
- Make sure your ice cream is packed solid down the cone so it doesn’t fall out.
- Use very cold ice cream fresh out of the freezer.
- It’s also fun to pour down the bottom of a waffle cone for a fun surprise!
Homemade Magic Shell Ice Cream Topping
Instructions
- Combine chocolate and 2 tablespoons coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl.
- Heat in the microwave in 20-30 second increments, stirring each time until smooth. 2 tablespoons is the minimal amount of coconut oil you'll need, but depending on your preference, you can stir in more at this point. The more coconut oil you add, the thinner the consistency and shell. My personal preference is a total of 4 tablespoons coconut oil to 1 cup chocolate chips.
- Drizzle over ice cream, dip frozen/cold treats in the chocolate, or use in the Homemade Ice Cream Cake Crunchy recipe (see Notes below).
Notes
- Store finished Magic Shell Topping in an airtight container at room temperature and enjoy within 30 days for best results.
- If your house is on the warmer side it may remain pourable. If it solidifies, just pop it in the microwave for 10-20 seconds and stir before use.
Homemade Ice Cream Cookie Crunchies
Ingredients
- 2/3 standard package of Oreo cookies (or 2 1/2 cups Oreo cookie crumbs)
- 1 7.25-ounce bottle Magic Shell ice cream topping (or almost 1 cup of homemade Magic Shell Topping)
Instructions
- Crush the Oreos so you get 2 1/2 cups Oreo crumbs.
- Pour the Magic Shell topping over the cookie crumbs a little at a time (you may not use all of it) and mix well to combine. Use as an ice cream topping or the filling for ice cream cakes or pies.
Questions & Reviews
Can I refrigerate these after I make them?
Yes, you can. Just know they will harden once refridgerated so if you’re making crunchies, you’ll want to spread them out first, and with magic shell, you’ll need to warm it before using.
I just got roped in to making a wedding Cheesecake of all things! AND they requested the DQ crunch in the middle. So THANK YOU for this recipe! Now wish me luck on stacking those 2 layers of cheesecake. SMH
Thank you for this! You helped me remember my days at Carvel! Now I can make my son’s birthday ice cream cake! Any ideas on how to keep it from melting in the cooler to the park? ?
I love this idea, thank you! I actually found Reese’s choc Magic Shell. Can’t wait.
Most Dairy Queens sell the cake centers for $5.
once you mix the shell in with the cookies, should you spread them out to dry/ harden? or apply to, whatever you make, quickly?
You are so FUNNY! I just love that about you, ad we JUST MET! If your website was all big and decorated (like someone I know …ever heard of PW?) I’d think I was friends with a STAR.
Honestly, I came looking for a recipe for ice cream cake and took a gander at your link because Hey, Why not? Even tho it wasn’t the standard and trusted taste-of-home or preferred Pioneer Woman, I took a chance. So glad I did!
You can be my new go-to for recipes, how about?
Thanks a bunch.
~Sue
This sounds yummy-I can’t wait to try it. They keep making Oreos packages smaller and smaller. Do you know what size you used? Thank you!
Thank you for the delicious recipe! My daughter and I kept giggling while reading through your post and eating our lonely “third row” of Oreos. You’re sense of humor is too fun. My 11 year old exclaimed, “Mom, she sounds fun and a lot like Junie B. Jones in our books!”. I have joined way too many blogs and really need to pare down just to get through my daily email but yours is a MUST JOIN.
I want to try this.. but I want to use it in a cake in between layers. Do you think this would work? Or maybe just use chocolate fudge from a jar… your thoughts?