Homemade peanut butter magic shell.
Do you believe in magic?
Mermaids.
Dragons.
Ghosts and fairies…
And creamy vanilla ice cream, draped in a coat of liquid peanut butter.
Magic never tasted so good.
Luckily, unlike the mermaids and the fairies, peanut butter magic shell is very real… and very, very delicious!
Shown above, on top of this recipe: Four-Ingredient Ice Cream.
Peanut Butter Magic Shell
(Just three ingredients!)
Categorized here: Peanut Butter Recipes.
- 2-3 tsp peanut butter (or nut butter of choice)
- 1 tablespoon virgin coconut oil
- sweetener of choice, to taste (stevia drops, maple syrup, agave, etc.)
Combine all ingredients and stir until it makes a thin liquid. (Note: If you store your peanut butter in the fridge, you’ll need to warm it first. Also warm the coconut oil if it’s solid when you open the jar.) Pour over ice cream, and watch it harden into Magic Shell! (Or stick the covered ice cream the freezer for just a minute or two, if you want it completely hard.)
This recipe isn’t just for ice cream.
You can even make: PB Cookie Dough Truffles!
Have you ever done a magic trick?
Or card tricks? I went through a phase where I loved magic tricks. I’d set up shows and line all of my stuffed animals up as the audience. Luckily, no one ever got sawed in half. 
Not a fan of peanut butter?
See the following recipe for: Chocolate Magic Shell.
Heather @ Better With Veggies says
I remember Magic Shell – what a fun idea! I think I could even use this as an excuse to go buy some non-dairy ice cream (and every excuse is a good excuse, right?!). =)
I’m not very good at magic tricks, I do like trying to figure them out when watching someone else do one, though!
Jennifer @ Peanut Butter and Peppers says
Yah! I love this recipe and I am smiling ear to ear! I’m making this tonight to put on my ice cream!! I love the recipe! Thank you from this Peanut Butter lover!!!
Yellow Haired Girl says
I used to love Magic Shell, so I’m definitely lovin’ this recipe! What a way to relive my childhood 🙂
And magic tricks? Heck no. I’m TERRIBLE.
Barb says
can you substitute other oil in your recipes for the coconut oil? I don’t have coconut oil, because I’m not really a fan of the coconut taste.
thanks!
Lisa C says
It needs to be coconut oil because it hardens when cold. But it doesn’t taste like coconut!
Janae says
I second with Lisa. Coconut oil, doesn’t really have a coconut taste. And it depends on the brand and quality.
barbara says
oh great, thanks! good to know!
Sarah S. says
Wowza, girl! You make all this amazingly delicious stuff look so easy to prepare, too 😀
Samantha says
Wow! This looks soooo heavenly! I have been enjoying the ice cream recipes and this is a great addition (and involves peanut butter).
And no, no magic here! LOL
Lisa K @ NutriNosh says
I wish I thought of this last night when I was trying to find a way to drizzle my peanut butter on top of my almond milk/banana ice cream (with World Market salted caramel cocoa mix in it…omgosh, Katie, it was so good!)
I wound up just putting a glob of peanut butter on it and calling it a day 😛
Now I know better lol
Lisa C says
Oh I’ve tried that cocoa mix. So so good!
Janae says
Lisa K: You sound like me–put a glob of peanut butter on it, and call it day :).
Sarahishealthy says
Seconded! Or thirded? 🙂
Lisa K @ NutriNosh says
Isn’t that cocoa mix fantastic?! It’s my favorite thing!
And, yes… a glob of peanut butter is a wonderful thing lol
Lisa K @ NutriNosh says
Oh and I’ve done magic tricks! My boyfriend’s mom is also VERY into magic shows and very talented at it!
Sarah says
Mmm, I love peanut butter in my ice cream. Vanilla or chocolate. Doesn’t matter. 🙂
Judy says
This is brilliant! I LOVE peanut butter…maybe more than chocolate. oxo Judy
Katie @ Peace Love & Oats says
We used to try and do card tricks all the time when I was a kid! I wasn’t so great at it… haha
Suzie says
What a great idea, however I am allergic to nuts : ( but I will definitely try it out w/ chocolate or something as toppings are so fun!
Rachel says
Have you ever tried Sunbutter? It’s made from sunflower seeds in a peanut and tree nut free facility. My daughter is allergic to nuts and we love using sunbutter. Its texture and taste are very similar to nut butters. I bet it would work in this recipe. 🙂
The Better Baker says
Would you believe it? I was just thinking yesterday of looking for a Magic Shell homemade recipe – and WALA – here you are! Thanks for sharing another simple and healthy treat. MMMMM!
Pixie Vincent says
The only magic trick I was ever good at was making food disappear! lol No magic there, huh?
Why is it that every time I read your newest post my stomach starts to growl? LOL
Sarahishealthy says
LOL!!!
Julie H. of Spinach and Sprinkles says
Magic Shell! Making this will make me feel like I’m 7 all over again- HOW FUN!!
Jenny@vegetarianhatesvegetables says
I always wondered how magic shell was made! Can’t wait to try this- and your yummy ice cream, too!
Vanessa says
Wow! What a great idea.
What kind of milk did you use in that picture? Perhaps a combination? I ask because everytime I use almond milk it is very icy.
Thanks for any tips
Janae says
Vanessa, I’ve found high fat/higher calorie plant milk works better than almond milk. I love my almond milk because it’s so low in calories (only 30 calories a cup), but it means it’s not great for rich things like ice cream. My fave milks for that are “whole” soy milk (not the low fat stuff) or coconut milk.
Sarahishealthy says
Yes, I’ve made it both ways and if you use all almond milk you need to eat it RIGHT away. So if you’re looking for more of an ice cream texture, go coconuts! Or creamer. That works too :).
Bianca- Vegan Crunk says
Neat! That totally makes sense since coconut oil hardens as its cools. Awesome!
Lisa C says
Heck yea! This is genius! Katie, you are the best! And the photos are making me want ice cream even though it’s freezing cold outside!
Aja says
This is genius! It’s 31 degrees and I want ice cream
HC says
Katie, have you tried using peanut butter powder? I have not tried it before but would like your expert input on it and see if it’s any good. Check out their product at this link: http://www.bellplantation.com/products. They also have one that is chocolate peanut butter powder. I would like to see how you can use it in your dessert or entree dish 🙂 Thanks!
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
I don’t think I’ve tried it, allthough I keep hearing everyone else rave about it! Maybe one of these days I’ll have to pick up a jar… definitely chocolate first ;).
Sally @ sally's baking addiction says
what a fun idea Katie! i’d smother this all over some chocolate ice cream. or banana ice cream. yummmmm
Linds @ The MuffinTin Post says
Hi Katie, just wanted to drop in to tell you how much I enjoy your blog. I really appreciate your friendly, kind, and approachable writing style! I also read for a little taste of home. I am from the Dallas area, and, although I go back relatively often to see my family, I don’t live anywhere close to Texas anymore.
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Aw thanks, Linds!
You don’t want to be in Dallas now… it’s been POURING all day and night!
Janae says
Katie: Have you ever used PB extract? I just bought some with all sorts of possibilities running around my head.
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
I’ve never even seen it, except for online! 🙁
Emily @ Glitz Glam Granola says
I didn’t even know it was possible to create your own magic shell- what a great idea to do so with peanut butter!! And I was never that into magic but my brother loved it for a while and I was always forced to be his magician’s assistant! It was fun… sometimes!
Sarahishealthy says
Me too! Except I was my sister’s helper. I also always had to play the boy when she and her friends played house! :-?.
Justin says
Hey I just had a thought. What if you used raw cacao butter instead of coconut oil? Wow I’m starting to get hungry…
Sarahishealthy says
Boo, I’ve been looking for cacao butter everywhere and can’t find it! And it’s so expensive online. Someday someday…
Tash (Dairy Free Chick) says
I’m still a sucker for magic tricks. 🙂 Request for a strawberry magic shell?
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
Peanut Butter and coconut oil makes such a great glaze…mmm, I love it on donuts and muffins, too.
vogelstar says
I saw a magician levitate at a party in Monaco. That was quite shocking. And I have been on a peanut butter and chocolate ice cream kick this week so maybe I will drizzle this on chocolate coconut milk ice cream. ooooh 🙂
Rande McDaniel @ The Vegetable Centric Kitchen says
Absolutely genius. So simple, I can’t believe I never thought of it! I’ll have to try it out with almond butter sometime…
Jamie @ Don't Forget the Cinnamon says
Looks great per usual! I think I may combine the chcoolate and pb shells to make a REECES shell!
Moe says
I just made this and it’s so yummy!!!
Thank you so much for a sweet treat!
Moe
Deena says
Question, does anyone know where I can buy coconut oil at? I live in Akron, OH and I’ve never seen it at Acme (my local grocery store). Not even in the health foods/organic section…. 🙁
Deena says
Ooh! And what are the differences between virgin, extra virgin, and just plain coconut oil? Thanks, sorry for my blondeness 😉
Sarahishealthy says
Try Whole Foods!
And virgin is the one you want for all Katie’s recipes 🙂
shalom says
Virgin and extra virgin are the same thing. Coconut oil is either virgin (unrefined) or refined. The extra virgin thing is a spinoff of olive oil which can go through several stages of processing. Coconut oil is removed from the flesh and sold as is or refined to remove the coconut taste & smell.
Virgin oil has a mild coconut flavor and smell that comes through in some foods, slightly changes the flavor of other foods (but doesn’t taste like coconut), and is unnoticeable in others. It is the best oil for you.
Refined coconut oil doesn’t change the flavor of food, other than that it doesn’t taste like canola, …; so food won’t taste exactly the same as when made with canola. It is not as nutritious as virgin, but it is healthier than canola (which is made from a toxic plant) and other polyunsaturated fats (research has shown that poly unsaturated oil is actually unhealthy). I don’t know why the brand I buy says not to use it for deep frying, because we have used it in a deep fryer with no problem. The smoke point of refined (450’F) is higher than virgin (350’F) and the same as corn oil.
shalom says
ps: the slight flavor change to some foods, helped me transition to a more restricted diet when I was first diagnosed with diabetes and choice to control it through diet only. I was pretty much eating the much touted low fat high carb diet, including poly unsat fats. I didn’t generally eat a lot of sweets, but the high carb of potatoes, mostly whole grain pasta and mostly whole grain breads along with polyunsat fat and trans fat gave me diabetes. Now I eat a high saturated fat, moderate monounsaturated fat, low carb diet. Even my cholesterol (which isn’t the enemy it’s cracked up to be – it is a symptom not a cause), which was 201 went down to 167 in 4 months (saturated fat doesn’t cause cholesterol).
Raquel @ Ovenmitts Vegan Blog says
You make me so sad with all of your ice cream posts! They all look so amazing, but I don’t have an ice cream maker! I’ll just have to suffer and put the magic shell on some store-bought ice cream… poor me! 😉
Justine Duppong @ Life With Cheeseburgers says
Beautiful! When my brother and I were young, my mom filmed us making our own “magic” show with lots of tricks–he made me disappear from underneath a laundry basket, which would have been a little more amazing if you couldn’t see the break in the film! 😉
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says
I need a big bowl of this stuff. My, my.
Kit-Kat says
My uncle is a great magician, and my little brother is learning some really cool tricks. He’s already good at some baffleing card tricks.
And this recipe looks so yum!
Katharina says
Yummy idea! I would try it with another nut butter… actually the possibilities are beyond nut butters! Thanks for sharing girlie 🙂
xo!
Angela says
Mmmm…. This would taste awesome on banana ice cream!
Moni Meals says
Love the Magic Shell! Brilliant. I say with peanut butter= even better than chcolate. Nice Katie!
Deb @ wiseupslimdown says
Katie- you are brilliant! I soo can’t wait to try this.
Kara says
How is it that so many bloggers consider coconut oil healthy? I feel into the trap of thinking it was healthy a year ago because so many “healthy” bloggers are using it. My dietitian says there is no evidence, however to prove that it is. It’s like pure saturated fat! Not good! I like your idea though, but I’m not so fond of the coconut oil…
Chelsea says
There’s not much evidence that saturated fat is bad for you. Research a bit. The fats that SHOULD get a bad reputation but seem to escape it are hydrogenated oils and trans fats, like the ones in margarine and other fake butters. Coconut oil is natural and does have health benefits. In fact, it has a substance in it that is thought to increase HDL (good cholesterol).
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
I’m surprised your dietician would say there’s no evidence… The opposite is true, actually! There is a ton of research out there (including the best research of all: studying history!) that points to coconut oil’s health benefits.
Kara says
I am not sure what to believe…I am going to ask one of my nutrition professors and see what he says. He is also a registered dietitian and has a Phd.
Kara says
Ok I think I have it figured out. I think I just misunderstood my dietitian before. I sat down with my nutrition professor and he explained how coconut oil’s saturated fats are different because they are medium chain fatty acids which are broken down differently in the body. I also checked out RD411 and they saw both sides of the debate, so I guess it all comes down to moderation. I also learned about its benefits. Thanks for helping me out Chelsea and Kaitie. I am excited to starting using it in my cooking/baking here and there again. Check out my lastest blog for more of my thoughts on the matter: http://nutritious-n-delicious.blogspot.com/2012/03/coconut-oil-yay-or-nay.html
BroccoliHut says
I’ve always thought about using coconut butter as a topping for ice cream, ever since I noticed how hard it got whenever I put it on top of my smoothies. Love the idea of using that property of coconut oil to make a PB sauce!
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts says
I made PB Magic shell once, so much fun!!
Sabrina @ Nutritiously Sweet says
My brother is the magician in the house lol….but this recipe looks AMAZING!!! I need to pick up some soynut butter. I’m out 🙁
Katie @ Nutrition in a Peanut Shell says
I was OBSESSED with magic shell when I was a kid- except they called it turtle shell so I used to pretend my ice cream was an undercover turtle 🙂
Chelsea says
I made this today! It went on chocolate coconut milk ice cream (with cacao nibs for crunchy goodness). It was delicious!
Amanda says
This looks so good..can it *magically* appear in front of me right now? I mean, without me having to get off the couch??!?
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Haha if you can figure out a way, I need to know about that so I can do it too! 🙂
Åsa says
Hi Katie,
I recently found your blog through the recommendation of a couple of people, and am very grateful for your recipes. I’m vegetarian rather than vegan, but as I’m not a fan of processed food and therefore make pretty much everything from scratch (including things like bread and ice cream), and basically don’t eat (added) sugar, it’s sometimes difficult to consume enough energy to maintain my weight. So I have to incorporate treat foods on a daily basis but need them to be healthy and more or less sugar free. Which means your recipes are perfect!
Anyway, I wanted to ask you whether there are any plans to publish a collection of your recipes in book form? Or does such a book already exist? I did a google search but couldn’t find anything. I do hope you will publish a recipe book at some point, it would make such an excellent gift for Christmas or birthdays.
Åsa
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Aw Åsa, thank you so much. That really means a lot to me. I am working on a cookbook, but it’s a slow process and might actually be a few years before it hits stores!
Heather @ Run Eat Play says
Yum! Peanut butter shell sounds delicious!! You have some magical recipes!
LizAshlee says
I love making my own version of store bought products..great idea!!
Veronica says
I’ve only made the chocolate and chocolate-peppermint version! I love this peanut butter version. Does it still get hard so that you have to tap it to break it before taking a bite? love that!
Amberly Walker says
I have just started following your website and I love it! My favorite greenie is either Spinach or Zucchini.
Fahad Khan (@PharaohKhan) says
“I went through a phase where I loved magic tricks.” Haha!So did I!I actually,still love magic tricks!:-)
I remember going to McDonald’s as a little kid.The server dipped my ice cream/soft serve softy into a chocolate sauce,and it instantly turned solid.I was intrigued!
Wonderful recipe,and so simple!I am bookmarking/noting this down!
Thank you so much for sharing!:-)
Paula's oVerhauled says
I am so turned onto Coconut oil now. I have topped my homemade strawberry banana icecream with this. I think of it as PB&J icecream now.
Megan says
You are a goddess! All we had in my house for ice cream tonight was vanilla. Personally, I’m more of a chocolate girl and I couldn’t think of what I could add to vanilla ice cream to make it more interesting. Then I remembered this post! The recipe was so easy I had to try it and it was DELICIOUS!!! I put the peanut butter and the coconut oil in the microwave to make them more silky, then I stirred in honey for the sweetener and drizzled it on my plain vanilla ice cream and voila! My plain vanilla ice cream just got a fancy and delicious new hat. It was a big hit with my family, which isn’t usually the case when I try a new recipe 🙂 To top it off, I couldn’t help adding a few mini Reese’s cups to my ice cream, too 🙂 Thanks so much for this post! I’ll definitely be making it again!
Stacey says
My sister and I made your chocolate frosting/mousse and put your pb magic shell on top — crazily good. We love your recipes. (our frosting was slightly thinner than yours). Have you ever tried adding nut butter to the frosting? Trying to think if we should melt cold nut butter a little first to room temp and whip in? Hmmm…
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
I haven’t… It sounds like a really good idea! Let me know if you try it!
Lilian says
Really yummy!! They turn out really thin though (not a problem for me).If you want them looking like the pictures, double the recipe for sure. I calculated Weight Watchers Points with the magic shell on (double batch, made with 3 TBS PB each batch and a few drops Agave). It’s 3 pts a bar if you divide in 16 servings or 8pts if you divide in 6 servings like the recipe suggests. Thanks for a great recipe! 🙂
megan100779 says
is there another oil i could sub for coconut oil? my store only sells one brand and its 10$ for a tiny little jar 🙁
Stacey says
This was so yummy on the peanut butter ice cream of yours. Too much peanut butter? Never, it was perfect!
Melissa says
Hi,
Can you tell me where you purchase your coconut oil?
Warmly,
Melissa
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Whole Foods brand (the one near the other oils, not the one in the vitamin section). It’s $6.99 per jar.
IC says
Looks amazing!! I want to try it now. I recently stumbled upon dry peanut butter (at WF). This stuff is amazing as it makes these types of recipes even easier (more like the 3 ingredient chocolate, but with PB). Also super good to use to make a peanut sauce.