Peanut Butter Magic Shell
I’d like to take this opportunity to apologize to any of you who have been religiously following a strict diet. You’ve been so good. You’ve avoided temptation, you’ve turned your nose up to chocolate. You’ve passed right by the cookie jar. But this Peanut Butter Magic Shell will make you stumble. It will make you crazy with longing. I’m sorry to do it to you. But I did it to myself, first. One bite and I was hooked.
Scott and I are peanut fiends. I mean, I grew up in Virginia (home to some of the best peanuts on the planet). I love peanuts in everything from sweet to savory — but my daughter, in some cruel twist of fate, is allergic to them.
During her childhood and adolescence, we abstained. It was like being a carnivore on a vegan diet. Yes, we survived, but we were never really satisfied… Well, Emily is living on her own now (entering her final year of college) and she’s not around to make gagging noises if she smells so much as a hint of peanut… (note: I am extremely sympathetic to those with peanut allergies).
Soooooo — this recipe has been on the back burner, until now. Now, it gets its due. Now is its time to shine!
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With just three ingredients, yes, you heard right — 3 — this sauce comes together in about five minutes. No lie!
When its refrigerated, the sauce will harden — so before serving, you’ll want to microwave it in 20 second bursts, stirring in between, just until it goes back to a saucy liquid form.
And here’s where the magic happens… Spoon the sauce over ice cream and watch it harden into a solid shell.
It doesn’t take long and you can actually see it transforming in the photo above… The bottom layer hardened by the time I put a second drizzle of sauce on the ice cream.
This is only one of many uses for this magic shell — and I can’t wait to share those peanut butter fantasies with you! If you like this one, you’re also gonna love my white chocolate peppermint magic shell.
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Peanut Butter Magic Shell
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 cup peanut butter you can use creamy or chunky (I used extra chunky Jif)
- 5 tablespoons coconut oil
- 2 tablespoons sugar
DIRECTIONS:
- In a small saucepan over medium low heat, whisk together the peanut butter, coconut oil and sugar until melted and sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.
- Store refrigerated in a covered container.
- To serve, drizzle a few tablespoons over a scoop of ice cream and enjoy!
NOTES:
NUTRITION:
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So I’ve recently discovered peanut butter topped rice cakes. The topping though, is solid at room temperature, and I’m wondering if you’ve had experience with this or know of a way I should proceed? Thanks.
It sounds like some type of icing that firms as it sets. Is this a store-bought product? The magic shell only hardens on something cold like ice cream, otherwise, it would be liquid at room temperature.
Hi Lisa~thank byou so much for all the great info! I am curious if youy know how to make a drizzsle that would harden at room temp. I would like to make a peanut butter drizzle to put over popcorn with chocolate dizzle like almond bark. Thanks kindly for any help you can offer!
I think you might have a tough time transforming peanut butter into a hard shell at room temperature, but the food companies have already come up with a solution… Peanut butter chips. I would melt them and drizzle over your popcorn. Let them harden naturally.
You can also melt peanut butter and white chocolate(I use merckens melts) maybe 1 part peanut butter to 3 parts chocolate, you can fiddle with the ratio to get a peanut butter coating suitable for dipping pretzels etc and hardening at room temp-so good!
Do you think you could use this recipe for drizzle for hot cocoa bombs without melting the chocolate shell?
That’s an interesting question. If the magic shell is at room temperature, it wouldn’t melt the chocolate and it should be fine. In order to firm it up, it would need to be refrigerated and kept refrigerated. If you were thinking of gifting them, you’d want to verify that the ambient temperature was fairly cool to maintain structure without getting messy.
Love the idea! I was wondering how long it takes to harden in the fridge? It looks fantabulous!
Coconut oil is the secret ingredient in this magic shell and it hardens as it gets cold, that’s why it moves to a solid state when poured over ice cream. If you put a jar in the fridge it will harden in about 20 minutes. Put it in the microwave for about 20-30 seconds to bring it back to a liquid form before pouring over ice cream.
You had me at peanut butter but the only thing better would be peanut butter shell then chocolate shell over ice cream. Oh my goodness.
Now there’s an idea!
Quick question. Will it have a strong coconut flavor once it’s cooled?
Not really. It’s more noticeable when it’s warm.
Peanut Butter Magic Shell and POPCORN!!!!! I just drizzle melted peanut butter on my popcorn and it makes quite a mess. I can’t wait to try this!!!!!
Thank you for this recipe.
Love the way you innovate!
Oh gosh, I’ve wanted to try this for years, I love the idea! And I know what you go through with the allergies in the family, my sister’s son was deathly allergic to nuts and when he left for college we all had a nut-centric feast!
Let me know what you think of it Sue. I’ve already had several people make it SEVERAL times and they LOVE it!
Holy mother of all ice cream toppings! James is going to LOVE when I make this. We both have a bit of a peanut butter obsession – but especially when it comes to ice cream. Yum! Definitely going to be making this!
Be forewarned — you won’t be able to stop!
This looks irresistible! I’m sure my kids will love it as they adore peanut butter as well as ice-cream, no wonder they will love the combination of the two together!
Oh man that is awesome, I remember something similar from my childhood but never in a flavour as cool as peanut butter 😀
So glad you approve!
I have a severe peanut allergy, and I hate that my parents and now my husband had to give it up for me! They all seems to like my sunflower butter a whole lot!
I feel for you — If you and they like your sunflower butter, I’d imagine this method would work for that as well. Let me know if you try it! If not — there’s always chocolate!
Of course, the coconut oil! Who would have guessed it work so well to harden the peanut butter?
I know! It works beautifully!
Excuse me while I go and cover my entire life in this stuff! Looks AMAZING!
You are too funny!
I’m all about homemade ice cream these days and have mastered my favorite coffee flavor. This sauce on top of that!!
Save some for me!
Looks amazing and I love that you used chunky peanut butter…my favorite!
I love chunky too — but creamy works as well!
You had me at peanut butter. It’s the best topping for ice cream and these photos have me craving it now. Yum.
Another awesome candy recipe Lisa, and you’re doing this to ME? Love it pinning for later 🙂
Ice cream is my weakness!! I love it and I love to pile on the toppings!! This looks like a topping I would love!!
Thank you! If you have 5 minutes — give it a go and let me know what you think!
Ah this is a magic shell indeed, if it made you stumble! But once in a while indulgences aren’t the most evil thing in this world. Afterall, what else is there to live for….
I agree 100% Tina! Life’s too short!