Shamrock Shake

This homemade Shamrock Shake is creamy, minty, and perfectly green- just like the classic McDonald’s favorite. This easy copycat recipe comes together in five minutes and tastes even better than the drive-thru version.

Recipe Essentials

You can keep these simple ingredients in your fridge, freezer, and pantry so that you can make these shakes whenever you have a craving. A full list of ingredients with measurements for this recipe is available in the printable recipe card below.

• Vanilla Ice Cream – I like to make my own vanilla bean ice cream, but store-bought works just as well. You may want to leave it on the counter for a few minutes to let it soften before scooping. 

How to Make a Shamrock Shake (Step-by-Step)

When you’re whipping up this quick shake, make sure to garnish the glass first so it’s ready when the shake is blended. 

1. Add icing to glass. To decorate the glass, start by applying vanilla frosting around the entire rim of the glass. Using an offset spatula or a butter knife is the easiest way.. 
2. Roll in sprinkles. Roll the rim over the top of the sprinkles that have been poured onto a plate. 
3. Blend milkshake ingredients. Add all of the milkshake ingredients to a blender. Blend until all ingredients are combined and the color is consistent throughout.
4. Add to glasses and garnish. Transfer to the garnished glasses. Add a dollop of whipped cream and top with maraschino cherries. 

Perfect Pairings

This sweet shake is a delicious drinkable dessert all by itself but you can also serve it with other St. Patrick’s Day-themed sweets. Try serving it with treats like St. Patrick’s Day dunkaroo dip, pot of gold puppy chow, rainbow cupcakes, or grasshopper cheesecake bars.    

Variations 

This shake is meant to be fun — play around with different flavors and textures to make it your own!

• Extract – You can switch up the flavor of the shake by using different extracts. However, adding extracts that are not clear can alter the color of the shake.
• Food Coloring – If you use professional-grade or gel food coloring instead of liquid food coloring, you can use less to achieve the same color. 
• Ice Cream – You can use any light-colored ice cream that you like in place of vanilla ice cream. Mint chocolate chip ice cream is a great option!
• Add-Ins – You can mix other ingredients in for more texture and sweet flavor. Crumbled Oreo cookies, mini chocolate chips (or white chocolate chips), or crushed graham crackers all work well. 
• Frosting – You can use a different flavor of frosting or add green food coloring to the vanilla to make it even more festive. Go with a chocolate mint flavor by using chocolate frosting.
• Toppings – A drizzle of chocolate syrup or fudge sauce over the top of the shake perfectly complements the minty flavor. You can also sprinkle green sugar over the top of the whipped cream.
• Liquor – Transform this drink into an adult beverage by blending in vodka, whiskey, or your favorite spirit. Liqueurs like crème de menthe and Irish cream work well too.
• Vegan/Dairy-Free – To make this a vegan-friendly milkshake, use your favorite vegan ice cream and blend it with coconut milk or almond milk.
• Fruit – If you’re trying to sneak in a little fiber and other nutrients, try blending in a frozen banana or other fruits.

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Make a creamy copycat Shamrock Shake at home in 5 minutes. This minty green milkshake tastes just like the McDonald’s favorite!

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Total Time: 5 minutes mins

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Servings: 2

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Equipment

• Milkshake Glasses
• Ninja Blender System

Ingredients

Shamrock Shake:

• 2 1/2 cups vanilla ice cream
• 3/4 cups whole milk
• 5-10 drops liquid green food coloring*
• 1/4 teaspoon mint extract

Garnish:

• 1-2 tablespoons vanilla frosting
• St. Patrick's Day festive sprinkles
• whipped cream
• maraschino cherries

Instructions

Garnish:

• Using a butter knife, spread the 1-2 tablespoons vanilla frosting about 1 inch down on the rim of your milkshake glasses.
• Spread the St. Patrick's Day festive sprinkles in a shallow dish or plate and rolling the tacky frosting in the sprinkles. Set aside until you make the milkshakes.

Milkshakes:

• In a large blender, combine the 2 1/2 cups vanilla ice cream, 3/4 cups whole milk, 5-10 drops liquid green food coloring* and 1/4 teaspoon mint extract. Blend until smooth.
• Pour into prepared milkshake glasses.
• Top with whipped cream and maraschino cherries.
• If you’ve tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings.

Notes

If using gel or professional green food coloring, you will need less- I measure by a swirl of a toothpick. 

Storage: If you store the shake in the refrigerator, it will lose its thick consistency. But, if you’re okay with that, you can keep it in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Shake, stir, or blend it back together if it separates.

Freezing: You can store a milkshake in the freezer in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 weeks. Let it thaw briefly in the refrigerator before blending it back together to revive its creamy texture.

Nutrition

Calories: 428 kcal, Carbohydrates: 48 g, Protein: 9 g, Fat: 22 g, Saturated Fat: 13 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 6 g, Cholesterol: 84 mg, Sodium: 180 mg, Potassium: 468 mg, Fiber: 1 g, Sugar: 44 g, Vitamin A: 843 IU, Vitamin C: 1 mg, Calcium: 324 mg, Iron: 0.2 mg

Author: Jessica Formicola

Calories: 428

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Keyword: shamrock shake

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