McDonald’s Shamrock Shake
This shamrock shake recipe is a homemade spin on the famous St. Patrick’s Day-inspired minty green milkshake from the iconic fast-food restaurant… AND McDonald’s Shamrock Shake is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2020! Use this shake recipe and enjoy a homemade version at any time.
The month of March has become synonymous with McDonald’s Shamrock Shakes – minty, green and wonderfully thick, they definitely lure more than a few people into the drive-thru for a quick shamrock shake fix. While they seem to come out earlier each year, they used to be available only on St. Patrick’s Day; sometimes they sold out before the day was even done!
As with most favorite store-bought treats, I love being able to recreate them at home with my own ingredients, and this McDonald’s shamrock shake copycat recipe is no exception.
Only four simple ingredients and five minutes, and you’ll be on your way to minty milkshake heaven.
Whether you’re looking for a holiday treat or a quick, refreshing dessert, this shamrock shake recipe is sure to please your taste buds no matter what time of year it is!
How Do You Make a Shamrock Shake?
It’s easy to make! You only need a few ingredients to make a shake at home.
A balance of ice cream and milk keeps the consistency nice and thick, mint extract gives a punch of flavor, and green food coloring gives it that characteristic hue.
With just two simple steps, you’ll learn how to make a milkshake that’s creamy and full of flavor.
Let’s Give It a Whirl!
This copycat McDonald’s Shamrock Shake recipe is ready in just five minutes.
- Add all your ingredients to a blender and puree until smooth.
- Pour into glasses and top with whipped cream. Adding sprinkles or a maraschino cherry can make it extra festive.
Tips & Tricks
- Green color: If you want a darker shade of green, you’ll need a few more drops of food coloring. You can also try a gel food color, which is more concentrated. You typically only need 2-3 drops of food gel for every 10 drops of food coloring.
- Mint extract: Plain mint extract uses spearmint, which is much milder than peppermint. Peppermint extract contains significantly more menthol, which gives it a more intense flavor. Either extract will work in a shamrock shake, although plain mint is traditional. Just keep in mind that if you use peppermint extract, you will get a stronger punch of mint flavor. Think peppermint candy canes versus Thin Mints. As a result, you may want to use a little less.
- Adjusting consistency: Play around with the ratio of ice cream to milk to make your shake exactly how thick you like it. Start off with the amounts given in the recipe. Then add more ice cream if you want it to be thicker or more milk to thin it out.
Adjustments & Substitutions
Can I add alcohol to a shamrock shake?
If you want to make your shamrock shake with alcohol, spike away! Crème de menthe would be a great substitute for the mint extract, but you may need to double or triple the amount to get that strong minty flavor. You could also experiment with mint and whipped cream vodkas if you’d like.
Can I make it vegan or dairy-free?
It is possible to make this a vegan and dairy-free shake recipe. However, to keep the flavor and consistency the same, be careful with your substitutions. Oat or soy milk ice cream will have a similar creamy texture. Coconut milk ice cream will work too, but it might be slightly grainy.
For a milk substitute, you’ll want to choose something with a neutral flavor and thicker consistency. Again, oat and soy milks are probably your best options. If you want to use coconut milk, full fat canned will work best. Rice milk is very neutral, but it’s thinner so you’ll need less.
You can leave off the whipped topping or use a non-dairy substitute. Most stores carry spray whipped cream made from almond or coconut milk, or you can find homemade recipes online.
Would this be good with a different flavor of ice cream?
You can definitely experiment with different ice cream flavors. Regular chocolate, mint chocolate chip, or even pistachio might be good ones to try.
Find more milkshake recipes here:
Malted Vanilla Milkshake
Cap’n Crunch Milkshake
White Russian Winter Milkshake
Pretzel, Peanut Butter & Chocolate Malted Milkshake
Fluffernutter Milkshake
I hope you’ll put this on your menu for St. Patrick’s Day or anytime you get a craving for a minty milkshake! If you make it, I’d love if you would take a moment to stop back and share a review below. ENJOY! 😍
McDonald's Shamrock Shake
Ingredients
- 3 cups (396 g) vanilla ice cream
- 1½ cups (360 ml) whole milk
- ½ teaspoon mint extract
- 6 drops green food coloring
- Whipped cream, for topping
Instructions
- Place the ice cream, milk, mint extract, and green food coloring in a blender. Puree until smooth.
- Divide between two glasses, top with whipped cream and enjoy!
Notes
- Green color: If you want a darker shade of green, you’ll need a few more drops of food coloring. You can also try a gel food color, which is more concentrated. You typically only need 2-3 drops of food gel for every 10 drops of food coloring.
- Mint extract: Plain mint extract uses spearmint, which is much milder than peppermint. Peppermint extract contains significantly more menthol, which gives it a more intense flavor. Traditional shamrock shakes use plain mint extract, but either will work. Just keep in mind that if you use peppermint extract, you will get a stronger punch of mint flavor.
- Adjusting consistency: Play around with the ratio of ice cream to milk to make your shake exactly how thick you like it. Add more ice cream if it needs to be thicker or more milk to thin it out.
- Adding alcohol: Feel free to make this a spiked milkshake! Crème de menthe would be a great substitute for the mint extract, but you may need to double or triple the amount to get that strong minty flavor. You could also experiment with mint and whipped cream vodkas if you’d like.
- Vegan and dairy-free versions: Oat or soy milk make great substitutes for the milk; if you use coconut milk, be sure to go for the full-fat canned version. If you use rice milk, use less since it is thinner. Oat and soy based ice creams will also work well; if you use coconut milk ice cream, the milkshake may have a grainier texture.
- Different flavors of ice cream: You could totally experiment with different ice cream flavors. Regular chocolate, mint chocolate chip, or even pistachio might be good ones to try.
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @thebrowneyedbaker on Instagram so I can see it!
Originally published in 2011, this has been updated to include new photos, a helpful video tutorial, and more in-depth recipe tips.
[photos by Dee of One Sarcastic Baker]
My kids liked this more than the real thing! We used peppermint since that was all we had but no complaints!
Can you substitute 2% milk or does it have to be whole milk?
Hi Megan, You can use 2%!
I really love your Shamrock shake & it looks more yummy, beautiful as well…..shamrock shakes is also my favorite and i can’t wait to make it…thanks for sharing…!
So funny that you posted this. We made these the last 2 days (just bc I had some mint extract that I’ve never used)! Way better than McDonald’s!
How many ounces does this milkshake make approximately? I want to make mini shakes.
Hi Grace, I’m totally guessing based on the glass size, I haven’t weighed them, but I would say around 16-20 ounces total.
I love that you listed your recipes from St Pat’s past…and that it goes back 10 years! Kudos to longevity and fun in the kitchen. :)
Thank you Nicole! :)
I have never had a Shamrock Shake but this looks so yummy! I love milkshakes in general
This is such a pretty color and sounds delicious! For some reason, I’ve never tried a real Shamrock Shake before, but I can already tell I’d prefer this version :)
Too much milk. I tried it and only used 1 cup of milk and it was still too runny. I’d recommend 3/4 cup milk.
You’ve made this so pretty! Much more tempting than those at that fast food joint. :)
This looks yummy, and I love the cute little shamrocks on top!!
i’ve never had a shamrock shake but i’d definitely try this one :)
This looks like so much fun! I, surprisingly, have never had a Shamrock Shake! But if I did, it would probably have to be a homemade one :)
Love Shamrock shakes! This year I made my own variation of homemade mint ice cream instead. I used mint flavoring and green coloring like you did for this shake, and then added a bunch of crushed Thin Mint Girl Scout cookies at the end. Tasted just as good as a Shamrock Shake!
Never had one before but your’s looks way better than Mickey D’s.
These shamrock shakes look amazing! I love that they’re so easy to make too!
Ok, mouth is watering. Gotta go make one of these now! Looks fabulous!
I always get my Shammie Shake mixed, half chocolate and half shamrock…Do you think Chocolate ice cream would create the desired outcome?
Hmm I don’t see why not! Or maybe even mint chocolate chip?
I’ve never had a Shamrock Shake from McDonald’s, and I don’t think I want to. I’d rather make this instead!
I love this! The cute little flour-leaf clover sprinkles are just perfect. What a great idea!
The shamrock shake is such a guilty pleasure. I have not had one in years. I am going to make this for dessert tonight. My kids will love it. Thanks!
I love me a shamrock shake, although I wonder if they are so good because you can only get them right now? I’ll have to make some at home throughout the year to test this theory!
I have always loved Shamrock shakes…..oh me oh my does this look delicious!
Beautiful and yummy shake!
I’m making this tonight!
Love the shamrock shake! Yours is so pretty. I just might be making these tonight (spiked perhaps?) for hubs and me!
I am definitely going to make these tonight for the boyfriend and myself and on Saturday when the family comes over for dinner!!
I love shamrock shakes!! I can’t wait to try this homemade version! My husband’s diet is going to get thrown out the window after he sees me whip these up! hehe. Our poor husbands… :)
I was actually planning on making this tonight after dinner, only I was just going to totally wing in. Now I have your recipe as a guide, so thanks! Yum!
Thank you for sharing this! I love Shamrock Shakes but McDonald’s don’t do them where I live in England, so this is a very welcome recipe, and I look forward to trying it! (It is also a whole lot more wholesome than the McDonald’s version too!)
I LOVE Shamrock Shakes! Unfortuantely, they’re hard to come by in NYC. I’ll have to give this a try instead! I also like Erin’s idea of adding Creme de Menthe!
This looks great! I bet you could use Creme De Menthe in place of the extract as well! That might also allow to skip the food coloring.
I posted three green cocktails this morning on my blog. Irish Mojito, Grasshopper and Caramel Apple Martini. Yumm! :)
You can use creme de menthe…Excellent adult shake
happy st. patrick’s day michelle! i made mini irish cream cheesecakes for my co-workers today, and tonight i’m making shepherd’s pie for dinner! if i have time i might try some irish soda bread.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you, too! :) On my menu today — beef hand pies. I’d describe them as the fictional love child of beef stew and the Polish classic haluski. To die for!
http://bakingdomesticityallthingsmini.blogspot.com/2011/03/happy-pie-day.html
Also, wanted to say thank you for that delicious peanut butter cup crunch brownie recipe. My coworkers and friends raved about them and a 9×13 pan of them barely lasted a day :) Thanks! And, go Pens!!
Aww I love this! A good shamrock shake sounds awesome to me. Mmmm.
I was actually thinking of driving through McDonalds for one of these today . . . I think I might just pick up some ice cream & make one at home instead! Happy St. Patty’s Day! :D
I’ve actually never had a Shamrock shake, but I can see why people love them!
That looks so good!
We may have St. Paddy’s day inspired food all week at our house! Our menu tonight is to be baked cod and oven fries with a horseradish coleslaw. Dessert is a Guinness gingerbread cake with a cider cream filling.
How delightful! I worked at McDonald’s in college and was definitely guilty of enjoying many Shamrock shakes!
Una bella idea con un delizioso colore ♥