Chef notes
It’s Shamrock Shake season! Skip the long lines and win brownie points with your family and friends by serving them a homemade version of the iconic drink. In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, we’re teaching you how to recreate the mint green milkshake that was popularized by one of America’s most popular fast-food chains. This DIY take on McDonald's Shamrock Shake only requires five ingredients — vanilla ice cream, milk, mint extract, green food coloring and whipped cream. Put them all in a high-powered blend and whir until the ingredients are well-incorporated and super creamy. If you want to top it off with a maraschino cherry, don’t let us hold you back.
Want to make a more modern iteration of the shake? Add a few chocolate sandwich cookies to the blender for a minty cookies-and-cream shake, just like the one that was added to the restaurant’s menu in 2020.
And although it may seem like the shamrock shake is a relatively new invention, it actually dates back to 1967, when it was invented by Hal Rosen, and debuted on the national stage in 1970. Over the course of 50 years, it’s only become a more coveted beverage — as much so as, say, Starbucks’ seasonal lattes during the holiday season.
Technique Tip: If you want to make homemade whipped cream, pour one cup of heavy cream into a large bowl (or a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment) along with 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar and whip until soft peaks form. The result is an extra-luscious whipped cream worthy of a homemade shamrock shake.
Ingredients
- 1 cup vanilla ice cream
- 1 cup milk (any fat percentage)
- 1/2 teaspoon mint extract
- 1 squeeze green food coloring
- whipped cream, for garnish
- 2 maraschino cherries, for garnish
Preparation
Add the ice cream, milk, mint extract and food coloring to a blender and whir until smooth.
Pour into 2 (16-ounce) glasses and garnish each with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry. Serve immediately.
