Make a homemade version of the classic McDonald's Shamrock Shake with this easy Shamrock Protein Shake Recipe. Enjoy the same minty, creamy flavor with fewer calories and less sugar.
Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a homemade alternative to McDonald's Shamrock Shake. This version is easy to make and has 11 grams of protein and 12 grams of sugar per serving.
By making it at home, you avoid the high-fructose corn syrup, refined sugar, artificial colors, and preservatives of the fast-food version.
Enjoy this minty, creamy shake as a guilt-free treat any time of day. For another delicious green smoothie, try my Spinach Smoothie recipe!
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☘️ What is a Shamrock Shake?
A Shamrock Shake is a mint-flavored milkshake that is available during the month of March at select McDonald's locations. The original McDonald's Shamrock Shake contains vanilla soft-serve ice cream, cream, and mint-flavored syrup (high fructose corn syrup and green dye), then it is topped with whipped cream and often comes with a maraschino cherry. A small Shamrock Shake (McDonald's version) has 540 calories, 13 g of fat, 95 g of carbohydrates, and 72 g of sugar.
💗 Why you'll love this recipe
- This is a simple recipe that comes together in less than 5 minutes.
- Tastes just like the McDonald's version, or better.
- Even though it contains spinach and kiwi, it tastes like an ice-cream-based shake, making it kid-friendly.
- It has a refreshing peppermint flavor.
- It's naturally sweetened, with no added sugar or artificial sweeteners.
- You can enjoy this Shamrock flavor all year, not just during the shamrock shake season!
🍌 Ingredients and Substitutions
- Banana. I used a fresh ripe banana, but you could also use a frozen banana for an even creamier shake. This naturally sweetens the smoothie.
- Vanilla protein powder. This gives the smoothie a high protein content and delicious vanilla flavor. You could also use chocolate protein powder for a mint chocolate chip flavor.
- Spinach. I used fresh spinach, but you could also use frozen spinach. This gives the smoothie a lovely green color; you can't taste it!
- Almond milk. I used unsweetened almond milk, but you could use your favorite milk of choice.
- Peppermint extract. I used pure peppermint extract. Add an extra drop or two if you like a stronger mint flavor. Always start with a small amount the first time you make it, and add more if you like.
See the printable recipe card below for exact measurements and a full list of ingredients.
☘️ How to make a shamrock protein shake
Quick overview
- Add all ingredients to a blender.
- Blend for 30 seconds until creamy.
- Pour in glasses and serve.
Step by step instructions
Step 1: Add milk and banana to a high-speed blender or food processor.
Step 2: Add fresh spinach and kiwi.
Step 3: Add vanilla protein powder, peppermint extract, and a cup of ice cubes.
Step 4: Blend the ingredients for 30 seconds to 1 minute until everything is smooth and creamy and you have a shake-like consistency. Pour the shake into two tall glasses and garnish with whipped cream and rainbow sprinkles.
💭 Expert Tips
- Use a powerful blender, like the Ninja blender to get a creamy texture.
- Taste the shake before you pour it out of the blender. If you like a stronger mint flavor, add another drop or two of peppermint extract and blend again to mix.
- Blend until all the ingredients are nice and smooth.
- Top with whipped cream, coconut cream, and sprinkles or white chocolate chips or dark chocolate shavings.
📋 Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can use fresh mint instead of mint extract.
This recipe uses only natural sugars found in fruit and has around 12 grams of sugar per serving.
It's best to use a blender to get the perfect texture, but you can also use a food processor if you don't have one.
This shake already has a good amount of protein, but if you want to make it even more filling, try adding a tablespoon of chia seeds.
🥤 More Smoothie Recipes You'll Love
If you tried this Shamrock Protein Shake Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thank you! 🙂
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Easy Shamrock Protein Shake Recipe
Equipment
- Blender or food processor
Ingredients
- 1 medium ripe banana
- 2 tablespoons vanilla protein powder
- 1 kiwi peeled
- ½ cup fresh spinach
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- ¼ teaspoon pure peppermint extract
- 1 cup ice cubes
- Optional toppings: whipped cream, rainbow sprinkles, chocolate chips, shaved dark chocolate, maraschino cherry
Instructions
- Add the almond milk, banana, spinach, kiwi, vanilla protein powder, peppermint extract, and ice cubes to a blender.1 medium ripe banana, 2 tablespoons vanilla protein powder, 1 kiwi, ½ cup fresh spinach, 1 cup unsweetened almond milk, ¼ teaspoon pure peppermint extract, 1 cup ice cubes
- Securely place the lid and blend for 1 minute until everything is smooth and creamy and you have a shake-like consistency.
- Pour the shake into two tall glasses. Garnish with whipped cream and rainbow sprinkles for a fun treat.Optional toppings: whipped cream, rainbow sprinkles, chocolate chips, shaved dark chocolate, maraschino cherry
Notes
- Use a powerful blender, like the Ninja blender, to get a creamy texture.
- Taste the shake before you pour it out of the blender. If you like a stronger mint flavor, add another drop or two of peppermint extract and blend again to mix.
- Blend until all the ingredients are nice and smooth.
- Top with whipped cream, coconut cream, and sprinkles or dark chocolate shavings.
Nutrition
👩🏻🍳 Meet The Author
Meet Jeri, a self-taught home cook with over 40 years of cooking experience who decided to start a second career as a full-time food blogger. She is the recipe creator, writer, photographer, and creator of Winding Creek Ranch. Her mission is to make your life easier by sharing delicious recipes your family will love.
Rod.
Addictive .just " GREAT"
Jeri Walker
It IS addictive - I should probably have mentioned that in the post! I'm so glad you liked it! 🙂
Kari
I make this but I use real mint leaves instead of the extract and I also add cucumber. everything else I used to the almond milk and the protein powder vanilla and spinach banana but I don't do the kiwi. if I want to get real creamy I put some avocado in there. it is addicting.
Jeri Walker
Thank you so much for sharing your variations on my Shamrock Protein Shake, Kari! I love your addition of fresh mint leaves and cucumber - it sounds so refreshing! And avocado for creaminess is a fantastic idea too! I agree, this shake is addicting! Thanks for trying out the recipe - I really appreciate it! 🙂