✔ Updated · fixed ingredient amounts + added mint and coloring guide
My copycat McDonald's Shamrock Shake is a thick, pale-green mint milkshake made with vanilla ice cream, cold milk, peppermint extract and a drop of green coloring. It blends in under 30 seconds and is ready in about 5 minutes.
At a glance
The one tip that matters: Start with 1/4 teaspoon of peppermint extract for the whole batch and add more a few drops at a time. Too much tastes like toothpaste.
Why You'll Love This Shake
- Thick, creamy and minty, with that cheerful pale-green color.
- Four main ingredients: vanilla ice cream, milk, peppermint extract and food coloring.
- Ready in minutes, and easy to scale up for a St. Patrick's Day party or a crowd of kids.
How to Get the Mint Flavor and Green Color Right
The flavor of a Shamrock-style shake is sweet vanilla with a cool mint finish, so the extract is the part that makes or breaks it. Pure peppermint extract is very concentrated: 1/4 teaspoon for four shakes is a good starting point, and 1/2 teaspoon is usually the upper limit.
For the color, aim for a soft pastel green rather than a bright one. A few drops of green gel or liquid coloring is plenty, and you can always add more after blending. Max is in charge of the coloring, and he always wants more.
| Batch | Vanilla ice cream | Whole milk | Peppermint extract | Green coloring |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 shake | 1 cup | 1/3 cup | a few drops (about 1/16 teaspoon) | 1 to 2 drops |
| 2 shakes | 2 cups | 2/3 cup | 1/8 teaspoon | 3 to 4 drops |
| 4 shakes | 4 cups | 1 1/4 cups | 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon | 6 to 8 drops |
Step-by-Step Photos
Here's how it comes together. Exact amounts, times and temperatures are in the recipe card below.
Tips for Success
- Use peppermint extract, sparingly. 1/4 teaspoon flavors the whole batch; go up to 1/2 teaspoon only after tasting. I once added a full teaspoon, and it tasted like toothpaste. "Mint extract" often contains spearmint and tastes more like gum, so pure peppermint gives the cleaner, cooler flavor.
- Soften, don't melt. Five minutes on the counter makes the ice cream easy to blend without adding extra milk, which keeps the shake thick.
- Milk goes in first. Liquid at the bottom of the blender helps the blades catch, so you blend for less time and the shake stays cold and thick.
- Add color a drop at a time. Gel coloring is stronger than liquid. A few drops gives the soft pastel green; more turns it neon.
- Serve immediately. Milkshakes thin out quickly. Chilled glasses buy you a few extra minutes.
McDonald’s Shamrock Shake (Copycat)
4
shakes10
minutes350
kcal10
minutesA copycat-style Shamrock Shake: vanilla ice cream blended with whole milk, a small amount of peppermint extract and a few drops of green food coloring until thick and smooth, then topped with whipped cream.
Ingredients
- For the Shake
4 cups vanilla ice cream, softened for 5 minutes
1 1/4 cups whole milk, cold
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon pure peppermint extract (start with 1/4 teaspoon)
6 to 8 drops green gel or liquid food coloring
- To Serve
whipped cream
4 maraschino cherries or green sprinkles (optional)
Directions
- Chill four glasses in the freezer. Let the ice cream sit at room temperature for about 5 minutes, until it is just soft enough to scoop easily.
- Add the milk to a blender first, then the ice cream, 1/4 teaspoon of the peppermint extract and 6 drops of food coloring.
- Blend on low, then medium, for 20 to 30 seconds, just until smooth and thick. Don’t over-blend, or the shake turns thin.
- Taste and adjust: add up to 1/4 teaspoon more peppermint extract a few drops at a time, or another drop or two of coloring for a deeper green. Pulse once to mix. For a thinner shake, add a splash more milk.
- Pour into the chilled glasses, top with whipped cream and a cherry or sprinkles, and serve right away with wide straws.
Recipe Video
Notes
- You can also add sprinkles to make this even more festive.
- Add small amounts of food coloring as per your liking.
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Variations
- Chocolate mint: blend in 2 to 3 tablespoons of chocolate syrup, or see our chocolate milkshake with ice cream.
- Mint cookie shake: pulse in a few crushed chocolate sandwich cookies at the end.
- Lighter shake: use light vanilla ice cream and 2% milk, and skip the whipped cream.
- Dairy-free: use a dairy-free vanilla frozen dessert and oat or almond milk.
- Grown-up version: contains alcohol. For adults of legal drinking age only, add a splash (about 1 ounce) of Irish cream liqueur per glass; the regular shake is the alcohol-free version.
More Shakes and Festive Treats
Browse our milkshake recipes and the rest of our McDonald's copycat recipes, including the eggnog shake and strawberry banana smoothie. For a St. Patrick's Day spread, pair the shakes with something from our Irish desserts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's in this copycat Shamrock Shake?
This copycat-style version uses vanilla ice cream, whole milk, a small amount of peppermint extract and green food coloring, blended until smooth and topped with whipped cream and a cherry. It is a home recipe inspired by the restaurant shake, not the restaurant's own formula.
How do I make a Shamrock Shake without food coloring?
Blend in a small handful of baby spinach with the milk before adding the ice cream. It gives a natural green color and, with the peppermint, you won't taste it. A pinch of matcha also works, though it adds a light tea flavor.
How do I make it thicker or thinner?
For a thicker shake, use less milk (start with 1 cup) and don't let the ice cream get too soft. For a thinner, more drinkable shake, add more cold milk a splash at a time and pulse briefly.
Can I make a chocolate mint version?
Yes. Blend in 2 to 3 tablespoons of chocolate syrup for a chocolate mint shake, or pour the green shake over a little chocolate syrup in the glass for a two-tone look. Mini chocolate chips on the whipped cream are a good finish.
Can I make Shamrock Shakes ahead of time?
They are best fresh. If you need to, pour the blended shake into a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 1 hour, then stir well before serving. Longer than that and it freezes solid; let it soften and re-blend with a splash of milk.
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Can you add an email link so I can email the recipe directly to my friends and family?
Hi Diane,
Unfortunately I don’t have an easy way to do this but will look into it. Thanks for commenting.