This favorite frosty Shamrock Shake recipe features 4 simple ingredients that quickly blend together to create a copycat version of the classic minty milkshake.

With its creamy texture and green-colored hue, there’s no need to wait for McDonald’s to release the date of the limited-edition seasonal shake when you can easily make your own sweet treat at home all year!

shamrock shake hero image
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Homemade Shamrock Shake

This copycat version of McDonald’s iconic Shamrock Shake tastes just like the original one that’s offered only a limited time each year, but why limit this indulgence to an annual release date when you can recreate the recipe easily at home without the wait?

At its core, the Golden Arches’ seasonal drink consists of vanilla ice cream blended with its signature “Shamrock syrup” and finished with a whipped topping and cherry.

My recipe captures the same creamy texture and bright green color, with a balanced mint taste, but I’ve simplified the ingredient list to 4 quality ingredients by skipping the syrup (which is basically corn syrup and a bunch of artificial flavors and colors) and flavoring my milkshake simply with mint extract and use green food coloring.

For more sweet, fun-to-eat copycat recipes (no travel required!), try my Copycat Disney Churros, DoubleTree Chocolate Chip Cookies, Starbucks S’Mores Bars, and Starbucks Pumpkin Scones.

Why You’ll Love this Shamrock Shake Recipe

  • Quick and easy to make in only 5 minutes.
  • Only uses 4 ingredients plus optional garnishes.
  • You can enjoy a minty milkshake all year long, at a fraction of the cost of what you’d pay at McDonald’s.
  • Cool and creamy sweet treat that tastes just like the restaurant recipe!
  • Fun to make and sip with kids.
  • Perfect to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, spring lunch drink, or boozy beverage for an adults-only party.
shamrock shake in a glass

Copycat Shamrock Shake Ingredients

  • Vanilla ice cream
  • Whole milk: I recommend using whole milk in this shake to achieve the creamiest result. You can use other types of milk, but the shakes may be a little thinner.
  • Mint extract  (NOT peppermint extract)
  • Green food coloring
  • Whipped cream
  • Sprinkles of your choice
  • Maraschino cherries for topping
shamrock shake ingredients

Shamrock Shake Recipe Tools

  • Blender
  • Serving glasses

SEE FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD BELOW

How to Make a Shamrock Shake

This Shamrock Shake recipe is an easy-to-make copy of McDonald’s minty milkshake. In a matter of minutes, you can create your own delicious dessert drink at home by simply blending ice cream, milk, food coloring, and mint to a smooth and creamy consistency.

  1. Add the ice cream, milk, mint extract, and green food coloring to a blender.
    Pro-Tip: Start with ½ teaspoon mint extract. If you desire more (like me!), increase by ¼ teaspoon until the desired taste has been achieved. I prefer to use an all-natural food coloring in this recipe. Of course, you don’t have to use any food coloring at all since it won’t affect the flavor.
  2. Blend until smooth.
    Pro Tip: Add additional mint extract and/or more drops of green food coloring until desired taste and color has been achieved.
    mix ingredients in blender
  3. Pour the shake into glasses, top with whipped cream, sprinkles, and a cherry. 
  4. Serve chilled and enjoy!
    shamrock shake with whipped cream and cherry

Shamrock Shake Recipe Substitutions & Additions

  • Make It Chocolate Mint: For a chocolate mint flavor, you can add a drizzle of chocolate syrup to the mix. Or, use chocolate ice cream instead of vanilla, and skip the green food coloring to create a Chocolate Shamrock Shake that will remind you of Girl Scout Thin Mints.
  • Skinny Shamrock Shake: For a “lighter” milkshake, you can use vanilla Greek-style yogurt or vanilla frozen yogurt instead of ice cream.
  • Boozy Beverage: In the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, try adding a bit of booze to the blender. Bourbon, vodka, whiskey, or Irish Cream would taste great. Creme de Menthe would make your milkshake extra minty too! 
  • Tasty Toppings: You can top your shake with cookie crumbs (like Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies or Grasshopper cookies), green sprinkles, or a sprig of mint. Or, mix in crushed Oreos and make an Oreo Shamrock McFlurry copycat!
  • Vegan Version: To make a vegan Shamrock Shake, use non-dairy vanilla ice cream, non-dairy milk (I like coconut milk), and non-dairy whipped topping.
  • Thicker shake: If you like a very thick shake, you can use heavy cream instead of milk.

Copycat Shamrock Shake storage

To Store: A Shamrock Shake is best served immediately after making it because it will melt quickly.

shamrock shake on serving tray

How to Make Shamrock Shake FAQs

What is a Shamrock Shake?

The Shamrock Shake is a beloved seasonal treat that McDonald’s has been offering since 1970. This creamy and blissful concoction consists of a blend of vanilla soft serve ice cream, blended with green-hued mint syrup, topped with whipped cream and a cherry. Every year, the iconic shake is made available for a limited time during the month of March

Can I freeze my Shamrock Shake?

A McDonald’s Shamrock Shake is made with vanilla soft serve ice cream, whipped light cream, and “Shamrock Shake syrup,” according to McDonald’s. The soft serve and whipped cream are both made with lots of milk, cream, and sugar, and some preservatives.

How long does McDonald’s make their Shamrock Shake available on the menu?

The Shamrock Shake usually stays available for around four or five weeks. It’s always introduced in mid-February, then it stays on the menu until just after St Patrick’s day in March.

What flavor is Shamrock Shake?

The flavor of a shamrock shake is primarily mint.

More like this Homemade Shamrock Shake:

5 from 2 votes
shamrock shake featured image

How to Make Shamrock Shake

Serves — 2
This copycat Shamrock Shake recipe makes it easy to sip a cool and creamy sweet treat any time of the year. It is so simple to recreate the famous minty milkshake at home using 4 ingredients for a fraction of the McDonald’s price.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cups vanilla ice cream
  • ¾ cup very cold whole milk
  • ½-1 tsp mint extract depending on your preference (NOT peppermint)
  • Green food coloring
  • Whipped cream
  • Sprinkles of your choice
  • Maraschino cherries for topping

Instructions
 

  • Place the ice cream, milk, mint extract, and green food coloring in a blender.
  • Blend until smooth. Add additional mint extract and/or more food coloring until desired taste and color has been achieved.
  • Pour the shake into glasses, top with whipped cream, sprinkles, and a cherry.
  • Serve chilled.

Jenn’s Notes

Storage:
A Shamrock Shake is best served immediately after making it because it will melt quickly.
Tips:
  • I recommend using whole milk in this shake to achieve the creamiest result. You can use other types of milk, but the shakes may be a little thinner.
  • If you like a very thick shake, you can use heavy cream instead of milk.
  • Start with ½ teaspoon mint extract. If you desire more (like me!), increase by ¼ teaspoon until the desired taste has been achieved.
  • I prefer to use an all-natural food coloring in this recipe. Of course, you don’t have to use any food coloring at all since it won’t affect the flavor.

Nutrition Info

Calories: 469kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 96mg | Sodium: 198mg | Potassium: 516mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 47g | Vitamin A: 982IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 357mg | Iron: 1mg

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Comments

  1. I am not able to find the Shamrock Shake recipe?? I pinned this a while ago – this is my first attempt at locating the recipe again. Please advise. Thanks much!! P.S. I love your website & your creative ideas!

  2. Great recipe! i hope you dont mind, we used it on our blog with a link back to your recipe 🙂

    top stuff x

  3. Young Living Peppermint Essential Oil would be great. It is non toxic, healthy, and only Young living is safe to ingest.

  4. O geeze I don’t know if it was such a good idea to tell me how to make them all year long! I accept the extra two pounds from February till April. 🙂

  5. Thanks for recipe on Shamrock shake. Love trying different things. Also my E-mail only the first letter is a capital. I live in Mich also. Thanks