A small McDonalds Shamrock Shake will set you back 460 calories and 64 grams of sugar! Do your health a favor, and make your own delicious and healthy shamrock shake recipe at home.
How to make a healthy Shamrock Shake
The popular McDonalds Shamrock Shakes are back again.
And although those mint milkshakes might taste good for the few minutes they last, even the smallest size shamrock milkshake is full of empty calories and sugar, chemicals, additives, and food dyes.
So here is a quick, simple, thick, and super creamy recipe for how to make your own homemade healthy shamrock shake, right in your own kitchen.
Readers also love these Black Bean Brownies
Watch the step by step healthy shamrock shake recipe video above
Homemade healthy milkshakes
While I’ve always believed indulging in unhealthy food every once in a while is fine, I’ve also never been big on moderation.
If I enjoy something, I want it all the time!
With these healthy shamrock shakes, you don’t have to drink them in moderation.
The easy recipe takes under five minutes to make, uses natural ingredients to get that classic green hue, and it has NO refined sugar whatsoever.
Think of how much sugar you’re saving by drinking ZERO grams of refined sugar instead of 64. This healthy shamrock shake recipe is also way under 460 calories.
Trending right now: Vegan Hot Chocolate
Vegan shamrock shake ingredients
The recipe calls for the following: milk of choice, frozen spinach (or a few drops of food coloring), pure peppermint extract, chocolate chips or cacao nibs, and a frozen banana.
There’s no matcha required, and a banana free option is also included in the recipe.
While they don’t taste exactly like a McDonald’s thick shake (although if you use canned coconut milk, they are surprisingly milkshake-like), I actually like these vegan milkshakes even better. They don’t give you the lethargic consumed-too-much-sugar feeling when you’re done.
Feel free to use your favorite milk of choice here. Sometimes I use coconut milk for a more decadent shake, but more often I will use nondairy cashew milk or almond milk.
Lately when I’ve been making the plant based shakes, I haven’t bothered to turn them green. The white ones are still just as good, although admittedly not quite as fun.
*If you’re a chocoholic, try the Chocolate Shamrock Shake Recipe.
Healthy shamrock shake serving suggestions
These healthy green smoothies are great for breakfast, snack, or dessert.
Try serving them with a Tofu Scramble or these whole grain Banana Oatmeal Cookies, for a healthy breakfast you’ll want to make all year long.
Or enjoy one as a festive St. Patrick’s Day dessert. You can even add a scoop of your favorite protein powder to turn it into a high protein post workout treat.
One shamrock protein shake will have around 25-30 grams of protein!
What’s your favorite milkshake flavor?
Mine’s always been mint chocolate chip. Although I do love the flavor, it’s the vibrant green color that enthralls me more than anything else.
Think of those gorgeously green Shamrock Shakes from McDonalds or the bright mint chocolate chip milkshakes from Baskin Robbins.
It goes back to when I was three years old and loved anything blue. Since our local Baskin Robbins didn’t make blue ice cream at the time, mint chocolate chip was the next best choice.
I went through a phase in middle school where I’d drink a Baskin Robbins mint chocolate chip milkshake every single day after school.
And now?
Well now it’s been over seven years since I first came up with this vegan and healthy shamrock shake recipe, and yet here I am still making them for myself at least once a week!
Try topping your Shamrock Shake with homemade Coconut Whipped Cream.
The recipe was inspired by this Green Smoothie Recipe.
Healthy Shamrock Shake Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk of choice
- 1 frozen banana (or make this banana-free Avocado Smoothie Recipe)
- cacao nibs or chocolate chips, as desired
- 1/8 tsp to 1/4 tsp pure peppermint extract
- 1 scoop protein powder, optional
- 1/4 cup frozen spinach, optional
- I usually add scant 1/8 tsp salt to bring out the flavor
Instructions
- *If you can’t get on board with the green smoothie thing, you can opt for green food coloring or just drink a white peppermint shake, which is just as delicious. Or add a pinch of spirulina!Feel free to use your favorite milk of choice. Canned coconut milk will give it a rich milkshake-like taste, but I also really love the lighter results of using cashewmilk or almond milk. Make sure the banana you use is at least somewhat brown so you don't get that unripe earthy banana flavor in your mint chocolate shake. To make the shake: Blend all ingredients in a blender until completely smooth. You can add the chocolate chips either before or after blending. Be sure to use pure peppermint extract, not imitation.View Nutrition Facts
Video
Notes
Healthy Drink Ideas
Strawberry Smoothies ( NO banana)
Ah, I’m so bummed… I just made this, and I had such high hopes for it! I love chocolate mint, and really hoped that it wouldn’t just taste like banana. Unfortunately, that’s really all I tasted… cold banana with a tiny bit of mint flavor (and I had 5 drops of extract… I kept adding it. =P). Katie, do you have any idea what I could have done differently? I’d love to make it work! My little brother loved it, though, and took off with it, slurping all the way. 😉
The local chain pharmacy gave me two medicine dropper bottles when I asked. I use them for my vanilla and peppermint extracts. 🙂
I just made this, and I must admit….ITS AMAZING!!!! Way better than the McDonald’s version! My kids were begging for more. Thanks for posting this. This is my new favorite shake!!
How exciting to find this recipe! I made it for my breakfast smoothie today and was transported back to my childhood…only this time the minty treat was healthy! Thanks, Katie!
Hi,
I just want to say thank you for the delicious recipe! My husband LOVES mint chocolate chip ice cream. It’s his favorite. So I made this smoothie recipe tonight and he really liked it and that fact that it’s so healthy. I added chia seeds which made it super thick so we had to eat it with a spoon. 🙂 Thanks again!
This is my first time commenting on your website, Katie. I have tried several of your recipes and every recipe has tasted amazing! You are excellent at what you do; making healthy desserts that taste great! Who knew eating healthy could taste so good! This recipe is a great way to add more greens to your diet that does not come in the form of a salad! This shamrock shake is awesome and so tasty! I used an unfrozen banana and fresh spinach and it was still creamy, thick and yummy!
I forgot to type my name in the above comment…
I’ve made this CCK HSS several times in the last couple of months and I love the idea of adding spinach for color. It’s good for you but you don’t taste it! I made a couple of CCK-inspired spring teats (to post on Saturday): a Mint Java Chip shake and an Oatmeal Grasshopper Cookie (flourless, NSA). (Recipes linked). I focus on ease of prep and healthfulness since I am learning to cook “disabled-style.” Thank you for the inspiration!
I am drinking this shake for the first time now. I’m amazed at how un-healthy it tastes! Thank you, Katie! I make your recipes all the time (no, seriously) and this is one of my new easy favorites. I am trying to say “no” to processed and refined sugars and today I said “no” to cookies, candy, pumpkin pie, juice, and made this instead. You are a life saver!
:'( it did not work for me. It tasted like a banana shake and I even added more extract!
😀 How much does it make?
I am shocked how delicious this is! You cannot taste the spinach. Just served to a bunch of teen boys and they loved it.
didn’t think i’d like it, but wow, so good!!
Hi! I love the idea of this milkshake as mint choc chip is my favourite flavour…I was just wondering what the nutrition facts are???
Great blog by the way! 🙂
It depends greatly on the milk you choose to use. So just add the calories of one banana, the milk you use, maybe like 10 calories for the spinach… 🙂
oh okay, thanks! can’t wait to try this 🙂
Yum this looks amazing. Does it taste healthy?
How many cacao nibs / chocolate chips did you use?
Probably my favourite recipe on this blog, and that’s saying something as I love all the ones I’ve tried!!
I’ve fallen head over heels in love with this drink <3