Copycat Shamrock Shake Recipe

Few issues in life are sure. Dying, taxes and… McDonald’s Shamrock Shake. On the finish of winter yearly, with the primary sight of buds on bushes, the promising scent of spring within the air, and simply in time to have fun all issues inexperienced for St. Patty’s Day, you may rely on McDonald’s to launch their beloved minty inexperienced Shamrock Shake.

Launched in 1970, McDonald’s Shamrock Shake is made with vanilla soft-serve ice cream and artificially flavored minty inexperienced syrup and completed with a whipped topping. I’m a agency believer that this vibrant inexperienced vanilla-mint shake is definitely worth the hype. Slurping the thick creamy milkshake via a straw fills me with childhood delight. It’s candy, wealthy, and one way or the other even refreshing from that increase of mint flavoring.

Whereas I make some extent to benefit from the shake’s temporary availability at McDonald’s each March, I don’t see a motive to restrict my enjoyment of the signature inexperienced shake to a sure time of yr, and even to visits to the quick meals chain. In only a few minutes, and with simply 5 fundamental elements, I can whip up this copycat model at residence any time I like—and so are you able to.

Substances In a Copycat Shamrock Shake

Right here’s what you’ll must make an incredible shamrock shake at residence. 

• Vanilla ice cream: milkshake wants to begin with nice ice cream. Should you need assistance selecting, we at SE have our ideas on the very best vanilla ice lotions on the market. No matter model you select, simply be certain to melt the ice cream briefly earlier than mixing. Your meals processor blade will thanks.
• Milk: Despite the fact that “milk” is within the title, I am going gentle on the milk in my milkshakes since an excessive amount of can dilute the flavour of the shake and over-thin it. You want simply sufficient milk—1/2 cup on this case—so the combination can catch the blade and mix till clean. 
• Peppermint extract: The star ingredient that defines a shamrock shake is its mint flavoring. Whereas a inexperienced mint syrup is used within the quick meals chain’s model, available peppermint extract is finest for this residence model. Mint extract blends spearmint with peppermint and is a little more refined in taste than all-peppermint extract; each will work advantageous right here, however I want the stronger pop of peppermint extract.
• Inexperienced meals coloring: I like to recommend utilizing liquid meals coloring over gel meals coloring on this explicit recipe, largely as a result of it’s simpler so as to add only a few drops of the liquid variety on to the combination within the meals processor bowl than to measure out an actual quantity of gel dye. If the thought of a fluorescent inexperienced drink turns you off, it’s advantageous to simply go away the meals dye out altogether. It received’t have an effect on the flavour, however after all you received’t have the signature colour.
• Salt: All sweets profit from a pinch of salt. The shamrock shake isn’t any exception.
• Whipped cream and a cherry: And to high all of it off, a correct copycat shamrock shake wants a beneficiant swirl of whipped cream and at minimal one maraschino cherry to complete.I want the comfort of a great canned whipped cream. Plus canned whipped cream echoes the correct of synthetic whipped topping taste from  the unique. However should you’re feeling enthused, go the home made whipped cream route.  The cherry is a throwback to when McDonald’s used to serve their Shamrock Shakes with a cherry on high.

Tips on how to Make a Copycat Shamrock Shake at House

Certain, your blender is okay for making a milkshake, however for the smoothest shamrock shake, use your meals processor. The work bowl of the meals processor is wider and flatter than a blender, exposing the ice cream to extra air than a blender does. The end result: lighter, fluffier, frothier milkshakes. The big reducing blade of the meals processor additionally cuts via the ice cream extra simply than the smaller blades of a blender, which suggests you want much less liquid to correctly mix. This ensures a wealthy, creamy, ice-cream ahead taste.

Variations on the Shamrock Shake

You already know what makes this shake even higher? Chocolate! Or at the very least that’s my opinion. Nonetheless, I don’t advocate including chocolate syrup (or any sort of chocolate) on to the meals processor with the shake to mix, because the shake would flip brown. You’d lose that vibrant St. Patty’s-day-green colour, and the place’s the enjoyable in that? As a substitute, my most well-liked approach to incorporate chocolate into this shamrock shake is to pour chocolate syrup immediately into the chilled serving glass. You may pour syrup alongside the inside fringe of the glass or alternate pouring chocolate syrup and the milkshake in layers within the glass earlier than stirring along with a spoon for a pretty swirled presentation. 

One other nice add-in choice for this milkshake is impressed by one other McDonald’s deal with, the Oreo McFlurry. Crushed oreos or your most well-liked cookie, chocolate shavings or chunks, and even chocolate sweet work properly on this minty shake. To include, pulse the cookies or sweet within the meals processor alone till crushed into pea-sized or smaller items, then switch to a bowl earlier than making the inexperienced shake. Then sprinkle the crumbled combination immediately over the pureed shake whereas nonetheless within the meals processor bowl and shortly pulse one or two occasions to mix. Don’t overmix at this stage or the combination may flip a colorless shade of brown. You would additionally merely pour the crumbled combination immediately into the glasses with the milkshake and stir to mix. I additionally advocate reserving some for a enjoyable garnish to sprinkle over high.