Shamrock Shake Recipe

There's something so refreshing about mint milkshakes. And the McDonald's Shamrock shake is such a bright, vibrant color. It's so cheerful and perfect for St. Patrick's Day!

If you're a fan of the annual McDonald's Shamrock Shakes, or of mint milkshakes in general, you'll love this copycat Shamrock Shake recipe! It's SUPER EASY to make at home!

What is a Shamrock Shake and when was it invented?

This famous green mint milkshake was invented in 1967 by Hal Rosen, an Owner/Operator of a McDonald's in Connecticut.

The drink started out as the "St. Patrick's Day Green Milkshake." The vibrant concoction debuted in McDonald's locations across the United States in 1970 and has been a beloved St. Patrick's Day tradition ever since.

McDonald's usually releases the Shamrock Shake - and its various versions -each year about one month before St. Patrick's Day, March 17. But lucky us, this is actually a shake that's easy to make at home all year round!

Kitchen tools and equipment

To make this McDonald's copycat recipe for a Shamrock Shake, you really only need one main kitchen tool: a good blender.

Then you might also need a long spoon or silicone spatula to scrape down the sides of the blender to help the ingredients combine well in between blender pulses.

Ingredients

You only need four main ingredients to make this Shamrock Shake recipe. Plus, two additional optional fun toppings.

Vanilla ice cream - You'll need your favorite vanilla ice cream to make these shakes. I like to use vanilla bean ice cream, which is why you see the bean bits in these photos. But you can use regular vanilla ice cream.

Milk - Use whole milk or full-fat coconut milk. You want a milk that is thicker, to help add to the thickness of the shake.

Mint extract - If you can, use mint extract. It's sometimes harder to find than peppermint, but it has a more authentic flavor. In a pinch, you can substitute peppermint extract.

Green food coloring - I prefer to use green food coloring drops as opposed to green food coloring gel in this recipe.

OPTIONAL: Whipped topping and sprinkles - These ingredients are optional, but I think they really make the shake a celebration!

Step-by-step instructions

Exact measurements of ingredients and instructions are in the printable recipe card toward the bottom of this post. Here are some helpful tips to guide you as you make this recipe.

Add the ice cream, milk, mint extract, and green food coloring to the blender.

Blend the ingredients at medium to medium-high until the green food coloring is evenly distributed and all ingredients are well combined.

Divide the shake evenly between two glasses.

If you'd like, top each shake with whipped cream and sprinkles!

Recipe FAQs