Copycat Shamrock Shake

This Shamrock Shake is the perfect copycat recipe that tastes just like the real green milkshakes from McDonald’s. It has creamy vanilla ice cream, milk, and a hint of mint flavor all colored green for St. Patrick’s Day. It’s a great way to celebrate spring.

 

You need to try this DIY Shamrock Shake

Every spring, I used to drive to McDonald’s to get a Shamrock Shake for the kids because they thought it was fun to get a green milkshake. I learned it was easier (and cheaper) to make them at home and to be able to have them year-round. Our recipe is just as good as the real thing, and only takes 5 minutes to make.

What Is a Shamrock Shake?

The Shamrock shake is a green mint-flavored milkshake that’s sold seasonally at McDonald’s in March to commemorate St. Patrick’s Day.

What is the Shamrock Shake Flavor?

The shake’s flavor is a light minty flavor. It’s really just vanilla ice cream with mint flavoring

Why we love this Shamrock Shake Recipe

• This Shamrock Shake recipe can be made in under 5 minutes!
• It’s a simple and delicious dessert
• Just a few simple ingredients are needed

You might also like our fun Fruity Pebbles Milkshake and our Lucky Charms Muddy Buddies too!

Copycat Shamrock Shake ingredients

You just need a few simple ingredients to make this minty shake.

• vanilla ice cream
• milk – whole milk is the best to use for this recipe
• mint extract – not peppermint extract (don’t like mint? leave it our or add vanilla extract)
• green food coloring
• whipped cream
• maraschino cherries

Tools needed for a DIY Shamrock Shake

• blender

How to Make a Shamrock Shake

This is one easy recipe with just one step and then pour to serve!

Step One: Add Ingredients to Blender

• Place (in this order) milk, ice cream, mint extract, and green food coloring into blender.
• Set on milkshake setting, or blend/pulse for a minute or two until it’s creamy and to the desired consistency.
• Add more green food coloring if you want it darker green.

Step Two: Pour into Glasses and Serve

Pour into serving glasses and top with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry.

Shamrock Shake Variations

• Add alcohol – To make a boozy shamrock shake, just add your favorite liquer when blending.
• Mint – add fresh mint leaves to the shake as a garnish
• Oreo – add crushed Oreoes when blending for an Oreo version.

McDonald’s Shamrock Shake Recipe substitutions and additions

• chocolate Shamrock shake – use chocolate milk to create a chocolate version of this popular minty milkshake
• chocolate chips – add mini chocolate chips
• drizzle chocolate syrup – you can drizzle chocolate syrup on the inside of the cups before you pour the milkshake in the glasses, and drizzle it on top of the whipped cream
• crushed Oreo cookies – add Oreo cookie pieces into the blender when mixing the shake
• green sprinkles – add green sprinkles on top of the whipped cream
• mint ice cream – substitute vanilla for mint or chocolate mint ice cream
• add alcohol – a mint-flavored alcohol would be great to make this an adult-only beverage
• vanilla shakes – leave out the mint flavor, but add the green food coloring and make a vanilla Shamrock shake
• Make a Shamrock sundae – instead of blending the ice cream you can use mint ice cream scoops in a bowl with whipped cream and a cherry

McDonald’s also serves an Oreo Shamrock McFlurry which is a thicker version of the original Shamrock Shake with Oreo pieces blended in with the ice cream. Make this at home by using less milk and adding crushed Oreo cookies. There’s even a shamrock chocolate chip frappés, but we haven’t tried to make that one yet!

Shamrock Shake Recipe Tips

• Use less food coloring instead of more. You can always add a drop or two more, but you can’t remove it once it’s there.
• If it’s too thin, add more ice cream.
• If it’s too thick, add more milk and give it a stir with a wooden spoon to incorporate it a bit before you make your blender do all the work. Depending on how thick it is, you don’t want to burn out your motor.
• Use a blender for a smooth consistency. If you don’t have a full-size blender, you’ll need to cut this recipe in half and do it in batches.

More fun drinks like this Copycat Shamrock Shake

• Whipped Strawberry Milk
• Butterbeer
• Disney Dole Whip
• Pineapple Mango Smoothie
• Whipped Coffee
• Cinco de Mayo Drinks

Homemade Shamrock Shake FAQs