Skip the drive-thru and make your own delicious and festive Shamrock Shake at home with this easy copycat recipe. Perfect for St. Patrick’s Day or any time you’re craving this classic treat.
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With St. Patrick’s Day coming up, you can celebrate with a McDonald’s Copycat Shamrock Shake made in the convenience of your home using only 4 simple ingredients! Creamy ice-cream combined with milk, mint extract, and green food coloring which results in an even BETTER taste than the original given you can use your favorite brand of ice-cream and control amounts added! Make the most of your St. Patty’s Day by also making a batch of my Lucky Charm Cereal Bars or St. Patrick’s Day Brownie Trifle!
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What is a Shamrock Shake?
Shamrock Shake season may be one of my favorite times of the year! McDonald’s first introduced it’s recipe for Shamrock Shakes back in 1967 by Hal Rosen, an owner of a Connecticut McDonald’s location. Originally, it was lemon/lime flavored with vanilla ice cream, sherbet, and vanilla syrup, however, by 1973, it was simply green colored vanilla ice-cream. Today, it is made as a mint-flavored milkshake with vanilla soft-serve ice cream, mint syrup, and whipped topping. It’s a popular limited-edition item at McDonald’s that’s available around St. Patrick’s Day. You can also find an Oreo variation, called the Oreo Shamrock McFlurry, which I will tell you how to make below!
Ingredients Needed for this Homemade Shamrock Shake Recipe
Here’s what you’ll need to make a copycat Shamrock Shake recipe at home! To see printable recipe card with exact ingredients, scroll to the bottom of this post.
- Ice-Cream– you’ll need 2 cups vanilla ice cream. Any brand works, however, being that this is the base of the recipe, pick your favorite and don’t skimp on quality.
- Milk– we use whole milk as it brings more richness and a thicker, creamy texture, however, any type of milk (including non-dairy) works great.
- Mint Extract– you may only find this labelled peppermint extract and that is okay! This is the star of the show. This gives the shamrock shake flavor and brings the mint flavor. Be sure not to add too much extract as it is quite powerful and can bring more of a toothpaste flavor if not careful.
- Gel Food Coloring– liquid food coloring and gel food coloring both work great, I just tend to have the gel version on hand. Just a few drops of green food coloring is all you need, however, adjust accordingly until desired shade of green is reached. If adding in food coloring isn’t your thing, you can omit and still have the same great taste.
- Toppings of Choice– optional, but this is the fun part. We love to use whipped cream, chocolate syrup, maraschino cherries, and green sprinkles to make it fun and festive!
How to make Shamrock Shakes
This shamrock shake McDonald’s recipe couldn’t be easier to make! Simply add your ingredients to a blender (or food processor for even smooth consistency), pulse until smooth and creamy, pour into glasses, and serve!
- To your blender, add vanilla ice-cream, milk, mint extract, and green food coloring.
- Place lid on top and blend until well combined. If the shake is too thick, add a splash of milk. If the consistency is too thin, add another small scoop of ice-cream. Adjust green food coloring until desired shade is reached.
- Pour mixture into glasses and add your favorite toppings. Serve and enjoy!
Tips for the BEST McDonald’s Shamrock Shake Recipe
- Try to stick with MINT extract versus peppermint if you can find it. Mint tastes closest to McDonald’s quality!
- Want to serve this to a large crowd? No problem! Simply double, triple, etc. the amount needed or make in batches! This is a party favorite!
- If you want a BOOZY version, check out my Boozy Shamrock Milkshake recipe. It uses Baileys Irish Cream!
- For a smoother, creamier version, use a food processor versus a blender to make this.
- For best flavor and texture, this green milkshake is best enjoyed immediately!
Variations of Shamrock Shake Ingredients
- Oreo Shamrock Shake– add in about ½ cup Oreo’s to the blender. Once ready to serve, sprinkle additional crushed cookies on top.
- Chocolate– instead of vanilla ice-cream, use chocolate ice-cream OR add in some chocolate syrup both in the blender and drizzle on top just before serving.
- Candy– sprinkle your favorite candies on top just before serving! M & M’s, Reese’s, mint candies, Kit Kat’s, and more work great!
Recipe FAQ’s
What is the Shamrock Shake flavor?
It is a mint flavored milkshake! Using vanilla ice-cream and mint extract, the flavor fuse into a creamy, minty ice-cream drink!
How do I make this shake dairy free?
You can use dairy-free ice-cream and milk to make this a dairy free option. Almond milk, coconut milk, oat milk, or soy milk are great options.
What is in the Shamrock Shake?
A classic version from McDonald’s consists of vanilla soft serve, mint flavored syrup, and whipped topping. A homemade version uses ice-cream versus soft serve and mint extract in place of the syrup.
Why is the Shamrock Shake green?
The green color is to align with classic St. Patty’s Day colors! It comes from the food coloring!
Did they change the shamrock shake recipe at McDonald’s?
Yes, the Shamrock Shake recipe has changed over time, most noticeably with the addition of mint flavoring, which wasn’t present in the original version and was essentially just a vanilla shake with green coloring. The current recipe is based on a mint-flavored base, while the early versions were more lemon-lime flavored or simply vanilla with green dye.
More St Patrick’s Day Recipes to try
- Slow Cooker Cottage Pie– ground beef, vegetables, and seasonings topped with mashed potatoes makes this meal a hearty, comfort food dish perfect any night of the week.
- Baked Reuben Sliders– all the flavors of a classic Reuben packed into a slider sandwich that is perfect for game day, St. Patrick’s Day, or busy weeknight meals!
- Mint Oreo Truffles– the most delicious 4-ingredient dessert recipe. Easy to make and perfect for St. Patty’s Day!
- Kahlua White Leprechaun Cocktail– comes together using only four ingredients! The perfect drink for St. Patrick’s Day or anytime of the year!
- Lucky Charm Cereal Bars– fun, festive treats kids love! Lucky Charm Cereal coated with a buttery marshmallow mixture that satisfies any sweet tooth craving!
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Homemade Shamrock Shakes
Ingredients
- 2 cups vanilla ice-cream
- ½ cup milk *whole milk is best
- ¼ teaspoon mint extract
- green food coloring *add until desired shade is reached
- toppings of choice (whipped cream, cherries, sprinkles, chocolate syrup)
Instructions
- To your blender, add the vanilla ice-cream, milk, mint extract, and food coloring.
- Place lid securely on top and pulse until well combined. If shake is too thick, add more milk. If too thin, add additional ice-cream.
- Pour mixture into 2 glasses and top with desired toppings. Serve immediately and enjoy!
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