This McDonald’s copycat recipe for the Shamrock Shake is perfect for St. Patrick’s Day or any day you need a sweet, minty treat!
This blog post originally published on March 10, 2014. Updated on March 2, 2018.
Hi guys, happy last day of the week!
I’m updating this post for the 3rd time because I hated the pictures. I always say drinks are my favorite to photograph (I mean, look at these gorgeous margaritas) but shakes are a different story. The whipped cream sinks or everything starts melting together so you scrape off the first whipped cream and do another swirl. And repeat 57 times.
But I love these shakes and I want everyone to make them because they are amazing. Plus I read that McDonald’s is only releasing them to select restaurants this year and that’s just wrong.
I had my first Shamrock Shake 2 years ago, I think. Crazy, right? This recipe had been on my site for several years at that point.
Anyway, I like to claim that I don’t like mint flavored things so I never really understood the fuss over them but, you guys, I got it after that first one. It’s sweet and the right kind of minty and just the most perfect milkshake you can imagine.
Really easy recipe with very few ingredients. You just need vanilla ice cream, milk, and mint extract. Oh, and green food coloring if you want it green. Totally optional but adds to the experience.
Whipped cream and sprinkles are also optional. Kind of. I mean, what’s a milkshake without whipped cream?
If avoid dairy like me, use your fave vegan ice cream, non-dairy milk, and non-dairy whipped cream, of course. I saw a rice milk whipped cream can at Walmart recently so I think that’s becoming more widely available. If you can find the CocoWhip! in the freezer section, highly recommend that one.
And make sure you go for mint extract and not peppermint – makes a big different in this recipe.
- 2 cups vanilla bean ice cream
- 1 - 1 1/4 cup milk
- 1/4 teaspoon mint extract
- green food coloring
- whipped cream and green sprinkles for serving
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Combine ice cream, 1 cup milk, mint extract and a few drops of green food coloring in a blender and blend until combined. Add remaining 1/4 cup of milk if the shake is too thick. Use more green food coloring to get desired color.
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Top with whipped cream and green sprinkles before serving.
Want more St. Patrick’s Day recipes?
Crockpot Corned Beef and Cabbage
Corned Beef and Irish Cheddar Sliders
I have spearmint extract and peppermint extract. Do you know which I should use? Thanks and can’t wait to try this!
The one I used was just labeled “mint”. I wouldn’t use the peppermint – I think that would be a little too minty.
i get a shamrock shake for breakfast every St Patrick’s Day.
But I should treat myself sooner and make one at home