Copycat McDonald's Shamrock Shake

This homemade Shamrock Shake recipe comes together in only 5 minutes! It's creamy, minty, and tastes just like the real thing. The green color comes from a few drops of food coloring, but it is totally optional. Don't add it if you're avoiding artificial colors!

About This Recipe

Happy Saint Patrick's Day, everyone! I hope you've all had a chance to stop by McDonald's this month to grab a Shamrock Shake before they run out. Ever since they first came out, I've made it a tradition to get one every year. But this year, I decided to try making one at home instead, and I have to say, it tastes just as good as the original- maybe even better because I used real ice cream!

All you need are three ingredients: vanilla ice cream, milk, and peppermint extract. For a classic look, you'll need some green food coloring, too, but it is totally optional. You can leave it out or use a natural alternative if you prefer. I've found that matcha powder works great for a subtle color, but the shake does come out a bit tasting like matcha.

Key Ingredients

Vanilla Ice Cream: A high-quality ice cream makes all the difference! Always check the box to make sure they use real cream and not just vegetable oil and fillers.

Milk: Whole milk will give the richest flavor, but really any type of milk will work here.

Peppermint extract: You can buy this at basically any American grocery store. It should be in the baking section next to the other baking extracts. It's very strong in flavor, so you only need a bit.

Green food coloring: This is totally optional, but it gives the Shamrock shake its green color.

Instructions

I topped mine with some whipped cream and a maraschino cherry for a classic diner-style look, but it's not necessary at all- feel free to leave it out!