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Family Kitchen
The McDonald’s Shamrock Shake Copycat Recipe
This is probably the only time you’ll ever find me imitating a recipe from McDonald’s. I generally steer clear of all fast food restaurants, except in March. The minute the Shamrock Shake hits the menu I am in the drivethru faster than you can say “shake.” In fact, I once attended a formal dance in high school in March and we took the limo through the drivethru just to get Shamrock Shakes before we were dropped off at home! I don’t know what it is about the mint green shake, it is just so darn delicious that I can’t get enough of it. It is also the best way I can see to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day when you are not Irish! There are tons of copycat recipes on the web and I’ve been experimenting with my own. I like to go heavy on the ice cream so that it is extra thick. Sometimes I don’t use green food coloring since it only adds color, not flavor. Now matter how you serve it up, I guarantee it will be a hit at home. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
McDonald’s Shamrock Shake Copycat Recipe
3 cups good quality vanilla ice cream
1 3/4 cups 1% milk
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
Green food coloring if desired
1. Blend all ingredients in a blender until completely thick and smooth. Pour into glasses and serve!
For even more of your favorite restaurant recipes, check out these 41 copycat dishes you can make at home!
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23 Comments
[...] on 23 February 2011 by Cosmopolitan.com This is probably the only time you’ll ever find me imitating a recipe from McDonald’s. I generally steer clear of all fast food restaurants, except in March. The minute… Full Story [...]
It’s That Time of Year Again! Make Your Own Shamrock Shake at Home! : This is probably the only time you’ll ever find me imitating a recipe from McDonald’s. I generally steer clear of all fast food restaurants, except in March. The minute… | K commented on Feb 22 11 at 10:09 pmkyla commented on Feb 21 11 at 3:43 pmHOW DO YOU MAKE SHAMROCK SHAKES LIKE MCDONALDS PEOPLE DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
lauren commented on Feb 21 11 at 3:54 pmI love that you created this at home!!
Linda commented on Feb 22 11 at 2:40 amI used to ask for chocolate shakes with peppermint ice cream at Laura Secord’s. They thought I was strange asking for this, but chocolate and peppermint go so well together :)
Peggy commented on Feb 22 11 at 9:18 amThis sounds great! I don’t think I’ve ever noticed the Shamrock Shake… but then again, I don’t go to McDonald’s lol
Nicole commented on Feb 22 11 at 11:54 amWhen I was a kid this is the only time my mother would take me to McDonald’s. Once a year on St. Patrick’s Day for a Shamrock Shake. I think it was because she liked them. Back then they only sold them on St. Patrick’s Day.
These days I make the adult version at home with green Creme de Menthe. Much tastier!
mira commented on Feb 22 11 at 1:03 pmThe McDonald’s Shamrock Shake is just their usual vanilla shake with the addition of green food coloring. It has no mint or any other flavor and it’s just as yucky as their shakes are for the other 11 months of the year. This recipe sounds yummy, though.
Laurel commented on Feb 22 11 at 1:10 pmoooh, yummy! Thanks for the recipe! I’d love for you to submit this to the M&T Spotlight at http://www.makeandtakes.com/spotlight
TheNaptimeChef commented on Feb 22 11 at 3:58 pm@Mira, the ones served near us have mint flavoring in them, that is what they are known for. @Nicole, great idea!
Tracy commented on Feb 25 11 at 4:17 pmI always wanted to make this at home. Thanks for the recipe!!!!
Can I share a link to here from my blog! I know so many people who crave these all year long :)
Kathryn commented on Feb 25 11 at 5:05 pmLove the recipe – down here in Memphis we don’t have these at our McD’s. My friend from up North mentioned them and I had never heard of them. I sometimes make this but add Thin Mints when it is Girl Scout time. That is divine.
Lauren Slayton commented on Feb 26 11 at 10:32 amLove the color. I do a smoothie with fresh mint plus mint extract avocado and get a similar color. Of course that’s a smoothie and not a delicious shake with ice cream but another option.
Ansa commented on Feb 27 11 at 9:57 amMy daughter LOOOOOVES shamrock shakes. I was wondering how many shakes this recipe makes?
ansa
Just had one last night commented on Mar 01 11 at 12:40 pmI went last night to McD’s and had a large Shamrock Shake because I always hear people rave about them. I hate to say it but I didn’t like it much at all. It’s obvious that it’s just vanilla shake with some mint extract and coloring added, (it was swirled looking in the cup with alot of unmixed white at the bottom) but the mint was too strong, almost bitter tasting. which is funny because mint chocolate chip is my favorite ice cream flavor and I’ve tried many many brands, so I consider myself somewhat of a mint ice cream aficionado. :)
I’d give it a 1 out of 5 stars.
Speckle of Dirt commented on Mar 03 11 at 1:28 pmYou’ve inspired me to do this for my kids….especially the biggest kid, my husband who loooovvvveeess this Shake!
gina commented on Mar 14 11 at 9:51 pmIs it crazy that I called around to every local McDonalds after moving to rural Arkansas {from Michigan} to find one that makes the Shamrock shake?? No one does down here!! Thanks for sharing this…you’ve made my Monday night!
Diana commented on Mar 15 11 at 9:30 pmI think this is the recipe for 1 shake. It’s amazing how much ice cream goes into a shake, which is why they’re so fattening and delicious! A good blender is worth the higher price!
anna commented on Mar 16 11 at 4:18 amseriously, they call that a special Shamrock Shake? It’s a vanilla shake with a hint of peppermint… pretty lame
Fergus commented on Apr 04 11 at 9:14 amI love shamrock shakes. I live in Australia and I have them for breakfast every day as I dye my hair purple. Try em, mate.
Maria commented on Feb 17 12 at 10:49 pmTo all those people going on about “it’s not special, they just add peppermint” what do you think a chocolate shake is? They just add chocolate. Some people like the flavors, no need to go on about how the flavor “added” isn’t anything special to you. As for me I’ll give the recipie a try.
Abigail commented on Feb 19 12 at 6:13 pmI don’t like it. I love the ones McDonald’s make. To much peppermint extract. I’m sorry I wasted my money buying this stuff! Bad job, but horrible try D:
Tamara commented on Feb 21 12 at 12:39 pm0_o
Why not just use Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream instead of vanilla + peppermint flavoring + green food coloring!? OR pistachio pudding? OR a lime sherbet? It would seem easier to use those instead. Or… Yoplait Key Lime Pie yogurt, frozen and blended into a smoothie? Hell! Even green jello or kool aid to make a slush punch would be easier methinks.
Top with whipped cream and green sprinkles and BOOYAH!
Joann commented on Feb 22 12 at 11:01 amThanks for the idea! I’m with you, can’t resist those Shamrock shakes. I usually split one between me and my 3 kiddos, to reduce the badness… but why not reduce it further and make my own!
One problem with your recipe, though: the McDonald’s version also has lime in it. (Mint and lime make a strange kind of magic.) I will try squeezing a lime into this – or maybe using half lime sherbert?
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