Peppermint Shamrock Shake
The Best Shamrock Shake Recipe (Better Than McDonald’s!) – These copycat peppermint milkshakes are sweet, perfectly minty, fun, and delicious with sprinkles and a cherry on top!
Why We Love This Peppermint Milkshake Recipe
Skip the drive-through and make your favorite fast-food restaurant peppermint shake in your very own blender! This green peppermint shake is a copycat version of McDonald’s famous Shamrock Shake. It has just the right blend of vanilla ice cream and sweet mint flavor – plus, of course, that signature light green color you know and love. But here, you have complete control over the ingredients, so you know it’s going to taste even better!
This shamrock shake recipe is easy to tweak slightly to make other favorite mint milkshakes. With only a swap or two, you can blend up a copycat Arby’s Mint Chocolate Shake (yup, the one with Andes mints!), Chick-Fil-A’s Peppermint Shake, or Wendy’s Peppermint Frosty.
Keep reading for the best tips to make your own shamrock shakes, or other fast food peppermint shakes, at home in minutes!
Ingredients You Need
- Vanilla ice cream – your favorite brand, or try our homemade vanilla ice cream
- Milk – whole or 2% fat
- Peppermint extract – use high quality for the best flavor
- Green food coloring – to get the classic shamrock green color
Plus garnishes! We top our mint milkshakes with whipped cream, green sprinkles, and maraschino cherries.
How to Make a Shamrock Shake
To make a copycat McDonald’s Peppermint Shake, first, set the ice cream on the counter for about 5 minutes to soften.
Then place 6 scoops of vanilla ice cream into the blender. (This is approximately 3 cups.)
Add milk.
Add peppermint extract… Followed by the green food coloring.
Cover and blend just until the milkshake mixture is smooth.
Avoid over-blending until liquified.
Get the Complete (Printable) Copycat McDonald’s Peppermint Shamrock Shake Recipe + VIDEO Below. Enjoy!
Pour the milkshakes into two tumblers.
Pro Tip: Chill the glasses in the freezer for an hour or so beforehand for a super frosty peppermint shake!
How to Garnish a Milkshake
I mean, really… Would this be the best copycat shamrock shake recipe without toppings? I think not!
To start, spray on a generous amount of whipped cream.
Then, shake on the green sprinkles.
And add a cherry on top!
Copycat Recipe Variations
Use this basic recipe to make any of your favorite fast food peppermint shakes at home! Here are simple swaps for other versions:
Copycat Chick-Fil-A Peppermint Milkshake
Skip the green food coloring. Add peppermint chips, or crushed peppermint candy.
Andes Mint Milkshake (Copycat Arby’s Shake)
Keep the green food coloring – you can even add a drop more for a deeper green color. Add chocolate syrup swirls to the inside of each glass before pouring in the shake. Then top with chopped Andes mints for the full experience!
How to Make Wendy’s Peppermint Frosty
For a mint frosty, simply swap green food coloring for red to make a pink milkshake. Ta-da!
Frequently Asked Questions
This iconic McDonald’s milkshake is mint flavored. The sweet vanilla ice cream gives it a delicate peppermint taste, so not overpowering like minty toothpaste.
Get as fancy as you want by decorating the shakes. Add chocolate swirls inside of the glass, or dip the rim in simple syrup, then sprinkle before adding the milkshake.
Instead of, or in addition to sprinkles, try sprinkling on edible glitter or crushed candy crystals.
And everyone always loves a cute straw with a shake!
Add an extra scoop of ice cream and blend briefly to thicken. You can also use heavy whipping cream instead of milk for a super thick shake.
Do not add ice! While blending in ice might seem as though it makes it thicker, the ice will soon melt and actually water down the shake.
Looking for More Sweet Treat Recipes? Be Sure to Try:
- Smoothie King Caribbean Way
- Easy Pumpkin Milkshake
- How to Make the Best Orange Julius
- Chik-Fil-A Frosted Lemonade
- Fresh Pineapple Milkshakes
- Peach Milkshake (Chik-Fil-A Peach Shake Recipe)
- Banana Pudding Milkshake
- Strawberry and Banana Smoothie
Shamrock Shake (Peppermint Shake Recipe)
Video
Ingredients
- 6 scoops vanilla ice cream 3 cups
- ¾ cup milk
- ½ teaspoon peppermint extract
- 10+ drops green food coloring
- Garnishes: whipped cream green sprinkles, maraschino cherries
Instructions
- Place 6 scoops of vanilla ice cream into the blender. (This is approximately 3 cups.)
- Add milk, peppermint extract, and green food coloring to the blender. Cover and blend until the milkshake mixture is smooth.
- Pour the milkshakes into two tumblers. Garnish with whipped cream, green sprinkles, and maraschino cherries.
Drinking this was like a party in my mouth. I couldn’t get enough of it!
My kids loved these shamrock shakes! Such a fun idea for St. Patrick’s Day!
I used to always get a shamrock shake from mcdonalds on st patricks day, and this is a great alternative to making it at home! thank you so much for sharing this recipe