Introducing our Homemade Shamrock Shake recipe, a refreshing, homemade twist on the classic favorite. Perfect for St. Patrick's Day or whenever you crave a minty treat, it's a delightful alternative to the fast-food version. Enjoy the green goodness right from your kitchen!
Save This Recipe to Your Inbox
Enter your email and we’ll send this recipe straight to your inbox.
By signing up, you’ll join our email list and can unsubscribe anytime.
This homemade shamrock shake is a simple McDonald's Copycat recipe that the whole family can savor, all from the coziness of your own kitchen. No more waiting in lines or traffic, yet you still get that classic green Irish shake you love.
We love copycat recipes, especially when they come from our favorite restaurants. Our (Copycat) Denny's Pancake Recipe and Copycat Texas Roadhouse Butter are just two examples, but what we really enjoy when the weather is warm and the season is right, is this shake right here.
We've whipped up this DIY shamrock shake countless times in the past few weeks, and it's not just due to the scorching 90-degree Florida weather. It's simply irresistible!
The best part? You can enjoy this Homemade Shamrock Shake all year long.
Jump to:
💛 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- This recipe for shamrock shakes is as simple as it gets. Made with just 5 ingredients and a few short minutes of your time.
- Each batch makes 2 tall glasses full. This is definitely a cheaper way of getting your favorite seasonal drink from McDonalds.
- You can make it whenever you want! This copycat shamrock shake is a quick and simple beverage you'll want to enjoy all year long and not just when St Patrick's Day rolls along.
🛒 Ingredients
Vanilla ice cream - The base of the recipe. Reduced-fat, nondairy, or even vanilla frozen yogurt all work well. Any extras can be used in Whipped Frozen Lemonade and milkshakes like Chips Ahoy Milkshake, Fruity Pebbles Milkshake, and Coffee Milkshake.
Mint extract- Make sure to use MINT extract and not PEPPERMINT because there's a big difference, and we do not want to taste candy canes in this drink.
Green food coloring- This is optional and can be omitted if you don't like food coloring, but the green color gives this shake its "traditional" coloring.
See the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
Milk. Whole milk gives the creamiest texture, but any milk works-including half-and-half or nondairy options.
Food coloring. Use liquid or gel coloring and adjust until you reach your desired shade of green. Gel is more concentrated, so you'll need less than the 6 drops of liquid we used.
Customize it. One of the best parts of making this at home is how easy it is to tailor the flavor, sweetness, or color to your liking.
Healthier Option. For a lighter version, swap in frozen yogurt and almond milk to reduce calories and sugar while still keeping a creamy texture.
💰 Budget-Friendly Tips
Use store-brand ingredients. Generic ice cream, milk, and coloring taste just as great and cut the cost of each shake.
Stretch the servings. Add a little extra milk to make the batch go further without noticeably changing the flavor.
Skip the extras. Whipped cream, sprinkles, or toppings are fun but optional, keeping it simple makes this treat even more affordable.
🥄 Instructions for Homemade Shamrock Shake
Step 1: Measure out the ice cream, milk, mint extract, and green food coloring. Place them into your blender.
Step 2: Pulse or blend until all of the ingredients are well incorporated, and no streaks of vanilla ice cream remain.
Step 3: Divide your milkshake between drinking glasses and top with whipped cream.
Serve immediately and enjoy!
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips
Boozy Option: For an adults-only version, add a splash of vodka, plain or vanilla blends best with the shake. Irish cream (like Baileys) also pairs wonderfully with the mint and vanilla flavors.
Adjust the Thickness: If your shake is too thick, add a little more milk. Too thin? Blend in a bit more ice cream until it reaches your perfect consistency.
Blend Quickly: Over-blending warms the ice cream and makes the shake runny. Blend just until smooth.
🥗 Side Dishes or Pairing Ideas
Enjoy your Homemade Shamrock Shake with classic fast-food favorites like french fries, onion rings, or a simple grilled cheese for that sweet-and-salty combo. It also pairs perfectly with cookies such as my Lucky Charms Cookies.
- Chocolate Pistachio Bundt CakeRecipe $6.93 / Serving $0.58
- Lucky Charms CookiesRecipe $7.97 / Serving $0.66
- Pistachio Banana BreadRecipe $3.41 / Serving $0.34
- Rainbow Grilled CheeseRecipe $4.90 / Serving $0.82
❓ Homemade Shamrock Shake FAQs
A shamrock shake is a creamy vanilla and mint flavored milkshake. It tastes a little like spearmint and vanilla and is a truly refreshing cold beverage.
Shamrock shakes were invented back in 1967 as a promotional St Patrick's Day beverage for McDonald's and they've existed every year since! It was an instant success and favorite among many and it unfortunately only comes out one time a year.
According to their website, they make their shakes with vanilla soft serve ice cream, and green shamrock syrup, and then top off the shakes with some whipped cream.
🍽️ More Recipes You'll Love
- Coffee MilkshakeRecipe $0.97
- Chips Ahoy MilkshakeRecipe $2.22
- Fruit Loop MilkshakeRecipe $1.30
- Oreo Milkshake Without Ice CreamRecipe $2.13
🐝 If you tried this Homemade Shamrock Shake, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your buzz in the 💬 comments below. I'd truly appreciate it!
📖 Recipe
Homemade Shamrock Shake
Ingredients
- 3 cups vanilla ice cream - ($1.26)
- 1 ½ cups whole milk - ($0.30)
- ¼ teaspoon mint extract - ($0.02)
- 6 drops green food coloring - ($0.02)
- whipped cream, for garnish
Instructions
- Blend. Add the vanilla ice cream, milk, mint extract, and green food coloring to a blender. Blend until smooth and fully combined, with no streaks remaining.
- Serve. Divide the milkshake between drinking glasses. Top with whipped cream and serve immediately.
Notes
- Milk. Whole milk gives the creamiest texture, but half and half or non-dairy milk can be used.
- Mint extract. Peppermint extract may be used for a stronger candy-cane flavor.
- Color. Adjust food coloring as needed to reach your desired shade of green.
- Variations. Frozen yogurt can replace ice cream for a lighter option.
Nutritional Information
Save This Recipe to Your Inbox
Enter your email and we'll send this recipe straight to your inbox.
By signing up, you'll join our email list and can unsubscribe anytime.
Comments
No Comments