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This Shamrock Shake recipe is the only copycat you’ll ever need to recreate that iconic McDonald’s flavor at home. Skip the drive-thru lines waiting for the season; this homemade version is creamier, customizable, and ready in under 5 minutes. Whether you want it extra thick or with a boozy twist, this minty green treat is the ultimate way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day all year long!
A shamrock shake is a mint and vanilla seasonal favorite that is a highly coveted treat they sell at McDonald’s during March, for St. Patrick’s Day. I think they appear sometime in February but they disappear after March. It’s creamy and probably one of the best milkshakes in the entire world – so of course I had to make my own recipe!
What makes this the best shamrock shake is the specific balance of vanilla and mint. To get that authentic flavor, the secret isn’t actually peppermint it’s pure mint extract. By using a high-quality vanilla ice cream and a 2:1 ratio of cream to milk, you achieve a thick, velvety texture that won’t separate. Plus, making it at home means no high-fructose corn syrup just real ingredients and that signature emerald hue!
How do you make an authentic Shamrock Shake? Blend 2 cups vanilla ice cream with ½ cup whole milk, ¼ tsp pure mint extract (not peppermint), and 3-4 drops of green food coloring. For the best texture, use a 2:1 ice cream to milk ratio and blend until smooth but thick. Top with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry.
What’s in a Shamrock Shake?
- Traditionally you’d use vanilla bean ice cream, but you could also use chocolate or mint chip ice cream. Use any brand you like, but make it a good one.
- You can make homemade milkshakes with whole milk, nonfat, heavy cream, or any nondairy milk.
- To stay true to the McDonald’s original, use Mint Extract rather than Peppermint Extract. Peppermint has a sharp, candy cane-like finish, whereas Mint contains spearmint, which provides that smoother, cooler flavor we associate with the Shamrock Shake. However, some people do not find mint extract appealing (it often tastes more like toothpaste when used in recipes) so you can use either one you like. I prefer peppermint extract.
- You can use liquid food coloring or gel, but if you use gel be sure not to add too much!
Click to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions. See below the recipe card for even more information: process shots, variations, FAQ and more.
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Expert Tips
- To avoid an overpowering flavor, you’ll want to do some taste tests while adding the extract. Start with 1/4 tsp and work up from there.
- Just like the extract, don’t go too wild with the food coloring. Try just a couple of drops at first, then add more as needed.
- If you want a shake so thick your straw stands up straight, chill your blender jar in the freezer for 10 minutes before blending. This prevents the friction of the blades from melting the ice cream too quickly.
Copycat Shamrock Shake Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups vanilla ice cream
- 1-2 cups milk , see note
- ¾ teaspoon peppermint extract (or min) , see note
- 3-4 drops green food coloring
- Whipped cream , for garnish
- Cherry , for garnish
- Honey and Green Sanding Sugar , for garnish
Instructions
- If you wish to decorate your glass, place some honey on a plate and green sugar on another plate. Dip the glass in the honey then the sugar to make it stick. Set aside.
- Place ice cream, milk, extract, and food coloring in a blender. Blend until smooth.
- Pour milkshake into glasses. Top with whipped cream and a cherry.
Recipe Notes
- To be authentic, use mint extract. However, some people prefer peppermint extract over the spearmint-based mint, so use whichever you prefer.
- Taste test before pouring to see if you want to add more extract. It’s a
strong flavor so you want to be sure it’s not overpowering. Start with 1/4 teaspoon and work up from there. - Start by adding less food coloring and add more as desired. I prefer regular food coloring for this – gel will need much less to get the desired color.
- This recipe has been updated. The old recipe is a shamrock shake without ice cream. Here’s what you need to make it: 2 cups Almond Breeze Unsweetened Vanilla
Almondmilk, 1 about 3.4 ounces box vanilla pudding mix (regular or sugar-free), 1/2
teaspoon peppermint extract, 3 drops green food coloring, 2-3 cups ice. Blend until
smooth and serve.
Recipe Nutrition
FAQs
I prefer to use regular food coloring, but gel works too. Just know that it will take more gel food coloring to get the desired color!
Yes! To make this recipe dairy-free, throw a 3.4 oz box of vanilla pudding mix, 2 cups of unsweetened almond milk, 2 to 3 cups of ice, ½ teaspoon of peppermint extract, and 3 drops of food coloring into a blender. You can also follow the recipe with a combination of plant-based ice cream and nondairy milk.
The original syrup is a blend of high fructose corn syrup, mint flavoring, and green dyes (Yellow 5 and Blue 1). Our version uses real extract for a cleaner taste.
Introduced in 1970, it was originally a St. Patrick’s Day Shake flavored with lemon-lime sherbet! It didn’t become the minty version we know today until 1983.
Absolutely. Drizzle chocolate syrup inside the glass before pouring to make it a Shamrock Chocolate Shake.
How to Make a Shamrock Shake Step-by-Step
- Decorate your glass: If you want to make your milkshake snazzy, pour a bit of honey onto a plate (a spot as large as the rim of your glass) and a bit of green sprinkles or sugar onto a second plate. Dip the rim of your glass into the honey, fully covering it, and then dip the rim into the sugar. Then, set your glass to the side.
- Blend: Blend ice cream, milk, peppermint extract, and a few drops of green food coloring thoroughly in a blender until completely smooth.
- Pour: Pour the milkshake into your prepared glasses. Finally, top it off with some whipped cream one (or two) maraschino cherries.
This post was originally sponsored by Almond Breeze in 2017 and it has been updated.
Substitutions + Variations
- You can use any kind of non-dairy milk, like almond milk or coconut milk.
- Use any brand or flavor ice cream. The more traditional your ice cream the thicker and more like the original your shake will be (i.e. you can use low fat ice cream but your shake won’t be as much like the McDonald’s version).
- Make a boozy shake by adding some crème de menthe. Or add some vanilla vodka, whipped vodka, or Baileys Irish Cream.
- Oreo Shamrock McFlurries are also a favorite – simply add 2 Oreo cookies to your blender with all the other ingredients. You may need a little more milk to help it smooth out.
Was 👍 great
This shake is yummy! It was exactly as I had hoped. I am on the Keto diet. After seeing an ad for a peppermint shake, I started really craving one. I went on Pinterest trying to find a Keto friendly one. This hit the spot!! And I don’t feel guilty about drinking it. Thanks SO much for the recipe! I can’t wait to make it for my kids.
I love this recipe. It’s DELICIOUS!
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