Shamrock Shake

Cool and minty, this EASY Shamrock Shake recipe is inspired by the OG milkshake from McDonald’s. Made with fresh cream, vanilla ice cream, mint and a minty hue, this homemade milkshake is a hit with the kids for St. Patrick’s Day.

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Shamrock Shake

Every single year, like clockwork, the festive Shamrock Shake pops up on the menu at McDonald’s. That’s the true sign that St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner. And though it may not look so appetizing with it’s day glow green shade, it’s minty flavor has a cult following.

What is a Shamrock Shake?

If you never had a Shamrock Shake before, it tastes just like a mint milkshake. Creamy, smooth and sweet, it’s a blended sweet treat that’s perfect for the St. Patrick’s Day holiday.

We like to make our’s a little extra special by rimming the milkshake glass with buttercream frosting and rolling it in rainbow sprinkles. It adds such a fun colorful garnish, then we top it with a pile of whipped cream and a maraschino cherry.

They’re ready in minutes and kids love them, too.

You can totally make this a Boozy Shamrock Shake by adding a splash of whisky or Irish Cream to your milkshake while blending.

How To Make a Shamrock Shake

It’s so easy to make a milkshake at home. All you need is a standard blender, vanilla ice cream, heavy cream or milk, mint extract and green food coloring. 

To make your Shamrock Shake, Place all the ingredients in the blender then blend until thick, creamy and smooth. I use this blender because it’s a workhorse for so many things!

How to Make a Thick Milkshake

You can make the milkshake as thick or thin as you want by adjusting the amount of liquid you add to the blender. Heavy cream makes the milkshake creamier and smoother while milk will make your milkshake less thick. Sometimes I like to use half and half, which is just half cream and half milk. It’s a good compromise with great creamy results.

I used a food coloring gel, as opposed to the liquid food coloring, to color my Shamrock Shake because I feel like it gives the milkshake a vibrant green color.

If you want to add a bit of chocolate to your mint milkshake, you can top with chocolate syrup or toss in a few mini chocolate chips for a tasty addition. It tastes just like mint chocolate chip ice cream but in milkshake form!

More easy drink ideas!

Looking for more festive and fun drinks? We’re loving this Nutty Irishman Coffee for St. Patrick’s Day, too. Not here for the Irish? This easy Strawberry Banana Smoothie is quick and easy, as is this Spinach Kiwi Pineapple Smoothie (also green for the holiday!)

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