Bring the sweet taste of vanilla and mint home with this sweet, creamy copycat recipe of McDonald’s Shamrock Shake. Using a few simple ingredients, you can make your own better than any restaurant ice cream milkshake treat in less than five minutes.
Learn how to make a delicious homemade shamrock shake with real mint. It’s the perfect treat for St. Patrick’s Day or any time of the year! Enjoy this scrumptious delight with an authentic minty flavor and creamy texture for your St. Patrick’s celebration.
Enjoy this tasty ice cream treat with other St. Patrick’s Day Recipes, like colcannon, Irish soda bread, Irish stew, and corned beef and cabbage.
What is a Shamrock Shake?
A Shamrock Shake is a seasonal green mint shake, first introduced by McDonald’s in 1970 to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Learn how to make your own just as delicious copycat version.
Shamrock Shake Ingredients
- Vanilla Ice Cream – or chocolate for a change of pace
- Whole Milk
- Mint Extract – not peppermint extract
- Toppings – whipped cream, cherries, mini chocolate chips, sprinkles
How to make a Shamrock Shake
Start by mixing the ice cream, milk, mint extract, and green food coloring in a blender just until smooth. Then, pour the mixture into shake glasses and garnish with whipped cream, cherries, oreo cookie pieces, or green sprinkles.
Recipe Tips
- Green food coloring or green gel food coloring is optional. However, without the green color, the shake will be the color of vanilla ice cream with mint flavor.
- Use mint extract, as peppermint can be overpowering in this recipe.
- For a smoother, creamier shake, use whole milk.
- Blend just until combined.
- If the shake is too thick, add more milk in small increments until desired consistency.
- If the shake is too thin, add ice cream in small increments until it reaches the desired consistency.
- For a boozy alcohol shake, add a little whiskey, crème de menthe, Irish cream, or vanilla vodka.
Shamrock Shake variations
- Mint Chocolate Chip Shamrock Shake – use chocolate chip mint ice cream instead of vanilla. Cut the mint extract down to 1/4 teaspoon.
- Boozy Shamrock Shake – add 2 ounces crème de menthe and 1-ounce vanilla vodka
- Chocolate Shamrock Shake – use chocolate ice cream instead of vanilla and drizzle the inside of the glass with a bit of chocolate syrup. Omit the green food coloring.
- Add-ins- crushed Oreo cookies, mini chocolate chips, or Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies.
The difference between mint and peppermint extract
Mint and peppermint are not the same flavors, especially in extract. Peppermint extract is made from pure peppermint oil. Mint extract is made with a combination of culinary mint plants, giving it a milder mint flavor. When a recipe calls for mint extract, it is best not to substitute peppermint extract.
When do Shamrock Shakes come out?
McDonald’s shamrock shakes come out about the beginning of the 4th week in February and are available through St. Patrick’s Day, March 17th.
More St. Patrick’s Day Recipes
Copycat Shamrock Shake Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups vanilla ice cream
- 3/4 – 1 cup whole milk
- ½ teaspoon mint extract
- 8-10 drops green food coloring
- Whipped cream cherries, and sprinkles
Instructions
- Mix the ice cream, 3/4 cup milk, mint extract, and green food coloring in a blender just until smooth. For a thinner consistency, add 1/4 cup more milk.
- Pour into glasses and garnish with whipped cream, cherries, and sprinkles.
Notes
- Green food coloring or green gel food coloring is optional. However, without the green color, the shake will be the color of vanilla ice cream with mint flavor.
- Use mint extract, as peppermint can be overpowering in this recipe.
- For a smoother, creamier shake, use whole milk.
- Blend just until combined.
- If the shake is too thick, add a little more milk in very small increments until desired consistency.
- If the shake is too thin, add a little ice cream in small increments until desired consistency.
- For a boozy alcohol shake, add a little whiskey, crème de menthe, Irish cream, or vanilla vodka.
Nutrition
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Jen P
This was so so good. I added mini chococlate chips and they took it to the next level. Thanks for the inspiration!
Roberta
This was even better than McDonalds and I love that I know exactly what is going in to my shake. Thanks for sharing, Beth!
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome, Roberta!
Sally Ann
Absolutely divine. I love the combination of vanilla and mint, and being able to make the copycat version of McDonald’s Shamrock Shake at home is a game-changer. It’s always a great feeling when you can recreate a favorite restaurant treat at home. Thanks for the hook up!
Beth Pierce
My pleasure, Sally Anne!
Marley
OMG! This looks divine…I am going to definitely try this recipe. I love mint flavor 🙂
Carole
Just as good as Mcdonalds without the drive and the added expense. Plus now I can make them anytime. I like to add a little chocolate syrup. It is not pretty but it tastes like heaven.
Beth Pierce
Thanks for the tip, Carole.
Ivan C
Our local McDonald’s stores don’t have shamrock shake, so I tried your recipe. It was delicious and creamy. No wonder why everyone loves it.
Lily
Yum! I always enjoy this seasonal treat, but always hate how much it costs. Making it at home was a great alternative. They were just as delicious and I saved some money. Thanks for the recipe.
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome, Lily!
Kimberley Asante
Your Shamrock Shake recipe was a delightful treat. The combination of mint and vanilla flavors was delicious, and your detailed instructions made it easy for me to recreate this festive shake. Thanks for sharing this fun and tasty recipe.
Beth Pierce
The pleasure is all mine, Kimberley! So glad that you like it!
Rowan
This was so tasty! I used real mint extract like you suggested. Now I can have this treat anytime! Thank you!
Beth Pierce
My pleasure, Rowan!
Angela C
Thanks so much for sharing. I made these for the grandkids yesterday and we loved the creamy mint flavor. They are already asking me to make them again.
Benjamin
This is fully awesome. I wait around all year for shamrock shakes, so when I found this recipe, I made it immediately. It puts the McDonald’s version to shame!
Fleek
This looks so good. I’d really love to taste it and if possible, give it a try.