McDonald’s Shamrock shake is the ultimate refreshing treat, instantly transporting most of us to a St. Patrick’s Day celebration! Regardless of whether it is St.Patrick’s Day, you can enjoy this minty treat at home with this simple McDonald’s Shamrock Shake recipe!
Although McDonald’s has a few evergreen flavors for milkshakes, its Shamrock shake has become a tradition across the United States on St.Patrick’s Day! Many of you may not know this, but the Shamrock shake has been around since the 1970s’! I know I was shocked, too!
Over the past fifty-odd years, many people have looked forward to enjoying this minty vanilla goodness every year, all for the love of the shake and, well, also for a bit of nostalgia. But, sadly, the Shamrock shake has always been a limited-time offering at the chain despite its popularity and high sales volume.
But, lucky for you, that’s what this recipe and I are here for! So what if you don’t get this shake at McDonald’s all year round? With simple ingredients, you can make this creamy goodness right at home!
Equipments Required
- Blender: Ensure your blender is powerful enough to blend ice and help you get that perfectly creamy, smooth milkshake.
- Tall Glass: A tall glass will be good enough to serve a single portion of this decadent milkshake.
- Measuring Cups And Spoons: These pieces of equipment are optional for this recipe. However, having them handy will help you get the exact measurements for all the ingredients.
- Ice Cream Scoop: Ice cream is an essential part of this milkshake, and it is best to use the same scoop to get the measurements right.
McDonald’s Shamrock Shake Ingredients & Substitutions
Note: The ingredients below are enough to make either one large portion of Shamrock shake or two medium-sized portions.
- 4 Scoops Of Vanilla Bean Ice Cream: I would say try going for a vanilla ice cream with a consistency similar to the soft serve you get at McDonald’s. As the soft serve is much more airy, an ice cream with a similar texture will give a lighter milkshake.
- ½ Cup Whole Milk: Alternatively, you can use half and half of the same quantity if you want a more luscious and creamy milkshake.
- ¼ Teaspoon Peppermint Extract: For the sharp, minty flavor that McDonald’s Shamrock shake is known for.
- 6 Drops of Green Food Coloring: You can use liquid or gel food coloring for this, whatever you have at hand.
- 2 Tablespoons Whipped Cream: Do not use sweetened whipped cream, as it may make the milkshake a bit too sweet. This is just to garnish the milkshake.
- 2 Maraschino Cherries: For garnish
Preparation And Cooking Time
Preparation Time | Cooking Time | Total Time |
---|---|---|
2 Minutes | – | 2 Minutes |
How To Make McDonald’s Shamrock Shake At Home
Step 1
In a blender, add the scooped vanilla ice cream.
Step 2
Follow that by adding peppermint extract and whole milk.
Step 3
Now, add the green food coloring and blend the milkshake.
Step 4
Once it reaches a smooth consistency, top the milkshake with whipped cream and maraschino cherries, and you’re done!
McDonald’s Shamrock Shake Recipe Video
Expert Tips That I Recommend
- If you are unsure about the potency of your food coloring, I suggest adding half the quantity mentioned in the recipe first and then adding more if needed.
- I am a fan of mint and chocolate, so I often add chocolate sauce to recipes for the ultimate flavor.
- Blend the milkshake for only a few seconds, as this may ruin the consistency.
- If blending hard ice cream is difficult, you can soften it by leaving it in the refrigerator for a few minutes. But ensure that your ice cream does not end up melting.
- If your ice cream is melting too fast because you live in a hot environment like me, I often add some ice to the milkshake while blending to stabilize the texture.
- For a smoother consistency, opt for a high-speed blender.
FAQs About McDonald’s Shamrock Shake
Nutritional Information Per Serving
Unfortunately, McDonald’s Shamrock Shake is not a very healthy milkshake. It is made with high-fat ingredients, resulting in too many calories and a lot of saturated fat and sugar.
Calories | 649 kcal |
Carbohydrates | 66 g |
Protein | 11 g |
Fat | 38 g |
Saturated Fat | 23 g |
Cholesterol | 145 mg |
Sodium | 236 mg |
Potassium | 604 mg |
Fiber | 1 g |
Sugar | 56 g |
Vitamin A | 1385 IU |
Vitamin C | 1.6 mg |
Calcium | 401 mg |
Iron | 0.2 mg |
This shake can be enjoyed by those on a gluten-free diet and even a vegetarian diet. However, it can not be consumed by those with certain dietary restrictions, such as vegan, keto, and low-calorie diets.
Recipe Variations For Different Diets
- Vegan Diet: The ice cream and milk will be an issue for vegans, along with the whipped cream on top. So, when I make this milkshake for a vegan, I switch the ice cream to a plant-based ice cream and use plant-based milk. Almond and cashew milk are the best options to go for in place of whole milk due to their creamy texture. You can skip the whipped cream, or use plant-based whipped cream for the same.
- Dairy-Free Diet: Similar to vegans, people on a dairy-free diet can switch the ice cream with a non-dairy version and also use plant-based milk instead of whole milk for this recipe.
- Low-Calorie Diet: Firstly, use skimmed milk instead of whole milk and light whipped cream instead of regular. Lastly, I recommend low-fat, sugar-free ice cream to save on the extra fat and sugar content.Â
- Keto Diet: You can still try the same by switching some of the ingredients, like using keto-friendly ice cream and keto-friendly milk, like almond milk or coconut milk.Â
How To Store This Shamrock Shake
- In The Refrigerator: To do so, transfer the milkshake to an airtight container or a jar and then place it in the refrigerator for up to three days.Â
- In The Freezer: To store your milkshake for longer or simply enjoy a frozen milkshake, transfer it to an airtight container and freeze it for up to two months!
What To Serve With This Recipe
Shamrock shake is an indulgent beverage you can enjoy on its own! However, since this beverage is a classic from McDonald’s, you can enjoy it with other classic McDonald’s offerings, like crispy French Fries or Chicken Nuggets.Â
I love my Shamrock shake with a Chicken Sandwich or even a Snack Wrap like the ones you get at McDonald’s. If you prefer beef, enjoy a hearty Homemade Quarter Pounder with this shamrock shake, as the combination is flawless!Â
Printable Version
McDonald’s Shamrock Shake Copycat Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 scoops Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
- 1/2 cup Whole Milk
- 1/4 teaspoon Peppermint Extract
- 6 drops Green Food Coloring liquid
- 2 tablespoons Whipped Cream
- 2 Maraschino Cherries for garnish
Equipment
- Blender
- Tall glass
- Measuring cups
- Measuring Spoons
- Ice-cream scoop
Instructions
Video
Notes
- If you are unsure about the potency of your food coloring, I suggest adding half the quantity mentioned in the recipe first and then adding more if needed.Â
- I am a fan of mint and chocolate, so I often add chocolate sauce to recipes for the ultimate flavor.Â
- Blend the milkshake for only a few seconds, as this may ruin the consistency.Â
- If blending hard ice cream is difficult, you can soften it by leaving it in the refrigerator for a few minutes. But ensure that your ice cream does not end up melting.Â
- If your ice cream is melting too fast because you live in a hot environment like me, I often add some ice to the milkshake while blending to stabilize the texture.
- For a smoother consistency, opt for a high-speed blender.Â
Nutrition
More McDonald’s Recipes That You Can Try
Conclusion
This simple recipe, made with even simpler ingredients, is also very adaptable to different diets, which is a huge plus.Â
So, regardless of your dietary restrictions, with just a few tweaks to the ingredients, you can easily enjoy this milkshake.Â
Also, let me know how the recipe turned out for you in the comments below! You just got a reason to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day any day of the year!Â