DIY Magic Shell

Ice cream is a fun treat anytime of year, but it’s particularly enjoyable on a hot summer’s day. Add a crisp, chocolatey shell and prepare to enjoy a party in your mouth!

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Items used to make this recipe:

• premium bittersweet chocolate https://amzn.to/3Nc70Yd

• premium semisweet chocolate https://amzn.to/3qBPu83

• coconut oil https://amzn.to/3CxPuc8

DIY Magic Shell

makes about 1/2 cup

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 6 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate (use the good stuff)

• 4 tablespoons coconut oil (see notes below)

• pinch of table salt

Directions

1. Place all ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl and heat for 30 second intervals, stirring after each, until completely melted.

2. Allow mixture to cool to room temperature before using.

3. Coat ice cream with magic shell by dipping into or drizzling over. If you want to add sprinkles or a cherry on top, add immediately before magic shell hardens.

4. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a month or freeze for long-term storage (reheat and allow to cool to room temp again before using).

Notes

1. I like chocolate that has a cocoa percentage in the 60s or 70s. Use whatever percentage you like best, just be sure it’s high quality. The lower the cocoa percentage, the sweeter the chocolate.

2. If you have an aversion to the flavor of coconut, use refined coconut oil. If you don’t mind the flavor of coconut, feel free to use unrefined coconut oil.

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

My favorite loaf pan manufacturer just started making the skinny Cocktail Loaf Pan that I’ve been searching for for years. Cocktail bread is traditionally rye or pumpernickel, but I like to use this pan for quick breads. One pan will make a long skinny loaf of quick bread that would normally fit in a 9x5 loaf pan. I absolutely love serving smaller slices from this size pan - perfect portion control. Here’s a recipe for chocolate chip banana bread with a touch of cinnamon and cardamom. Enjoy!

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Items used to make this recipe:

(affiliate links)

• 3x14-inch tea or cocktail loaf pan https://amzn.to/3XW6CBV

• pure vanilla extract https://amzn.to/3ELpRVX

• mini chocolate chips https://amzn.to/3ENvMtu

• ground cardamom https://amzn.to/3ENvFy4

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Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

makes one 3x14-inch cocktail loaf pan (or one 9x5 loaf pan)

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 cups all purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon ground cardamom

• 1 teaspoon fine table salt

• 2-3 ripe bananas, mashed

• 1 tablespoon milk

• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

• 1/2 cup white granulated sugar

• 1/2 cup light brown sugar

• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature

• 2 large eggs

• 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (semisweet or bittersweet), plus more for sprinkling

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325F with rack in lower third of oven.

2. Prepare a tea or cocktail loaf pan (3x14-inch) with nonstick baking spray.

3. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, cardamom, and salt; set aside.

4. In a medium bowl, whisk together the mashed bananas, milk, pure vanilla extract; set aside.

5. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat both sugars and butter together until light and creamy, several minues.

6. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating for 20 second after each addition.

7. Beat in the mashed banana mixture.

8. Add the flour mixture just until no traces of dry ingredients remain.

9. Remove bowl from stand mixer and stir in the mini chocolate chips by hand (scrape side of bowl in the process).

10. Pour batter into prepared pan and sprinkle with additional mini chocolate chips if desired (looks great after baked).

11. Bake on lower rack for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

12. Cool in pan for 10 minutes before turning out onto a rack to cool completely before serving. Leftovers should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature.

Notes

• If you don’t have a 3x14-inch tea/cocktail loaf pan, a 9x5-inch loaf pan can be substituted (increase baking time to 65-75 minutes).

• Alternately, batter can be mixed with a handheld mixer.

• The batter for a double recipe will fit in a 5-quart stand mixer.

• This banana bread is very heavy and can break in half when turning out of the pan. To avoid this, be sure loaf is completely supported by a cooling rack when unmolding. Don’t be tempted to unmold loaf into your hand like you might do with a standard sized loaf.

• Although the photos above show these pans wrapped with insulated baking strips, I’ve concluded doing so is unnecessary for this recipe.

adapted from allrecipes