Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a homemade Shamrock Shake recipe that's even better than the original! Vanilla or mint shakes (your choice!) are topped with festive sprinkles and marshmallows. A fun recipe to make with kids.
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It's an exciting day when McDonald's runs those ads and hangs the signs in their windows—the ones announcing that the limited time Shamrock Shakes are back! Because that means that means that St. Patrick's Day is almost here.
While this is certainly the most popular time of the year to celebrate all things green (clothes, beer, cookies, the Chicago River) why wait all year for someone else to give you access to a shamrock milkshake? Instead, I propose that you make DIY Shamrock Shakes at home—and gosh darn it, make them whenever you want!
What is a shamrock shake?
The McDonald's folks probably weren't the first clever folks to think of dyeing a milkshake green, but they're certainly the ones who are most famous for it.
The Shamrock Shake recipe, vivid green and mint-flavored, was created in 1967 by a Connecticut franchise owner named Hal Rosen and it was indeed created to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. The idea spread to other McDonald's franchises over the next several decades and was even used in promotions to raise money for charities like the Ronald McDonald House.
That means, of course, that the Shamrock Shake is not an authentic Irish recipe, however, it's certainly become an American-Irish tradition. Over 55 years since the first green shake was blended up, it's still a highly anticipated, annual St. Patrick's Day event. It's a treat that proves the old saying that everyone is Irish on St. Paddy's Day!
Also for St. Patrick's Day!
Baileys Chocolate Irish Cream Pie
The decadent, no bake filling has cream cheese, chocolate, and Irish cream.
Are shamrock milkshakes mint-flavored?
Oh yes, those green milkshakes at McDonald's are definitely mint-flavored! That's great news if you're a fan of mint like me. However, I know there are plenty of people who don't share this love of mint desserts, who go so far as to say that eating mint desserts is like eating toothpaste! How dare they!!
For these folks driving by their local McDonald's in March, their annual lament is, "Where's a green milkshake that I can love?"
Well, my recipe for a copycat Shamrock Shake is the answer. The shakes have a rich vanilla flavor and bits of chocolate underneath all that green. And if you do like mint Shamrock Shakes, it's easy to add minty flavor to this recipe. Now everyone can enjoy a sweet, green St. Patrick's Day frappe.
Why you'll love this milkshake
For those who want a fun St. Patrick's Day recipe to make with the kids, you'll really love whipping up an easy Shamrock Shake recipe. Just blend vanilla ice cream, milk, chocolate chips, and green food coloring.
For extra fun and kitsch, the milkshakes are topped with St. Patrick's Day-themed sprinkles and Lucky Charms marshmallows.
I recommend the shamrocks, rainbows, horseshoes... and what the heck, grab the unicorns, too. Get them from the cereal box, or order just the marshmallows online.
The milkshake is vanilla-flavored, but you can go with the classic, Shamrock Shake mint flavor by swapping in mint chocolate chip ice cream or a few drops of mint extract. With the bits of chocolate, it becomes a delicious mint chocolate shake.
Okay, who's ready for a green milkshake!?
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Slaínte!
Want more tasty ideas for St. Paddy's Day? Check out my entire collection of St. Patrick's Day recipes!
🔪 How to make Shamrock Shakes
Homemade Shamrock Shake Ingredients:
- Vanilla Ice Cream: Choose a good brand for the best-tasting shakes—I like Friendly's, Hood, Edy's, and Ben & Jerry's.
- Milk: You want the shake to be thick and creamy, so use whole milk or 2%.
- Flavor Extract: Always use high-quality extracts, such as my go-to brand, Nielsen-Massey for the best flavor. Use vanilla extract for a vanilla milkshake, or mint extract for a classic Shamrock Shake.
- Green Food Coloring: Liquid or gel food colorings can be used here. Start with a little and add more until you get an Emerald Isla green.
- Chocolate Chips: These turn into tasty shards when blended, giving the shakes a lovely mint chocolate flavor.
- Whipped Cream: Use homemade whipped cream or have fun with spray whipped cream.
- Sprinkles: Find a St. Patrick's Day blend or even just green sprinkles to top your milkshakes.
- Lucky Charms Marshmallows: You can either dig them from the box of cereal, or order just the marshmallows online
Blend the ingredients
Put the ice cream, milk, flavoring, green liquid food coloring, and chocolate chips in a blender. Pulse the milkshake mix to make a smooth, green milkshake.
Decorate and serve
Divide the milkshake mixture between two chilled glasses. Add whipped cream to the top of each glass. Drop some St. Patrick's Day sprinkles and Lucky Charms marshmallows over the tops. Serve the shakes immediately!
FAQs
The Shamrock Shake from McD's is mint flavored with a vanilla, soft-serve ice cream base. Fun fact: back in the 1960s when the shake was created, individual franchises had more control over what they offered, which is why in some regions the first Shamrock Shakes were lime-flavored—made with lime sherbert!
Some spirits that taste amazing in the vanilla version of a Shamrock Shake are Baileys Irish Cream, butterscotch schnapps, vanilla vodka, white chocolate liqueur, and Kahlua.
If you're making a mint Shamrock Shake, add peppermint schnapps or chocolate liqueur to the mixture.
Tips:
- Keep the milk very cold and the ice cream very frozen before making the shakes, so that they'll be as frosty as possible. And stash the glasses in the fridge so that they're nice and cold, too.
Huzzah: a St. Patrick's Day dessert that everyone can enjoy!
The recipe for Green Milkshakes for St. Patrick's Day is below. Here are more St. Paddy's Day recipes to try, too:
💬 Did you make and devour this recipe? Leave a comment below.
📖 Recipe
Shamrock Shake Recipe
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Equipment
- 2 Tall glasses chilled in the freezer
- 2 Straws
- 2 Long spoons
Ingredients
For the shake:
- 4½ cups vanilla ice cream
- 1 cup 2% or whole milk
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- Green liquid food coloring
- ¼ cup chocolate chips
Toppings:
- 1 cup whipped cream
- Green sprinkles
- ¼ cup marshmallows from Lucky Charms cereal (I like to use the rainbows, shamrocks, horseshoes... and sometimes unicorns!)
Instructions
Blend:
- Place the ice cream, milk, vanilla extract, food coloring, and chocolate chips in a blender.
- Blend the ingredients together until the mixture is thick and smooth. Check the green color: blend in more food coloring if necessary to get a good, bright-green hue.
Garnish and serve:
- Divide the milkshake mixture between two tall, chilled glasses.
- Add whipped cream to the tops of the milkshakes, dividing it between the glasses.
- Sprinkle green sprinkles over the whipped cream. Drop several Lucky Charms marshmallows onto the tops of each milkshake.
- Serve the milkshakes immediately with long spoons and straws. Sláinte!
For mint Green Milkshakes:
- Add a few drops of mint extract to the blender. Start with just a couple of drops, then taste the mixture to see if it needs more. Or, substitute mint chocolate chip ice cream for the vanilla.
For boozy Shamrock Shakes:
- Add a few shots of liqueur to the blender, such as Baileys Irish cream, vanilla vodka, Godiva chocolate liqueur, white chocolate liqueur, or Kahlua. For mint milkshakes, add peppermint schnapps to the mixture.
Notes
- Keep the milk very cold and the ice cream very frozen before making the shakes, so that they'll be as frosty as possible. And stash the glasses in the fridge so that they're nice and cold, too.
Nutrition
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