This Copycat Shamrock Shake is even BETTER than the original, and the best part is, you can have it year-round unlike the McDonald’s seasonal version! Cool, creamy, minty and delicious!
So confession time: I’m not a milkshake person.
I want to love them so much, but I just don’t find them as *satisfying* as eating say, an ice cream sundae or cone. I usually find that after I down a milkshake in record time, I want a sundae or a Drumstick or something to supplement it. Somewhere, a cardiologist is reading this and having a heart attack.
(Don’t worry – I don’t ever have milkshake main courses and ice cream chasers).
However, after making this Copycat Shamrock Shake, I was officially hooked on the shake bandwagon. I couldn’t get enough of these shakes – they’re just so perfectly satisfying! Just the right amount of mint in a creamy vanilla base with a mountain of fresh whipped cream and a simple cherry garnish. It really doesn’t get better!
The best part about this super simple recipe is that you can satisfy your shamrock shake craving year-round instead of waiting all year for McDonald’s to unveil theirs. Because if you’re like me at all, you’re a delightful mix of impatient and antsy which makes waiting around for seasonal things pure agony. Girl Scouts of America, I’m looking at you.
A lot of people think shamrock shakes are purely mint-based, but the flavor is actually vanilla-mint which is sweet and not super overpowering. The key to making this shamrock shake at home is to use MINT extract, NOT peppermint extract. Yes, there’s a difference and it is pretty major! Peppermint extract is incredibly potent and in large doses tastes like toothpaste. Definitely not as appealing to have a toothpaste dessert, am I right? Mint extract, however, is a little more subtle and adds the appropriate minty flavor to this shake.
You can also customize this shake to your dietary preferences by using dairy-free ice cream and soy milk, or frozen yogurt instead of ice cream. Since the ingredients are so simple, though, I suggest using a very high quality ice cream so the flavor isn’t lost on something too watery or flavorless.
And that’s it! Copycat Shamrock Shakes will be a new rotation in your household, I guarantee it!
- 3 cups vanilla ice cream
- 1 cup milk (I used 1% but any kind works)
- ¼ teaspoon mint extract (make sure it is MINT extract and NOT peppermint extract)
- Green food coloring (optional)
- Whipped cream
- Green sanding sugar
- Maraschino cherries
- Add the ice cream, milk, mint extract and a couple drops of green food coloring to a blender and blend on high speed for about 30 seconds or until fully combined and smooth.
- Pour into a glass or two and garnish with whipped cream, green sanding sugar sprinkles and a maraschino cherry.
I can just TASTE it by looking at the photos… but trust me, it is better to make it and taste it!
Want some other minty creations?!
Mint Oreo Truffle Brownie Bombs
Have a super sweet day!
xo, Hayley
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