Kick off this St. Patrick's Day by making this fun & festive homemade Shamrock Shake Recipe! Try these Matcha Cheesecake cups for even more St. Patrick's Day sweetness!
McDonald's Shamrock Shakes are a must-have on Saint Patty's Day, but, like all good things, they're always gone too soon. Now you can enjoy this refreshing, minty shake any time of year!
I'll show you two variations of this copycat Shamrock Shake recipe: the classic way, and with a boozy twist!
If you need other St. Patrick's Day recipe ideas, you'll want to start by making corned beef seasoning and use it to season this Instant Pot corned beef or this smoked corned beef recipe. Then use the leftover corned beef to make corned beef tacos and Irish nachos!
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😍 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- No need to take a trip to McDonald's when you can make homemade Shamrock Shakes!
- Enjoy this Shamrock Shake copycat recipe year-round.
- You can make this tasty shake even better by adding liquor!
- This recipe only takes 5 minutes to make!
🔖 Ingredients & Substitutions
- Vanilla ice cream: I recommend French vanilla but vanilla bean also works. You can also use mint & chip if you want the minty flavor to be more prominent.
- Milk: Can't make a milkshake without milk! You can use oat milk or almond milk if you prefer, but you may want to use a little less since plant-based milks tend to be thinner than whole milk. Coconut milk is another good option.
- Peppermint extract: Mint extract works too!
- Liquid food coloring: Green food coloring is obviously ideal, or you can mix blue and yellow. If using gel food coloring, reduce the amount to 3-5 drops.
- Caramel sauce: Or honey.
- Liquor (optional): Creme de menthe is what I like to use for added mint flavoring, but you can also use peppermint vodka, Irish cream, or creme de cacao if you want more of a chocolatey flavor.
- Toppings (optional): Whipped cream, maraschino cherries, green sprinkles, chocolate shavings, chocolate chips, green m&ms, chocolate syrup, mint Oreos.
*See the recipe card for a full list of ingredients
🍀 How To Make Shamrock Shakes
Step 1: Combine milk, ice cream, peppermint extract, and green food coloring in a blender and blend until smooth.
Step 2 (optional): Add creme de menthe and blend until consistent.
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Step 3: Dip rims of glasses in caramel sauce, then coat with sprinkles.
Step 4: Pour shake mix into glasses and top with whipped cream, maraschino cherries, mint Oreos, and chocolate shavings.
Pro Tip: I use a cheese slicer to shave flakes off the chocolate bar, but you can also use a knife (just be careful!)
🤷🏻♀️ Recipe FAQs
McDonald's uses vanilla ice cream in their Shamrock Shakes, but, if making them at home, you can also use mint & chip if you want it extra minty!
Shamrock Shakes are typically mint-flavored, but, throughout the years, McDonald's has switched the recipe from mint to lemon-lime, and back to mint again.
👩🏻🍳 Pro Tips
- For best results, enjoy immediately after making!
- If you prefer a thicker shake, you can reduce the amount of milk.
- If you add alcohol, reduce milk by the same amount.
🍹 More Refreshing Drinks To Try
📖 Recipe
Homemade Shamrock Shake Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole milk
- 3 cups French vanilla ice cream
- ⅓ teaspoon peppermint extract
- 10 drops green food coloring
- ¼ cup creme de menthe (alcohol/optional)
- 1 tablespoon caramel sauce
- 1 tablespoon sprinkles
- 4 tablespoon whipped cream
- 2 maraschino cherries
- 2 mint Oreos
- ½ teaspoon chocolate shavings (optional)
Instructions
- Combine milk, ice cream, peppermint extract, and green food coloring in a blender and blend until smooth.
- (optional) Add creme de menthe and blend again until consistent.
- Dip rims of glasses in caramel sauce, then coat with sprinkles.
- Pour shake mix into glasses and top with whipped cream, maraschino cherries, mint Oreos, and chocolate shavings.
Notes
-
- I use a cheese slicer to shave flakes off the chocolate bar, but you can also use a knife (just be careful!
- For best results, enjoy immediately after making!
- If you prefer a thicker shake, you can reduce the amount of milk.
- If you add alcohol, reduce milk by the same amount.
Shala Carter says
This looks delish! I love mint!
I bet it would be good with crushed Oreos mixed in with the ice cream (softened) and then put back in the freezer to harden up again.
Hilda Sterner says
I love the way you think, Shala! Thank you so much for the comment! 🙂
Nena Sterner says
My family loved this recipe!