Copycat Magic Shell {Healthier Recipe}

Did you love Magic Shell ice cream topping as a kid? You are going to love this copycat magic shell recipe that is easy to make at home with just 2 simple ingredients, and is much healthier and lower in calories, too.

DIY Chocolate Hard Chocolate Shell

Be a kid again with this DIY hard shell topping recipe.

What is Magic Shell? Traditional Magic Shell is an ice cream topping (the most popular version made by Smucker’s) that is a liquid that hardens into a crunchy shell when poured onto something cold like ice cream.

Store-bought Magic Shell used to include unhealthy oils such as palm oil. Companies are starting to improve their recipes, but it’s still not a healthy choice.

Our homemade version uses healthier coconut oil and (if you choose sugar-free chips) no added sugar.

How does Magic Shell work? Magic Shell is a hard shell ice cream topping that works by using oils that are soft or liquid at room temperature and harden when cold.

How can I make Magic Shell healthier at home? Use our recipe to make your chocolate coating with coconut oil instead of other unhealthy oils.

Ingredients in Healthier Magic Ice Cream Sauce

This recipe for homemade hardshell has just 2 simple ingredients:

1. Coconut oil – Any brand works. I often buy the generic Walmart brand. It comes in a tub in most grocery stores with the baking or canned goods.
2. Chocolate Chips – You can use any variety you like. Lower calories and points by using sugar-free or go ahead and use the regular kind. Milk chocolate, dark chocolate, peanut butter, white chocolate and flavored chips all work. Two brands of sugar-free chocolate chips I prefer are Lily’s and ChocZero.

WW Points for Magic Shell

Weight Watchers points for store-bought Magic Shell:

• Smucker’s Chocolate Magic Shell – 2 T, 11 points
• Smucker’s Caramel Magic Shell – 2 T, 13 points
• Smucker’s Turtle Magic Shell – 2 T, 11 points

Here is the link to find your W W for this healthier recipe: (Nutritional information calculated with sugar-free chocolate chips.) Click here for WW Points link. This is 5 points on the WW Program.

You can see that this is quite a points savings.

Updated December 2022 for Weight Watchers points.

Copycat Magic Shell Variations

Our recipe hardens quickly and easily with coconut oil and baking chips. You can try other variations below. Note that the points and calories will change and how much your topping hardens.

• Hard shell with cocoa powder – Mix unsweetened cocoa powder + no-calorie sweetener + coconut oil – This is a bit lower in points and calories but does not get as hard. Try using 1 T cocoa powder instead of chocolate chips, plus 1-2 packets powdered sweetener + coconut oil as directed in recipe below.
• Sugar-free hot chocolate mix (such as Diet Swiss Miss) – Use 1 T cocoa powder + coconut oil.
• Peanut butter – Mix 1 T natural peanut butter + coconut oil. Add 1 packet sweetener if desired.
• PB2 (peanut butter powder) – Mix 1 T peanut butter powder + coconut oil.
• Caramel – Use caramel flavored baking chips and make as directed in recipe below.
• White chocolate – Use white chocolate flavored baking chips and make as directed in recipe below.
• Vegan magic shell – Use vegan chocolate chips such as Enjoy Life or Pascha and follow recipe below.
• Allergy-friendly magic shell – use Enjoy Life chocolate chips and follow recipe below.
• Chocolate syrup hard shell – I have not tried using chocolate syrup but I’ve read that it can be done. You may need to increase the amount of coconut oil in order for the end result to harden.

Ways to Use Healthier Magic Shell

Here are some ways to use your DIY hard shell topping:

• Use as topping for banana nice cream. (One of my favorites!)
• Drizzle on top of protein smoothies.
• Drizzle on top of overnight oats.
• Dip in fruit such as strawberries, orange slices, kiwi, or pineapple chunks to make a healthier chocolate-covered fruit dessert.
• Dip pieces of angel-food cake or healthier muffins.
• Drizzle on top of lower points/calorie ice cream like Halo Top or Nick’s.
• Make your own ice cream bars or chocolate-coated popsicles.
• Make healthier banana popsicles by dipping a whole frozen banana on a stick in chocolate topping. If desired, roll in sprinkles, rice crispies cereal or chopped nuts.
• Mix with nuts and make nut clusters. Eat plain or on top of light ice cream.
• Drizzle on top of light Greek Yogurt such as Two Good or Light n Fit.

How to Make Homemade Hardshell {in 3 Easy Steps!}

Here is a step-by step guide for making your own more healthy version of Magic Shell ice cream topping.

Step 1: Warm coconut oil and chocolate chips.

Warm coconut oil and chocolate chips in microwave, 30 seconds at a time, until it is liquid. Do not overcook as this can cause your chocolate to seize and harden. Also take care that there is no moisture in your bowl or on the spoon, since this can also cause chocolate to seize and become too hard.

You can also heat the chocolate sauce mixture on the stove top following these directions.

Stir together until well combined and sauce is smooth and creamy.

Step 2: Drizzle mixture over frozen dessert, smoothie or fruit.

Dip fruit in chocolate mixture, swirl on top of ice cream or use however you’d like to make delicious healthier cold desserts.

Step 3: Place in fridge or freezer to harden for 3-5 minutes.

Place in the fridge or freezer for 3- 5 minutes or until hard. (Basically, as long as you can wait until it’s hard and crunchy.) Then it’s time to dive in!

Summer Weight Loss Kit

This magic ice cream topping recipe is featured in The Holy Mess Summer Weight Loss Kit.

Get more weight loss meal ideas, healthy road trip treats, recipes and more. Click here to download your copy.

Healthier Dessert Recipes that Readers Love

Here are some of our most popular dessert recipes:

Crustless Pumpkin Pie – Low Calorie and Low Points for a huge serving.

Copycat Aldi Brownie Batter Hummus – Amazing fresh fruit dip or spread on crackers or pretzels

WW Apple Crisp – Made with just a few simple ingredients including diet Sprite or 7-Up

Zero Point Banana Soufflé – An individual serving dessert with just 2 ingredients.

2 Ingredient Dough Cinnamon Rolls – Tastes like a special occasion (for a fraction of the points) made with this popular two ingredient dough.

WW Strawberry Pretzel Dessert Cups – The perfect combo of sweet and salty, in individual servings for easy portion control.