Shamrock Shake Recipe (No food coloring!) - The Kitchen Girl (2024)

by Traci ·

5 from 11 votes

Total 5 minutes minutes

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This homemade Shamrock Shake recipe is a copycat of the minty St. Pat's Day ice cream shake. It's made with fresh greens for color, volume, and nutrition!

Shamrock Shake Recipe (No food coloring!) - The Kitchen Girl (1)

Table of Contents hide

1) Why you'll love this recipe

2) Key ingredients

3) How to make this recipe

4) Recipe notes

5) Recipe variations

6) More St. Pat's Day Recipes

7) More dessert recipes

8) 📖 Recipe

9) Shamrock Shake Recipe

Why you'll love this recipe

  • It's so easy to make a Shamrock Shake at home.
  • Only 4 simple ingredients needed + topping.
  • No food coloring – a healthy, undetectable substitute is used.
  • Recipe can be made with most blender styles.

Now you can make the homemade version of the popular fast food chain Shamrock Shake with just a few ingredients. Green food coloring isn't one of them.

That's right! This St. Patrick's Day themed ice cream shake gets that bright green color from fresh spinach. The flavor is undetectable, yet adds so much color, volume, and nutrients. This one is not for kids only!

Key ingredients

Get ingredient amounts in the printable recipe card below.

  • ice cream - Use vanilla bean ice cream or preferred variety.
  • 1% milk - Any milk percentage will work with this recipe.
  • fresh spinach - Or fresh kale can be use. I don't recommend packaged frozen spinach because the flavor will be detectable in this dessert.
  • mint flavoring - Use mint extract (as in spearmint extract) or peppermint extract. *It is not safe to use essential oils in food recipes!
  • (optional) garnish ingredients - Whipped cream and fresh mint leaves.
Shamrock Shake Recipe (No food coloring!) - The Kitchen Girl (2)
Shamrock Shake Recipe (No food coloring!) - The Kitchen Girl (3)

How to make this recipe

Step 1. Place ice cream, spinach, and mint extract in a high speed blender. I'm using a Vitamix in these photos but a standard blender or food processor can be used.

Shamrock Shake Recipe (No food coloring!) - The Kitchen Girl (4)
Shamrock Shake Recipe (No food coloring!) - The Kitchen Girl (5)

Step 2. Blend ingredients and add splashes of milk while mixing until the shake becomes thick and creamy. If needed, increase the amount of extract to adjust the minty flavor.

Shamrock Shake Recipe (No food coloring!) - The Kitchen Girl (6)
Shamrock Shake Recipe (No food coloring!) - The Kitchen Girl (7)

Step 3. Transfer shake to a glass and top with (optional) whipped cream and fresh mint garnish. Serve immediately.

Shamrock Shake Recipe (No food coloring!) - The Kitchen Girl (8)
Shamrock Shake Recipe (No food coloring!) - The Kitchen Girl (9)

Recipe notes

  1. Blenders tend to warm ingredients, so if the shake liquefies in the blender, place it in the freezer long enough to solidify to your liking.
  2. Using partially melted ice cream also results in a milky shake instead of a thick and creamy milkshake. Refer to the solution above, if needed.
  3. Less powerful blenders may leave tiny flecks of spinach in the shake. Just a heads up if your people are finicky detectives.

Recipe variations

  • Substitute kale or other greens for spinach in equal amounts.
  • Use any variety of vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt for this recipe.
  • Any milk fat percentage can be used for this Shamrock Shake.
  • Use mint extract OR peppermint extract for this recipe. Peppermint has a stronger flavor of the two.
  • Fresh mint leaves can be substituted for extract in this recipe. Start with a few leaves and add as needed.

More St. Pat's Day Recipes

  • Pressure Cooker Corned Beef
  • Slow Cooker Corned Beef
  • Reuben Sandwich
  • Corned Beef Hash
  • Easy Coleslaw Recipe
  • Smashed Potato Recipe

More dessert recipes

  • No Churn Ice Cream
  • Bananas Foster
  • Strawberry Frozen Yogurt
  • How to make a peach smoothie

📖 Recipe

Shamrock Shake Recipe (No food coloring!) - The Kitchen Girl (10)

Shamrock Shake Recipe

This homemade Shamrock Shake is a copycat of the minty St. Pat's Day ice cream shake. It's made with fresh greens for color, volume, and nutrition!

Prep TimePrep Time: 5 minutes mins

Total timeTotal Time: 5 minutes mins

Yield 2 cups

Author Traci Antonovich

5 from 11 votes

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Ingredients

  • 4 cups Vanilla Ice Cream about 8 scoops
  • 2 cups Fresh Spinach or Kale about 2 ounces
  • teaspoon Spearmint Extract or Peppermint Extract *Do NOT use essential oils!
  • ½ cup 1% Milk as needed

Garnish (optional)

  • Whipped Cream
  • Fresh Mint

Equipment

Instructions

  • Place ICE CREAM, SPINACH, and MINT EXTRACT in blender.

  • Blend ingredients, adding splashes of MILK until the shake reaches a thick and creamy texture.

    Note: You might not need to use the entire milk amount.

  • Taste the shake and adjust the flavor by adding tiny amounts of extract, if needed.

  • Add desired toppings, serve and enjoy!

Final step

Click stars to vote. Please visit 'Comments' below for reviews.

5 from 11 votes

Recipe Notes

*ATTN! DO NOT USE ESSENTIAL OILS for food recipes as they are NOT safe to eat. Use spearmint extract, peppermint extract, or fresh mint leaves ONLY.

Recipe testing notes

  1. Blenders tend to warm ingredients, so if the shake liquefies in the blender, place it in the freezer long enough to solidify to your liking.
  2. Using partially melted ice cream also results in a milky shake instead of a thick and creamy milkshake. Refer to the solution above, if needed.
  3. Less powerful blenders may leave tiny flecks of spinach in the shake. Just a heads up if your people are finicky detectives.

Check out these recipe variationstoo!

Did you make this recipe? I'd love to see it!Follow @thekitchengirl on Instagram, snap a photo, and tag #thekitchengirl. This always makes my day!

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 579kcal | Carbohydrates: 66g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 119mg | Sodium: 258mg | Potassium: 787mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 59g | Vitamin A: 4040IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 442mg | Iron: 1mg

Course Beverages, Dessert

Cuisine American, Irish

Diet Gluten Free, Vegetarian

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Comments

  1. Jeff says

    Shamrock Shake Recipe (No food coloring!) - The Kitchen Girl (11)
    So good! I would have never guessed there's spinach in this - you can't taste it! It's a classic minty milkshake with benefits lol. It's even delicious without the mint flavoring. Thanks for sharing another great recipe!

    Reply

  2. The Kitchen Girl says

    Awesome, Dana...So glad you're trying this one 🙂 Thanks!

    Reply

  3. Renee says

    Shamrock Shake Recipe (No food coloring!) - The Kitchen Girl (12)
    Your Shamrock Shake sounds absolutely heavenly! I love that you are using fresh spearmint leaves, too. I love the way they make my kitchen smell when I have a bunch waiting in the window.

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Thanks Renee! I'm right there with you...and I esp love cutting into it. Such an aromatic treat 🙂

  4. Sarah says

    Shamrock Shake Recipe (No food coloring!) - The Kitchen Girl (13)
    Love that you made such a pretty green drink without food coloring!

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Thanks Sarah! I love this shake with the mint instead of dye 🙂

  5. Lisa L Bynum says

    Shamrock Shake Recipe (No food coloring!) - The Kitchen Girl (14)
    One of my favorite St. Patrick's Day treats and you just made day by making in healthier! Does that mean I can drink two?

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Haha thanks Lisa...the answer is always 'yes' lol 😉

  6. Natalie says

    Shamrock Shake Recipe (No food coloring!) - The Kitchen Girl (15)
    This shake looks and sounds so refreshing and delicious! I love how easy it is to make it and will definitely try this recipe soon!

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Awesome Natalie! Love hearing it...hope you get to try it out! 🙂

  7. Jessica says

    Shamrock Shake Recipe (No food coloring!) - The Kitchen Girl (16)
    Love that there isn't any food dye in this! I love a good minty treat!

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Thanks Jessica! Right there with you 🙂

  8. Amy says

    Shamrock Shake Recipe (No food coloring!) - The Kitchen Girl (17)
    Sounds delicious! Can't wait to give it a try

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Thanks so much Amy! Hope you get to try it out 🙂

  9. Darlene says

    Shamrock Shake Recipe (No food coloring!) - The Kitchen Girl (18)
    I really love how you got the green color with the mint leaves instead of food color! This looks fabulous and perfect for St. Patty's Day!

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Thanks Darlene! It's super tasty too! 🙂

  10. Monica says

    Shamrock Shake Recipe (No food coloring!) - The Kitchen Girl (19)
    I love that this is minty without relying on a bunch of food coloring, etc.! It sounds like such a delicious flavor - pinning to try next week for a holiday treat!

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Thanks Monica! Hope you get to try it...and hope you love it 🙂

  11. Rebecca says

    Shamrock Shake Recipe (No food coloring!) - The Kitchen Girl (20)
    Yum! This easy shamrock shake sounds so good!

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Thanks Rebecca! It's easily a favorite 🙂

  12. Pamela says

    Shamrock shakes are my favorite! I can't wait to try yours, so much more natural than the chain version!

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Yay Pamela! Hope you love it 🙂

Shamrock Shake Recipe (No food coloring!) - The Kitchen Girl (2024)
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