Copycat Shamrock Shake
Make a Copycat Shamrock Shake at home in just 10 minutes. A refreshing, minty green party treat for St. Patrick’s Day and spring gatherings.
Feeling lucky? This homemade Copycat Shamrock Shake recipe brings the same cool, creamy magic you crave every March. If you wait all year for the iconic Shamrock Shake from McDonald’s, you’re going to love having a version you can whip up anytime. Refreshing peppermint meets velvety vanilla ice cream and milk in a frosty green shake that tastes like spring in a glass. It’s fun for St. Patrick’s Day parties, movie nights, or whenever you need a cheerful pick-me-up for late winter and early spring.
COPYCAT SHAMROCK SHAKE
If you’re looking for an easy party drink for Saint Patrick’s Day, this is the one. Simply toss everything into a blender, blend, and out comes the creamiest mint milkshake. Top these homemade milkshakes with whipped cream, sprinkles, and a juicy red cherry for the best shamrock shake. You can even add some caramel sauce, if you’re feeling extra adventurous. I can’t have mine without it. 😉 Serve them in mason jars with festive straws and a topping bar so guests can customize their own. It instantly turns this festive dessert into a fun activity for all ages and looks fantastic on a Saint Patrick’s Day party table.
Find my expert tips on how to make a homemade copycat Shamrock Shake from scratch below! Don’t forget to tag me in all of your creations @lifeinthelofthouse on Instagram and Facebook. Let’s stay connected. ☘️
Why You’ll Love This Festive Copycat Shamrock Shake Recipe:
- Quick & Easy: With only 10 minutes of prep time and 5 ingredients, you can have a minty milkshake ready-to-go within minutes.
- Creamy & Refreshing: This homemade mint shake combines creamy vanilla ice cream, milk, peppermint extract, and more to create the ultimate milkshake recipe.
- Minty Party Treat: This shake delivers that once-a-year excitement whenever you want it. After one sip, you’ll be craving this shake all year round, not just in March.
Ingredients
- 4 cups vanilla ice cream
- 1/2 to 1 cup milk (I use 2%)
- 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 4 to 5 drops liquid green food coloring
- whipped cream
- cherries
- chocolate sauce
- caramel sauce (optional)
Instructions
Place ice cream, mint extract, and green food coloring in a blender.
Pour in 1/2 cup milk and place the lid on the blender. Blend until creamy and combined. For a thinner shake, add in more milk until the shake has reached the desired consistency.
Pour into 2 glasses and top with whipped cream, cherries, and chocolate sauce. Enjoy!
Servings
Yields: 2 shamrock shakes.
Storage
These homemade milkshakes taste best fresh, but leftovers can be saved. Store the leftover shamrocks shakes in an airtight container, like a glass jar with a screw-top lid or leak-proof shaker bottles, in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. It will thin as it melts, so shake, stir, or re-blend with a scoop of ice cream to thicken.
To freeze, store leftovers in a freezer-safe container for up to 1 week, then let it sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes and blend again with a splash of milk until creamy.
Holly’s Tips for The Best Copycat Shamrock Shake Recipe:
- Use Premium Vanilla Ice Cream: I recommend using premium vanilla ice cream. This will make the shamrock milkshakes taste richer and more creamy.
- Use Real, High-Quality Dairy: Although I provide steps for a dairy-free version of the Shamrock Shake (Copycat) below, this shake gets its flavor from the dairy products. Use real and fresh dairy products for the most authentic flavor.
- Soften Ice Cream First: Pull out the ice cream and let it soften on the counter at room temperature for about 2-3 minutes before blending for the best results.
- Gradually Add Food Coloring: For the signature pale green color, I recommend adding the food coloring gradually. Pastel looks more classic than neon green.
- Chill Before Serving: Place your milkshakes in the freezer for 5 minutes in glass jars; it keeps the shake thicker for longer.
- Make It Your Own: Try adding green and gold sprinkles for St. Patrick’s Day, or switch to soft pastel colors for Easter and spring celebrations. To make it healthier, you can also try adding 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder and extra milk to sneak in some extra protein.
Frequently Asked Questions:
For a thicker milkshake, use premium ice cream. This ice cream is thicker and richer, resulting in a thicker milkshake. If you don’t want to use premium ice cream, throw in some malted milk powder for a thick shake. You can also add less milk. For a thinner milkshake, add more milk.
For a cookies-and-cream twist similar to the OREO® Shamrock McFlurry®, add 3-4 chocolate sandwich cookies to the blender and follow the same ingredients and steps as the original recipe. Blend until the cookies are broken into small pieces but not completely pulverized, so you still get those classic chunky bits in every sip.
To make this Copycat Shamrock Shake dairy-free, simply swap every dairy ingredient for a plant-based alternative while keeping the same method. Use 4 cups dairy-free vanilla ice cream (coconut, almond, or oat milk varieties work best for creaminess) and replace the 2% milk with ½–1 cup unsweetened plant milk. Oat milk gives the closest texture, while almond milk keeps it lighter. Blend the dairy-free ice cream with the peppermint extract and green food coloring, then add the milk gradually until you reach your preferred thickness.
To make this Copycat Shamrock Shake gluten-free, use plain vanilla ice cream and milk (always check labels for additives or cross-contamination), verify your peppermint extract and green food coloring are certified gluten-free, and choose gluten-free whipped cream. The main place gluten can sneak in is toppings, so avoid cookie crumbles unless they’re gluten-free and double-check chocolate or caramel sauces for wheat-based thickeners.
Similar Recipes
Craving something similar? Make my Oreo Milkshakes next.
Looking for a lighter milkshake recipe? My Skinny Oreo Chocolate Milkshakes hit the spot every time.
Looking for more St. Patrick’s Day dessert recipes? Try my highly-rated Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies, Brownie Cookies with Mint Frosting, Thin Mint Chocolate Poke Cake, and Mint Ice Cream Sandwich Cake.
Have you made this Copycat Shamrock Shake recipe? ☘️
Leave a review, and don’t forget to tag me in your creations on Instagram and Facebook! @lifeinthelofthouse! #ShamrockShake #LifeInTheLofthouse
Shamrock Shakes
Ingredients
- 4 cups vanilla ice cream
- 1/2 to 1 cup milk I use 2%
- 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 4 to 5 drops liquid green food coloring
- whipped cream
- cherries
- chocolate sauce
- caramel sauce optional
Instructions
- Place ice cream, mint extract and green food coloring in a blender.Pour in 1/2 cup milk and place lid on blender. Blend until creamy and combined. For a thinner shake, add in more milk until shake has reached desired consistency.Pour in 2 glasses and top with whipped cream, cherries and chocolate sauce. Enjoy!
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Well i only had one this year , as i am no longer able to eat those kibds of desserts again less its all lite or fat free sugar free on a healthy eating program as my choclestol is not good , so it was a one time treat but i lovevto try yours maybe in a couple of monthscas i keep losing those pounds as a treat i will most definite try yours thanks so much, and hey do you have any low cal. Recipes i can try ,i can eat lots of fresh veggies, and fruits, but not alot of sodium or sugar .
Hi Holly, My kids say thank you! They enjoyed them today as a treat for St. Patty’s day. 5 stars!