The biggest food trends of 2023 prove that some foods once reserved for the health-food crowd can be cool, creative, and crave-able.
Take pistachios. They’ve earned spots on “best healthy on-the-go snack” lists for years but weren’t given their full moment in the spotlight until syrups, liqueurs, and butters were infused into Starbucks drinks, shaken into martinis, and piped inside croissants, respectively.
Consider cottage cheese. It’s one of the best bedtime snack options and is about on par with Greek yogurt in terms of health benefits, but it’s no longer just something folks are scooping straight out of the carton and chowing down plain. As of this spring and summer, buzzy social media posts have inspired millions of individuals to blitz up the high-protein refrigerator staple into cottage cheese ice cream, blend it into milkshakes, or showcase it atop toast. (Sorry, avocado; you have some carb-crowning competition.)
Greek yogurt is the latest healthy snack idea that’s getting a glow-up thanks to swoon-worthy Instagram videos that display how to take any yogurt cup to decadent new heights.
What Are Magic Shell Yogurt Cups?
Creative cooks have been jazzing up their yogurt cups in a variety of ways for decades, so this concept could have been flying under the culinary trend radar for a while, but the originator of this current food trend appears to be DJ Blatner, RDN, CSSD, a Chicago-based dietitian and the author behind The Flexitarian Diet and The Superfood Swap, who shared her Peanut Butter Cup Greek Yogurt on Instagram in the spring.
Original Recipe
For her Reese’s-inspired yogurt cups, Blatner suggests starting with 6 ounces of plain 2% Greek yogurt, which packs in about 20 grams of protein and delivers a dose of gut-friendly probiotics.
“I love Greek yogurt, but to call it a dessert, I need to add some extra ingredients to make it feel more like a treat.” —DJ Blatner
“The plain variety has no added sugar,” Blatner explains in her guide to the muscle-friendly dessert. “The little extra fat helps it taste less tart than 0% versions. Less tart means you’ll need less sweetener to make it tasty.”
To the cup of yogurt, stir in a spoonful of nut butter and top with about 2 tablespoons of melted chocolate. Freeze for 10 minutes or until the chocolate hardens. The topping creates a coating reminiscent of a childhood favorite: chocolate shell (aka Magic Shell). The finished product tastes surprisingly similar to a peanut butter cup, but it comes in a package that’s nutritious enough to eat every day.
Related: Why Dates Are on Everyone’s Go-to Snack List Right Now
"Muscle is our longevity organ. The more healthy muscles you have, the longer and stronger you can live,” Blatner adds on Instagram. “Protein foods support muscle health—and new research suggests building our gut bacteria (with foods like yogurt) can also help support muscle growth and strength.”
How to Make Magic Shell Yogurt Cups
Recipe developers have gone wild dreaming up and sharing variations on TikTok, Instagram, and blogs,
Choose one option from each step listed below to construct your customized yogurt cup, and then freeze your creation for 10 minutes or until the chocolate hardens.
Step 1: Yogurt
- Vanilla
- Berry
- Cherry
- Lemon
- Lime
- Peach
- Coconut
- Honey
Step 2: Swirl
- Nut butter
- Jam, jelly, or preserves
- Caramel (or date caramel)
Step 3: Crunch or Chew (Optional, Below or on Top of Chocolate)
- Cereal pieces
- Granola
- Toasted nuts
- Toasted coconut
- Crumbled cookies
- Crushed pretzels
- Sprinkles
- Mini marshmallows
- Chopped dried fruit
- Flaky sea salt
Step 4: Topping
- Melted dark chocolate
- Melted milk chocolate
- Melted white chocolate
- Melted dairy-free chocolate
Text Kitchen Tip: If you have any challenges getting your chocolate to melt into a pourable, even consistency, add 1 teaspoon of coconut oil before melting.
The Best Magic Shell Yogurt Cup Flavor Combinations We’ve Tried
Feel free to mix and match any of the options to design your own magic shell yogurt cup creation. If you could use some guidance, try Blatner’s original recipe or any of our current favorites inspired by classic desserts, candy bars, and cocktails.
- Stuffed chocolate-covered cherries: Cherry yogurt + caramel + toasted slivered almonds + melted dark chocolate
- Crunch ice cream bar: Vanilla yogurt + nut butter + crispy rice cereal + melted milk chocolate
- Snickers: Plain yogurt + nut butter + chopped salted peanuts + caramel + melted milk chocolate + flaky sea salt
- Key lime pie: Lime yogurt + crumbled graham crackers + melted white chocolate
- Lemon meringue pie: Lemon yogurt + marshmallows + melted white chocolate
- Birthday cake: Vanilla yogurt + strawberry jam + sprinkles + melted milk chocolate
- Pina colada: Coconut yogurt + pineapple preserves + chopped toasted macadamia nuts + melted white chocolate