Bring the sweet taste of vanilla and mint home with this sweet, creamy copycat recipe of McDonald’s Shamrock Shake. In less than five minutes, you can make your own better than any restaurant ice cream milkshake treat using a few simple ingredients.
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.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
See the complete list of ingredients below on the recipe card.
- Vanilla Ice Cream: or chocolate for a change of pace
- Milk: preferably whole milk for the most creamy texture
- Mint Extract: not peppermint extract. Use mint extract, as peppermint can be overpowering in this recipe.
- Food coloring: 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.
- Toppings: whipped cream, cherries, mini chocolate chips, sprinkles
How to Make a Shamrock Shake
This is the summary version; see the recipe card below for the complete list of ingredients and the instructions.
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.
Preparation Tips
- 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.
Recipe Variations
- Mint Chocolate Chip Shamrock Shake: Use chocolate chip mint ice cream instead of vanilla, and reduce the mint extract to 1/4 teaspoon.
- Boozy Shamrock Shake: Add 2 ounces of crème de menthe and 1 ounce of vanilla vodka
- Chocolate Shamrock Shake: Use chocolate ice cream instead of vanilla, drizzle the inside of the glass with chocolate syrup, and omit the green food coloring.
- Add-ins: Crushed Oreo cookies, mini chocolate chips, or Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies.
More St. Patrick’s Day Recipes
Copycat Shamrock Shake Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups vanilla ice cream
- ¾ – 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
- 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.
Nutrition
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Mimi
Ooooh, this one will do just great this weekend. I am having a small party, and this shake is exactly what I need!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Mimi! Enjoy!