Homemade Magic Shell Chocolate Sauce

Have you ever had that magical chocolate sauce that hardens when it hits your ice cream? I remember trying it as a kid – getting it was such a treat. It cracks as you dig your spoon into the bowl, giving you a nice chunk of chocolate along with a bite of rich ice cream. Yum!

Turns out, it’s super easy to make. Melt chocolate with coconut oil and you’re done! Pour it on some ice cream and like magic, it turns cold and forms a hard shell of chocolatey goodness. Just like store-bought, without lots of hard-to-pronounce preservatives and other ingredients.

Follow the next 3 steps to reach happiness:

1. Fill a bowl with your favorite ice cream.

2. Pour on the homemade “magic shell” chocolate sauce.

3. Wait a few seconds then dig in!

Recipe:

Homemade “Magic Shell” Chocolate Sauce

  • 7 oz. of your favorite chocolate, roughly chopped
  • 2 T coconut oil*

In a heat-proof bowl, place chocolate and coconut oil in microwave. Heat 30 seconds at a time, stirring in between, until fully melted. (Or, in a double boiler, heat chocolate and coconut oil over water on medium high heat, stirring frequently until fully melted.) Set aside to cool. Pour over ice cream.

Store in air-tight container. Heat in microwave for 30 seconds before use.

*If you’re allergic to coconut, I’ve seen recipes that use butter or non-hydrogenated shortening (Spectrum makes a good one) but I haven’t tried those ingredients myself. If you try them, let me know how they work!

74 Comments on Homemade Magic Shell Chocolate Sauce

  1. hannah
    August 4, 2011 at 8:39 am (13 years ago)

    YESSSSS!! =) One of the best recipes you’ve posted! I’ve never seen chocolate shell recipes or nonetheless heard of anyone making it before! This is one of my all time top things when I get soft serve.. it makes it oh so decadent!

    Reply
    • Stephanie
      August 4, 2011 at 8:10 pm (13 years ago)

      @Hannah- yay! This is so easy, it might be dangerous for you πŸ˜‰ oh and you can have some when you come over next week!

  2. Wheels
    August 4, 2011 at 9:13 am (13 years ago)

    This looks so amazing! How does it it keep after you make it? Fridge? Pantry? Just reheat when you want to use again?

    Reply
    • Stephanie
      August 4, 2011 at 8:11 pm (13 years ago)

      @Wheels – I think fridge or pantry would be fine. Just zap it in the microwave for a min, especially if you had it in the fridge.

  3. Cindy
    August 4, 2011 at 12:12 pm (13 years ago)

    Who knew?! I love this stuff and am even more happy that its this easy to make! AWESOME! I am so happy I stumbled across your blog. I love, love, love all of the homemade stuff you have on here. I hate that almost everything on the shelves have added ingredients that just aren’t worth it! Thanks!

    Reply
    • Stephanie
      August 4, 2011 at 8:13 pm (13 years ago)

      @Cindy – welcome! I’m so glad you found my blog too! I love making homemade versions of things you’d normally buy. Let me know if you have any requests!

  4. Cassy
    August 4, 2011 at 12:27 pm (13 years ago)

    Awesome!!!! I’m so glad that someone has finally found a way to make this….I had stopped buying this from the store a long time ago but I find that I have cravings for it when I’m eating vanilla icecream πŸ™‚ Thanks so much for posting…

    Reply
    • Stephanie
      August 4, 2011 at 8:14 pm (13 years ago)

      @Casey – hooray! Now you can make it and satisfy that craving. I’m so glad I posted this – I didn’t realize how much people love it!

  5. mayra
    August 4, 2011 at 1:28 pm (13 years ago)

    why do you store it in the fridge? the store bought ones say not to store it in the fridge…

    Reply
    • Alicia
      August 4, 2011 at 7:18 pm (13 years ago)

      I would think this is because if you put the sauce in the fridge it gets too hard to pour out easily. This is solved easily by microwaving, as the author of the post says. The problem with the store bought sauce is that it comes in a container that is not microwave safe. The manufacturers of the store sauce get around this by putting preservatives in the sauce which will keep it good at room temp. Since the homemade version does not have preservatives, it should be stored in the fridge. I would say the best container for it would be a glass jar which can go in the microwave. This appears to be what the author uses in the picture.

    • Stephanie
      August 4, 2011 at 8:21 pm (13 years ago)

      @Alicia – thanks for your input! I think it would also be safe to store this homemade version in the pantry but you’re right about the store bought version. It also has a lot preservatives so is probably totally fine to be left out anyway.

    • Stephanie
      August 4, 2011 at 8:16 pm (13 years ago)

      @mayra – I was following another recipe’s suggestion but you’re right – I don’t see any harm in storing it in the pantry since you’d so that with the ingredients themselves.

  6. Ann
    August 4, 2011 at 1:43 pm (13 years ago)

    Awesome! SO easy and delicious!

    Reply
    • Stephanie
      August 4, 2011 at 8:16 pm (13 years ago)

      @Ann – exactly! It’s dangerously easy. I might have to whip some up each time I buy ice cream.

  7. Kelly
    August 4, 2011 at 2:19 pm (13 years ago)

    So…magic shell & ice cream party with a side of mojito popsicles at Wheeler’s house?

    Reply
    • Stephanie
      August 4, 2011 at 8:18 pm (13 years ago)

      @Kelly – sounds like (a delicious) plan! I have homemade mac and cheese on my to do list too…

  8. Jennifer (Delicieux)
    August 4, 2011 at 3:29 pm (13 years ago)

    Wow, chocolate and coconut oil….who knew! I used to love magic shell (we called it Ice Magic here). Looks delicious!

    Reply
    • Stephanie
      August 4, 2011 at 8:19 pm (13 years ago)

      @Jennifer – Ice Magic is a fun name! Very fitting for this fun and seemingly magical topping.

  9. Dee
    August 5, 2011 at 2:55 pm (13 years ago)

    Thanks so much for this recipe. I have fond memories of eating cone after cone with the chocolate shell topping–until I found out what was in it. Now I can eat it guilt free. πŸ™‚

    Reply
    • Stephanie
      August 5, 2011 at 8:06 pm (13 years ago)

      @Dee – I know how that feels. I love making stuff like this from scratch – it’s so nice knowing exactly what goes into your food!

  10. Kendrick
    August 5, 2011 at 3:02 pm (13 years ago)

    Thank you! So happy I stumbled upon your blog! πŸ™‚

    Reply
    • Stephanie
      August 5, 2011 at 8:07 pm (13 years ago)

      @Kendrick – welcome! I’m so glad you found me too! πŸ™‚

  11. Lindsay
    August 5, 2011 at 8:01 pm (13 years ago)

    WOW! This looks amazing!! I plan to try this ASAP!

    Reply
    • Stephanie
      August 5, 2011 at 8:07 pm (13 years ago)

      @Lindsay – thanks! Enjoy it!

  12. ciaochowlinda
    August 6, 2011 at 6:44 pm (13 years ago)

    I remember buying this years ago under the name “Gold Brick” – loved it then and would love to make it with your recipe.

    Reply
    • Stephanie
      August 7, 2011 at 9:16 am (13 years ago)

      @ciaochowlinda – I’ve never heard it called “Gold Brick.” Apparently it’s called “Ice Magic” in Australia. I wonder how many other names it has!

  13. Amberini
    August 9, 2011 at 9:12 am (13 years ago)

    First off, WOW, your photos are amazing! Secondly, I can’t wait to try this recipe! My husband and I bought some of the magic shell sauce from the store awhile back, something he had had as a child, I always just had chocolate syrup or caramel on mine, but we both thought it tasted more like wax than chocolate. I’m so looking forward to trying it this way! Thanks so much for sharing! πŸ™‚

    Reply
    • Stephanie
      August 9, 2011 at 10:19 am (13 years ago)

      @Amberini – thank you! I love this homemade version because it doesn’t have all the added preservatives and junk but it’s just like the real thing. Hope it lives up to your husband’s memories! Enjoy πŸ™‚

    • Stephanie
      August 9, 2011 at 10:18 am (13 years ago)

      @Dee – isn’t it crazy? So easy and just like store-bought, without all the added junk. Enjoy!

  14. Angie @ Bigbearwife
    August 9, 2011 at 10:02 am (13 years ago)

    I really need to try this… where do you get coconut oil from?

    Reply
    • Stephanie
      August 9, 2011 at 10:16 am (13 years ago)

      @Angie – in the supermarket along with the other oils. I actually saw some at Walmart in the grocery section.

  15. Magic of Spice
    August 9, 2011 at 11:37 am (13 years ago)

    I love this, so simple but so fun πŸ™‚

    Reply
  16. Kim Bee
    August 9, 2011 at 9:49 pm (13 years ago)

    This looks so good. I have fond memories of it growing up. I had no idea it was easy to make. That is dangerous information. Lol! Hope you don’t mind me including this in my ice cream sundays post. It’s a must pass on recipe. It will link them right over to your site to see it and get the recipe.

    Reply
    • Stephanie
      August 9, 2011 at 10:01 pm (13 years ago)

      @Kim Bee – I know, it’s seriously dangerous! Way too easy. It’s fine with me if you include it in a blog post as long as you link back. Enjoy! πŸ™‚

    • Debbie
      August 10, 2011 at 4:31 pm (13 years ago)

      I’d like to try it with butterscotch chips.

    • Stephanie
      August 11, 2011 at 10:35 am (13 years ago)

      @Debbie – yum! That’s a great idea.

  17. Elyse @The Cultural Dish
    August 10, 2011 at 5:09 am (13 years ago)

    OMG!!! I am definitely keeping this! I love the magic shell so much. As a kid I always got a vanilla ice cream with cherry or chocolate shell suace – soooo good!

    Reply
  18. Janna M
    August 10, 2011 at 10:46 am (13 years ago)

    This makes me very happy! I can’t wait to try it out with my kids. What a fun treat!

    Reply
  19. Debbie
    August 10, 2011 at 4:30 pm (13 years ago)

    Do you have a recipe for sweetened condensed milk? Even better do you think that we could make one with Splenda or another sugar substitute? I am hooked on it in my coffee but the dr wants us to cut down on sugar. Yeah,right.Thanks

    Reply
  20. kita
    August 11, 2011 at 8:14 pm (13 years ago)

    I have been itching to try this recipe for a long while! This looks great!!

    Reply
  21. Sandra
    August 12, 2011 at 4:11 pm (13 years ago)

    Gorgeous pictures.

    Reply
  22. Barbara | Creative Culinary
    October 21, 2011 at 7:35 pm (12 years ago)

    Long before Magic Shell there was Gold Brick Sundae topping and my desire to recreate it. I have used a combination of butter and chocolate for years with the same results…either of which are way better than Magic Shell!

    Reply
  23. Quinn
    March 18, 2012 at 6:03 pm (12 years ago)

    is “T” supposed to be tablespoons or teaspoons?

    Reply
    • Stephanie
      March 18, 2012 at 6:11 pm (12 years ago)

      @Quinn – capitalized “T” = tablespoons, lowercase “t” = teaspoons

  24. Brandon
    May 24, 2012 at 1:56 pm (12 years ago)

    Are you sure it has to be refrigerated? It seems to me that since coconut oil is shelf stable and chocolate is shelf stable, then coconut oil + chocolate should also be shelf stable. What am I missing?

    Reply
    • Stephanie
      May 25, 2012 at 9:36 am (12 years ago)

      @Brandon – you’re right and I updated the recipe.

  25. Ken
    May 25, 2012 at 6:17 am (12 years ago)

    This is great. I’m going to try it with canola oil. I can eat coconut, but I’m not a fan of the taste.

    Reply
    • Stephanie
      May 25, 2012 at 9:30 am (12 years ago)

      @Ken – I don’t think it will work with canola oil. Coconut oil is solid at room temperature, so it gets hard when it hits the cold ice cream. I’ve seen some recipes that combine canola and butter, but I’m not sure if it works as well as coconut. I made this almost a year ago, but I don’t remember it tasting strongly of coconut – more of chocolate.

  26. Marsha
    May 25, 2012 at 9:29 am (12 years ago)

    I love this topping and I’ve never used the coconut oil but I use butter all the time and it turns out terrific.

    Reply
  27. Michaelann Dahlman
    March 22, 2013 at 9:44 pm (11 years ago)

    I have seen a similar recipe in an ice cream recipe book, but it used butter, rather than coconut oil. It works great & is delicious.

    Reply
  28. Jan
    June 27, 2013 at 9:19 pm (11 years ago)

    You aren’t supposed to store the storebought chocolate magic shell in the fridge! It can stay in the pantry. or it won’t harden on the ice cream.

    Reply
    • Stephanie Nuccitelli
      July 5, 2013 at 1:02 pm (11 years ago)

      Jan, you don’t need to store it in the fridge, but if you do, you just have to heat it up to use it.

  29. Jackie
    August 29, 2013 at 9:44 am (11 years ago)

    I want to make chocolate covered marshmallows I bought Hersey’s chocolate bars.. Do you think this will work with the coconut oil with the same process you used???

    Reply
    • Stephanie Nuccitelli
      August 29, 2013 at 10:11 am (11 years ago)

      Jackie, I’m not 100% sure because I’ve never tried making it with a Hershey’s bar, but I think it should work. Let me know how it turns out!

  30. Leonore
    September 23, 2013 at 11:56 pm (11 years ago)

    Its called Ice Cap here in South Africa. Thank you for all your wonderful recipies.

    Reply
  31. Essie M
    December 15, 2013 at 2:38 pm (10 years ago)

    At last!!! This stuff gets expensive and my entire family is addicted to “hard shell”. After finding your recipe, I made it right away. Perfection. OMG, Thank you πŸ™‚

    Reply
  32. Lana
    May 7, 2014 at 1:57 pm (10 years ago)

    Would this recipe work in a chocolate fountain?

    Reply
  33. Katherine Beck
    August 20, 2014 at 11:52 am (10 years ago)

    At last!!!!! Something for baby boomers!I distinctly remember the ice cream chocolate syrup that I loved as a child and I thought it would never be available again. Thanks for this recipe!!!!

    Reply

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