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Skip the McDonald’s drive-thru and make a copycat shamrock shake for a minty treat with just a handful of ingredients!
Holly’s Shamrock Shake Highlights
- Flavor: This homemade shamrock shake recipe has all the creamy and minty flavors of the McDonald’s original.
- Prep note: Chill the blender jar and glasses to keep the shakes extra chilly and thick!
- Recommended tools: A standard countertop blender is best for making quick work of this recipe, but a stick blender or even a hand mixer will do the job,
- Swaps: Make a boozy shamrock shake using a shot of crème de menthe, Bailey’s Irish Cream, Irish whiskey, or peppermint-flavored vodka.
Ingredients For A Shamrock Shake
- Ice Cream: The best shakes are made with full-fat ice cream for the richest flavor but you can use frozen yogurt for a lighter version.
- Milk: Use any kind of milk including non-dairy.
- Mint: Peppermint extract is made from pure peppermint. Mint extract is a combination of both spearmint and peppermint. Either will do, but full peppermint extract will provide the ultimate ‘refresh-mint’ flavor!
- Food Coloring: Green food coloring is optional but makes it festive.
Easy Variations
- Mint chocolate ice cream is a tasty twist instead of regular vanilla ice cream, and means you can save on buying green food coloring.
- Chocolate ice cream with peppermint extract (but no coloring!) is a delicious flavor combo. If you go this route, add the shamrock effect on top with green-colored whipped topping.
How to Make a Shamrock Shake
- Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
- Pour into glasses and top with optional whipped cream, a maraschino cherry, a drizzle of chocolate sauce and green sprinkles.
Freeze leftover shamrock shakes in popsicle molds for a refreshing treat or in ice cube trays and pop one or two out for a smoothie or in a cup of hot chocolate.
More Minty Favorites
Did you enjoy these Shamrock Shakes? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below!
Shamrock Shake
Ingredients
- 4 cups vanilla ice cream
- ¼ cup milk
- ½ teaspoon peppermint extract or more to taste
- green food coloring
- toppings optional whipped cream, maraschino cherries, or sprinkles for garnish
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
- Garnish as desired and serve immediately.
Notes
- For a lighter version, use vanilla frozen yogurt and swap the liquid for fat-free milk, and omit the whipped cream.
- Nutritional content in the recipe notes does not include optional toppings.
- Spike this favorite with a splash of crème de menthe, Baileys, or vodka for a boozy treat!
- Leftovers can be frozen in ice cube trays for shamrock pops or re-blending later.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Beverage, Dessert, Drink, Drinks, Party Food
Cuisine American, Irish© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
Thank you for this recipe! Peppermint extract wasn’t quite right to me. I swapped it for mint extract, which has both peppermint and spearmint in it – goes with the green and tastes just right!