Whoa, Whoa, Whoa – It’s Magic!!

 

I am a child at heart! I believe in fairytales, elves that live in the forest, wardrobes that open into wonderlands, and the simplicity of magic in everyday life.  I love the inexplicable way the sun comes up every morning, and the moon can turn the tide. Don’t try to tell me that its all science. Science can only explain part of it! I revel in the whole fantasy world of magic and all its sparkle and glitter.

So many things surround us that we truly can’t explain. Why is the ocean made of salt? Why do leaves turn all different colors in the autumn? Why are some people short? Why are some people tall? Why do mushrooms sometimes grow on the sides of trees? Is that to provide shelter for the faeries in a rainstorm? 

What about the caps on acorns? Why are they even there? Is it because the pixies use them for caps or do the elves use them for dinnerware? Why do you hear the waves of the ocean inside of a shell? Is this a form of communication for the mermaids and their friends and family?

Magic comes in all sorts of shapes and configurations! Some people thrive in the aura of the enchanted, while others refuse to admit its existence. How sad that must be? I choose to live in the land of the supernatural and miraculous. I choose to see the unexplainable and marvel at its reality. I so wish to experience all the fascinating miracles that are within the reach of my fingertips.  That is why I am enthralled and tickled pink when I pour that dark and rich chocolate sauce on my ice cream and it instantly hardens into a delicious shell that crackles and crunches with each mouthful. Its amazing. I can see why they call it Magic Shell.  

It was in my recent searches for baking new desserts and treats that I discovered a copycat recipe for this Magical Chocolate Shell. I stopped in my tracks and read the ingredients and directions for this little tidbit. The recipe was simple. The procedure was easy. I was intrigued. How would this all work? Would this work? I had to find out and find out soon. It was ice cream season and I needed my Magic Shell. However, my imagination had just been turned loose. If it were this easy to make chocolate shell, could I possibly make it with different flavors? I needed to know. My taste buds needed to know. Just how much better would my ice cream taste if it were covered in white chocolate or butterscotch? The possibilities were as endless as the types of chocolate chips I could find on the grocery shelves.

I set my ingredients before me, along with three different containers to store the Magic chocolate potions. Sitting on my kitchen counter were dark chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, and a bag of butterscotch chips. I also had my jar of coconut oil (solid form) and a microwave. This was all I needed to perform a magic act.

I measured out the chips to 8 ounces each in a small microwavable bowl. To each bowl, I added 2 Tablespoons of the coconut oil. For each flavor, I microwaved the mixture for 30 seconds, then stirred fully, and cooked it for another 30 seconds. I then stirred it until all the chips had thoroughly melted. It was done.

Now I had to try it. Each flavor of the chips smelled incredible, but the dark chocolate with the hint of coconut was driving me crazy. I quickly reached in to retrieve my quart of vanilla ice cream and scooped out a small bowlful. I then drizzled the dark chocolate liquid on top. I watched as the magic happened. Within seconds, the rich sauce turned into a shiny glossy shell crowning my white mountain of ice cream. I was delirious with excitement! It worked! I didn’t know how, but it actually worked. I then proceeded to douse my bowl of vanilla cream with the butterscotch, and the white chocolate. My basic ice cream just turned into a threefold flag of flavors and colors. With a trusty spoon in hand, I set about to crunch through the shell to tantalize my taste buds. It was delicious! I was hooked! From now on, my household will not only have Magic Shell on the shelves, we will glory in the smorgasbord of all flavors given to candy chips.

I am extremely happy to share the recipe with you. I originally found it on a Pinterest site after searching for a hot fudge recipe. This is so much better. This recipe will keep you from spilling “ooey” chocolate gooeyness all over your floor and ruining your carpet. (Word of caution, don’t eat hot fudge sundaes while watching a scary movie.) I promise this Magic Shell is so much fun. Your family will love being able to make their own flavors. I will mention, however, that this concoction can get hard overnight. Not a problem. Just heat it up in the microwave for 30 seconds and stir again. All will be well for your next bowl.

Enjoy your homemade "Magic Shell". Let me know what kind you made and how it came out. Have fun and use your imagination! Remember, the charming Roald Dahl once said, those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.

“Magic Shell” Copycat Recipe

8 ounces of chocolate chips (or any kind of flavored baking chips)

2 Tablespoons of coconut oil (in solid form)

Add coconut oil to chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl. Heat on high for 30 seconds. Stir mixture. Heat again on high for 30 seconds. Stir to ensure chips are melted. Let cool for a minute or so, then pour into container.

When ready to use, pour onto ice cream and watch the magic happen. The liquid becomes a hardened shell. Enjoy with your favorite ice cream.

Mixture may become hardened overnight. When ready to use again, just heat in microwave for 30 seconds, and stir. Now you’re ready for another bowl of Magic!!