The 'Magic' Ingredient For The Perfect Chocolate Shell Topping

Ice cream is the perfect treat, especially when you have the proper toppings to create a true masterpiece. Sprinkles, nuts, whipped cream, fruit, cookie crumbles, and other additions pair beautifully with all flavors and make even the most responsible adult feel like a kid again. When it comes to favorite ice cream toppings, you can't go wrong with chocolate. According to a poll conducted by the International Dairy Foods Association, 26% of Americans say they prefer the chocolate sauce to caramel and other offerings.

While gooey chocolate fudge is a common selection, one can't forget the magnificent Magic Shell. As explained by Smucker's, this delightful ice cream accompaniment hardens soon after it's poured onto a cold treat. The result is a chocolatey, candy-like texture that is just as tactilely satisfying as it is tasty. There's nothing better than tapping the hardened shell with a spoon and hearing that rewarding crack. This topping is so magical that many ambitious home chefs have attempted to crack the Magic Shell code by creating their own recipes. In this case, you must use one specific ingredient to ensure the topping hardens effectively.

There are numerous recipes online that promise to replicate the brand-name version of hard chocolate topping. TODAY features one amazingly simple recipe that consists of just two ingredients. In addition to one cup of chocolate chips, the recipe also calls for two tablespoons of coconut oil. Coconut oil softens when exposed to heat but becomes solid when temperatures cool down. That's why the product page on Smucker's website tells customers not to store Magic Shell in the refrigerator, as the topping will begin to harden when kept below 65 degrees. 

However, coconut oil is not your only option when making this dessert topping. As stated by The Washington Post, some recipes use extra-virgin olive oil in place of coconut oil with the same tasty outcome. This recipe also includes salt as a third ingredient, which serves as an excellent complement to the sweetness of the chocolate when a small amount is added. As for your chocolate selection, you have a lot of options when it comes to flavors and types.

One of the great things about creating your own magic chocolate dip is that you can choose what type of chocolate you prefer best. Betty Crocker explains the different chocolate options for baking, including milk chocolate and semi-sweet chocolate. Thanks to the added milk fats, milk chocolate chips are very buttery when it comes to texture. They're also incredibly sweet, which then boosts the sweetness of your recipe. Because they consist of dark chocolate and sugar, semi-sweet chips strike a nice balance between the sweetness of milk chocolate and the bitterness of dark chocolate.

If you're feeling particularly adventurous, you can also add white 'chocolate' chips to the recipe for a truly rare treat. However, be aware that the name chocolate is a bit of a misnomer when it comes to the white stuff. As illustrated by McGill Office for Science and Society, so-called white chocolate does not actually contain cocoa. Instead, it's made from cocoa butter and sugar, as well as additional ingredients like vanilla depending on the whims of the baker.