Shamrock Shake (McDonalds Copycat)
Enjoy a bit of the luck o’ the Irish while you sip on this easy to make copycat shamrock shake. It’s deliciously creamy, minty, and the perfect way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day!
Suitable for gluten free and vegetarian diets.
This fun St. Paddy’s Day treat is a highly anticipated annual favorite at McDonald’s, but it doesn’t stick around forever. Fortunately, this tasty milkshake is easy to make at home with just a few ingredients, so you can enjoy it all throughout the month of March, or anytime you get a craving for a delicious shamrock shake.
Making this green shake at home has some major advantages. First, you don’t have to contend with a broken ice cream machine at the drive-through. Seriously! What is the deal with those machines? Second, you can control just how minty this shake is, and you can even leave the mint out altogether. Finally, you can have it anytime you want! That’s worth its weight in the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
This shake is sooooo easy to make and only requires a few ingredients that you probably already have on hand. Make these for dessert, and your kids will be grinning from ear to ear!
Why You’ll ♡ This
- Authentic – Get the authentic taste of a McDonald’s shake at home.
- Enjoy Anytime – You can enjoy this seasonal favorite at home all year round.
- Kid-friendly – Kids love ice cream, and green ice cream is just plain fun.
Ready to make this Copycat McDonald’s Shamrock Shake? Gather your ingredients, and I will show you…
How To Make A Shamrock Shake
Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.
- Scoop the ice cream into a blender and pour in the whipping cream, vanilla, mint, and green coloring.
- Blend until smooth.
- Pour into one large or 2 small glasses.
- Garnish with whipped cream, sprinkles, and a cherry.
Pro Tips
- For authentic flavor, look for mint extract rather than peppermint extract.
- Add less mint than you think you need. Taste and adjust as needed.
- Add the food coloring a few drops at a time. The green color should be pastel green rather than a dark or deep green.
- Top with whipped cream and sprinkle with green sugar for an authentic look.
- Don’t forget the cherry!
Delicious Variations
McDonald’s Shamrock Shake is a classic for a reason but you can also try these variations…
- Chocolate Mint – Use chocolate ice cream and chocolate extract in place of the vanilla for a fun twist on this shake.
- Minty Mint – Use mint ice cream for an even more minty flavor.
- Plain Jane – Not a fan of mint? Leave out the mint but keep the green coloring, so your drink is still festive and fun.
- Adult Version – Add a little vanilla vodka for a grown-up twist to this classic.
FAQs
Should I Use Mint or Peppermint?
Peppermint extract is much mintier, and your shake will taste more like a peppermint candy cane. If you are looking for a milder mint flavor, then the mint extract is the way to go. This will give you a more authentic McDonald’s taste.
Is This the Real McDonald’s Recipe?
No, but it’s pretty darn authentic, and I know you will love it!
Serving Suggestions
Pair your Shamrock Shake with these classic Irish dishes;
More Recipes You May Like
- 5 Ingredient Mint Oreo Fudge.
- Banana Pudding Cake.
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip.
- Oreo Milkshake,
- Peanut Butter Milkshake.
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Shamrock Shake
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups (365g) vanilla ice cream
- ¾ cup (180ml) whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or chocolate extract, optional
- mint extract to taste
- 1 teaspoon green gel food coloring or 2 teaspoons liquid coloring
- whipped cream, candy sprinkles and maraschino cherries for garnish
Instructions
- Scoop ice cream and place inside blender.
- Pour in whipping cream and add the food coloring.
- Add in mint extract and vanilla extract (if using) and blend until smooth. (Note: this shake will be thick).
- Pour into glasses, top with whipping cream, sprinkles and a cherry, then serve.
Notes
- For authentic flavor, look for mint extract rather than peppermint extract.
- Add less mint than you think you need. Taste and adjust as needed.
- Add the food coloring a few drops at a time. The green color should be pastel green rather than a dark or deep green.
- Top with whipped cream and sprinkle with green sugar for an authentic look.
- Don’t forget the cherry.
Thank you for sharing this Shamrock Shake recipe! You have lots of great recipes that I’ve only tried a few of, and they’ve all been delicious!
Yum, this looks delicious! Will be giving this a try for St Patrick’s Day.
My favorite! But I’d go broke if I bought one every time I wanted one! I’m so excited to try this at home!
My kids loved this recipe! They were enchanted by the green color, and I was able to add just the right amount of mint for them! A winner!
That is do pretty! I want to drink that right now!
Oh yum what an amazing colour, looks so delicious!