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    Home » Recipes » Drinks

    Homemade Shamrock Shake

    Published: Mar 8, 2023 · Last Modified: Mar 8, 2023 by Leslie Jeon · 2 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links ·

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe
    Shamrock shake in a glass topped with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry with text that reads 'Homemade Shamrock Shake'


    All the delicious flavor of the St. Patrick's Day treat enjoyed at home! This Homemade Shamrock Shake takes only three ingredients to make, and it tastes just as good as the original version from McDonald's.

    Glass with green shamrock shake topped with whipped cream, a cherry, and a straw this post

    All year long, I eagerly await for one thing: Shamrock Shake season.

    If you've never tried one before, please run — not walk — to your nearest McDonald's and order one right away. They're available for a limited time each year around St. Patrick's Day, and trust me when I say they are absolutely delicious.

    That being said, I probably shouldn't be going to McDonald's every week. So, I decided to try making my own version of the classic shamrock shake, and I'm so happy with how it turned out.

    Without further ado, let's get those blenders ready and whip up this delicious treat to celebrate St. Patrick's Day!

    Jump to:
    • What You'll Need
    • How to Make This Recipe
    • Tips for Making This Shake
    • Common Questions About This Shake
    • How to Store & Freeze
    • Homemade Shamrock Shake
    • Comments

    What You'll Need

    Here's a quick overview of some of the ingredients and tools needed to make this shake. The full recipe can be found at the bottom of the post!

    Ingredients

    • Vanilla ice cream - Any brand of vanilla ice cream works here, so choose your favorite to use for this recipe.
    • Whole milk - I personally love to use whole milk when making this milkshake, but feel free to use whatever type of milk you prefer.
    • Peppermint extract - The most important part of the recipe! Pure peppermint extract packs a punch, and you can easily buy a bottle of it at the grocery store or online.
    • Green food coloring - While food coloring isn't technically required to make this recipe, it makes the milkshake so fun and festive. I typically like to add in a few drops of green food coloring (or a mix of yellow and blue food coloring) before blending everything together.

    Equipment

    • Blender - Any blender will work for this recipe, but I'm a big fan of this professional blender from Ninja.
    Two shamrock shakes in glasses topped with whipped cream and maraschino cherries

    How to Make This Recipe

    This recipe couldn't be more simple to make! Here's all you need to do:

    1. In a blender, combine the vanilla ice cream, whole milk, peppermint extract, and a few drops of green food coloring. Blend until the mixture is smooth and you've achieved your desired shade of green.
    2. Pour the shake into your desired glass and serve. To take the milkshake to the next level, top it with a bit of whipped cream and a maraschino cherry. Enjoy!

    Tips for Making This Shake

    Here are some of my best tips to get a perfect shake every time:

    • Double the recipe if you're serving a crowd. The recipe below yields only one shake, so if you want to serve several people, I recommend doubling (or even tripling) the recipe. On the recipe card below, you can easily double or triple the recipe by hitting '2x' or '3x.'
    • Use high-quality ice cream to get the best milkshake. When it comes down to it, the quality of the ice cream will determine both the flavor and the texture of the shake. Opt for the best ice cream you can find at the grocery store!
    • The richer the milk, the richer the shake. I personally like to use whole milk when making milkshakes because it has so much flavor.
    Two shamrock shakes in glasses topped with whipped cream and maraschino cherries

    Common Questions About This Shake

    What does a shamrock shake have in it?

    This classic St. Patrick's Day treat is made with vanilla ice cream, whole milk, peppermint extract, and green food coloring. It's best enjoyed topped with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry!

    Does a shamrock shake have dairy?

    I prefer to make this recipe using vanilla ice cream and whole milk, so it does contain dairy. However, you can easily substitute in non-dairy ice cream and plant-based milk if preferred.

    How to Store & Freeze

    To freeze: While this recipe is best enjoyed fresh, it can be frozen and enjoyed later. Simply store any leftover milkshake in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months, then defrost in the fridge before consuming.

    Love this recipe? Please leave a star rating and review in the comments below! And don't forget to subscribe to The Baker's Almanac for even more baking recipes and tips.

    Print
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    Shamrock shake in a glass topped with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry

    Homemade Shamrock Shake


    ★★★★★

    5 from 1 reviews

    • Author: Leslie Jeon
    • Total Time: 5 minutes
    • Yield: 1 milkshake 1x
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    All the delicious flavor of the St. Patrick's Day treat enjoyed at home! This Homemade Shamrock Shake takes only three ingredients to make, and it tastes just as good as the original version from McDonald's.


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 1 cup (150g) vanilla ice cream 
    • ½ cup (114g) whole milk 
    • ½ teaspoon pure peppermint extract
    • 1-2 drops green food coloring
    • Optional for serving: whipped cream & maraschino cherry

    Instructions

    1. In a blender, combine the vanilla ice cream, whole milk, peppermint extract, and food coloring. Blend until the mixture is smooth and you've achieved your desired shade of green.
    2. Pour the shake into your desired glass and serve. To take the milkshake to the next level, top it with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry. Enjoy!

    Equipment

    Image of Food Coloring Set

    Food Coloring Set

    Buy Now →
    Image of Professional Blender

    Professional Blender

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    Image of Pure Peppermint Extract

    Pure Peppermint Extract

    Buy Now →

    Notes

    • Consistency: For a thicker milkshake, reduce the amount of milk to ⅓ cup.
    • Prep Time: 5 minutes
    • Cook Time: 0 minutes
    • Category: Dessert
    • Method: No Bake
    • Cuisine: American

    Keywords: shamrock shake, milkshake, peppermint, mcdonald's copycat

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @thebakersalmanac on Instagram and hashtag it #thebakersalmanac

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    1. Trish

      February 14, 2021 at 11:49 am

      yum, so much fun to make with the kids!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Leslie Jeon

        April 16, 2021 at 4:02 pm

        I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe, Trish! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review. 😊

        Reply

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    hi there, i'm leslie!

    I'm a professionally-trained pastry chef, and here at The Baker's Almanac, I share unique dessert recipes and baking tips to help you bake with confidence. You can usually find me with a cookie (or two) in one hand and a cookbook in the other!

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