Homemade Shamrock Shake (Better Than the Drive-Thru!)
This homemade Shamrock Shake is creamy, minty, and ready in just 5 minutes. Made with real vanilla ice cream, whole milk, and mint extract (not peppermint!), it tastes even better than the drive-thru version — and you can make two at once without leaving the house.
Equipment
- blender
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- tall glasses
Ingredients
- 3 cups vanilla ice cream
- 3/4 cup whole milk
- 1/2 teaspoon mint extract
- 5–10 drops green food coloring
- whipped cream, for topping
- maraschino cherries, for topping
- green sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Add the vanilla ice cream, whole milk, mint extract, and 5 drops of green food coloring to a blender.
- Blend until smooth and creamy. Check the color and add additional drops of food coloring until your desired shade of green is reached.
- Pour into tall glasses immediately.
- Top with whipped cream, a maraschino cherry, and green sprinkles if desired.
- Serve immediately for best texture and flavor.
Notes
Use mint extract for the classic Shamrock Shake flavor — peppermint is stronger and should be reduced if substituted. Start with 5 drops of green food coloring and adjust to your preferred shade; gel coloring is more concentrated than liquid. For a thicker shake, reduce the milk and add gradually. For a thinner consistency, add a splash more milk. Optional adult variation: blend in a shot of Baileys or crème de menthe. Leftovers can be frozen up to 1 month, but texture is best when freshly blended.