How to customize a Shamrock Shake?
At McDonald's the Shamrock Shake is made from a fixed syrup and soft serve, so customization is limited to asking for fewer toppings. At home you can customize freely: blend vanilla ice cream with mint extract and green coloring, swap in mint chocolate chip ice cream, or add cookies, chocolate or sprinkles.
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In this article
Can you customize a McDonald’s Shamrock Shake?
The menu version is vanilla soft serve with Shamrock Shake syrup, whipped light cream and a cherry. You can usually ask staff to leave off the topping if they allow it, but we could not verify other changes. Ask at the counter, since options differ by restaurant.
How do you make a basic Shamrock Shake at home?
- Put about 3 scoops of vanilla ice cream in a blender.
- Add a quarter to a half cup of cold milk, a little at a time.
- Add a few drops of mint extract and a few drops of green food coloring.
- Blend briefly, taste, and add more extract in tiny amounts if needed. Mint extract is strong.
Ideas to customize it
| Change | How |
|---|---|
| No coloring or extract | Use mint chocolate chip ice cream instead of vanilla ice cream, mint extract and coloring. It is less like the original. |
| Cookies | Blend in an Oreo or two, a nod to the Oreo Shamrock McFlurry. |
| Chocolate | Add chocolate syrup or a spoon of cocoa for a chocolate-mint shake. |
| Toppings | Whipped cream, sprinkles, a maraschino cherry. |
| Thicker | Use less milk and very cold ice cream. |
| Thinner | Add milk a splash at a time. |
How do you make a lighter or dairy-free version?
- Less sugar: use a lower-sugar vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt and skip the syrup.
- Dairy-free: use plant-based vanilla ice cream and oat, soy or almond milk. The shake will be thinner and taste different from the original.
- Natural color: some cooks add a small handful of spinach for a green tint, which may change the flavor slightly.
How else has the Shamrock Shake been varied?
McDonald’s has sold variations over the years, including a Shamrock Sundae in 1980 (discontinued after a year) and, in 2017, a Shamrock Chocolate Shake, Chocolate Chip Frappe, Mocha and Hot Chocolate.
Tips
- Chill the glass.
- Do not over-blend.
- Check labels if you have an allergy, especially for food coloring and cookie ingredients.
People also ask
Can I customize a McDonald's Shamrock Shake?
Options are limited, since the shake is made from fixed soft serve and syrup. You can ask for toppings to be left off.
How do I make a Shamrock Shake without food coloring?
Use mint chocolate chip ice cream, or add a small handful of spinach for a green tint.
Can I make a dairy-free Shamrock Shake?
Yes at home, with plant-based ice cream and plant milk. The McDonald's version contains milk.
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