As we come to the end of National Ice Cream month, I still have a couple things up my sleeve. One is a delicious, non-processed homemade version of an old favorite. I only recently really discovered the fun of the classic Magic Shell ice cream topping. A friend brought it to one of our Ice Cream Sundays and I have been enjoying it ever since.
If this fun candy-like topping isn't something you're familiar with, it's basically a chocolate sauce that "magically" hardens when you pour it on your ice cream. Then you are left with a lightly crunchy chocolatey mix-in.
The process certainly had me curious, wondering what was the secret ingredient that made the Magic Shell so magical...
...and I was surprised to find that hidden amongst the preservatives and fillers was the simple yet ever versatile coconut oil. As our bottle was nearing its end, I remembered that my friend Mare had a recipe for a homemade version in her ebook, Just Making Ice Cream. Sure enough, hers is a coconut oil-based recipe, yet without all the extra fillers.
She was gracious enough to allow me to share that recipe with you today!
Homemade Magic Shell ice cream topping
makes 1 cup
1 cup coconut oil
1⁄4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 – 4 Tbsp honey or other sweetener (I actually used about 5 Tbsp of honey)
2 tsp vanilla
pinch of sea salt
In a small saucepan, gently melt everthing together over low heat or use a double boiler. Stir throughout to prevent burning. Taste and adjust the sweetness if needed.
Store in a cool place (not in the refrigerator).
And I personally recommend trying it on vanilla ice cream doused with the morning's leftover coffee-- the perfect afternoon snack!
For more tips on how to adapt and experiment with this topping, be sure to check out Mare's ebook(only $12 for over 70 recipes). I'm not exaggerating when I say that every homemade ice cream maker should own her book.
I'm not an affiliate, just a big fan of her delicious, nourishing recipes and all the research she put into her book.
What's your favorite ice cream topping?
