Shamrock Shake Recipe (2024)

This Copycat McDonald’s Shamrock Shake Recipe is better than the original! Only 4 simple ingredients and no need to leave the house to enjoy this amazing mint milkshake that we all love so much! This mint-flavored milkshake is the perfect St. Patrick’s Day dessert to make for the whole family! This Copy Cat Shamrock Shake recipe, with the perfect minty shamrock shake taste, is one the whole family will love.

Shamrock Shake Recipe

If during Shamrock shake season you are one of those visiting often to get yours and then sad when it is over you are in luck. Shamrock shakes are an iconic McDonald’s shake that is always a hit when they release it around St. Patrick’s Day. Seriously everyone I know heads to McDonald’s to get one, little do most people know it is like the easiest recipe ever to make at home!

This Shamrock shake recipe is a copy cat recipe of the well loved McDonald’s shamrock shake. Sadly the McDonald’s version is only available for a limited time of year starting in late February each year thru the month of march. I wish they would keep it longer, but since they don’t a mcdonald’s shamrock shake copycat recipe was a must to come up with.

Since it is one of my favorite milkshakes I had to come up with a copycat shamrock shake recipe so I can enjoy it anytime I want to. I tend to want to enjoy this minty shake in the middle of summer and that is not an option when it is only available for a short time of the year.

This great recipe is so simple to make and only has a handful of ingredients. Vanilla ice cream, milk, mint extract, and green food coloring (if you want it). No need to wait until St. Patrick’s Day to enjoy this mint milkshake, you can enjoy it anytime you want to at home! With only 4 ingredients including ice cream, mint extract, and whipped cream you can enjoy this minty milkshake all year long!

What is the Shamrock Shake?

The Shamrock Shake is a limited-time seasonal milkshake that is typically offered at McDonald’s restaurants around St. Patrick’s Day. The flavor of the Shamrock Shake is primarily a creamy, vanilla-mint flavor, with a green coloring that is reminiscent of the holiday. The shake is made with vanilla soft-serve ice cream, a mint syrup or extract, and green food coloring.

Is this Recipe Similar to the One at McDonald’s?

This copy cat recipe is as close as you are going to get to the one found on the mcdonald’s menus. It took a lot of testing to get it done, but we have created this great substitute to the fast food version that we could. Honestly, after having other people try it out they have agreed that this is the best copy cat recipe they have made.

This homemade version has the perfect vibrant green color, creamy texture, and perfect minty vanilla flavor that I personally think is even better than the original. If you want to keep it simple you can, but I like to get a little bit fancy by adding some whipped cream, green sprinkles, and maraschino cherries on top.

Tips for Making this Recipe

Whipped cream. When you are making these easy homemade milkshakes they taste amazing with whipped cream. You can use homemade whipped cream and a whipped cream dispenser or store bought whipped cream, whichever you prefer.

Use Mint Extract. When it comes to the mint extract, you have to be sure you are using mint extract and not peppermint extract if you want a full mint flavor. While they sound like they could be the same flavor, they are not and it is important to use mint extract to get the perfect Copy Cat Shamrock Shake flavor.

Make it fancy. You can use as much or as little green food coloring as you want to, use 4 drops of the liquid food coloring if you want your mint shake to be a light green and 6 drop of food coloring if you want it to be a dark green. If you want to skip the food coloring all together you can without missing any flavors.

Use whole milk. If you want the creamiest milkshake then it is best to use whole milk. You can use skim milk or 2% if that is what you have on hand but it will be thinner then if you are using whole milk.

How much Food Coloring do I need?

If you are using liquid food coloring then you will want to use 8-10 drops of green food coloring to get the bright green color. If you are using food coloring gel then you will want to use 3-4 drop of food coloring.

Do I need to use food dyes?

No. If you are not a fan of food coloring, you can leave that out and still have the amazing mint flavors you love, but my kids love the green coloring so we use food coloring to make it green. If you want to make this milkshake extra fancy grab some green strawssome 4 leaf clover sprinkles and some green sugar crystal sprinkles.

Can I use Peppermint Extract Instead of Mint?

There is a difference between the flavors of peppermint and mint, for this recipe you want to use plain mint extract so you get the minty flavor of the traditional Shamrock shake from McDonald’s.

St. Patrick’s Day Recipes

While most people will make this sweet treat for a fun celebration of st. patrick’s day treat I thought it would be best to also share with you some of our favorite St. Patrick’s Day recipes. You all know that I am a big fan of celebrating the holidays and of course St. Patrick’s Day is one of them.

For St. Patrick’s Day, our normal menu consists of corned beef and cabbage or Bangers and Mash, Irish Soda bread and a St. Patrick’s Day dessert. If you are looking for more St. Patrick’s Day recipes, be sure to check out a few of our favorites!

• Lucky Leprechaun Poop
• St. Patrick’s Day Marshmallow Pops
• St.Patrick’s Chocolate Covered Pretzels
• Lucky Charms Cupcakes
• St. Patrick’s Day Pasta
• Andes Mint Cupcakes
• Mint Meringue Cookies
• Andes Mint Cookies

Variations of this Recipe

Chocolate Mint Shake. Add a tablespoon of chocolate syrup into the milkshake mixture before blending in the blender. Then add a little bit of chocolate syrup to your glass as a drizzle before pouring the mint milkshake mixture into the tall glass.

Mint Milkshake for Christmas. You already have the perfect green color, add a few pieces of candy cane into the blender before mixing and also add some crushed candy cane pieces on top. You can also use peppermint extract instead of the mint extract for a peppermint flavor.

Make it Boozy. If you want to make it a boozy milkshake add a shot of Baileys Irish Cream or vanilla vodka before mixing it in the blender.

Shamrock Shake Recipe Ingredients

• 2 cups vanilla ice cream
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 4 to 6 drops of mint extract
• 2 to 3 drops of green food coloring
• Whipped cream, for topping (optional)
• 4 leaf clover sprinkles (optional)
• green sugar crystal sprinkles (optional)
• maraschino cherry

How to Make a Shamrock Shake

Place the vanilla ice cream, milk, mint extract, and food coloring in a blender.

Blend all of the ingredients until smooth using the pulse button.

Pour the milkshake mixture into 2 tall glasses.

Top with a cherry, whipped cream, and sprinkles if desired, and enjoy.

Milkshake Recipes

• Oreo Milkshake
• Caramel Milkshake
• Chocolate Banana Milkshake
• Mint Chocolate Cookie Milkshake