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I grew up eating McDonald’s almost every day, so it shouldn’t surprise you to hear that the Shamrock Shake was a highlight for me each year. I’ve always loved that sweet, minty flavor!
These days, I prefer to make Shamrock Shakes at home without refined sugar or artificial food dyes. I’ve tested and tweaked this healthier recipe for nearly 8 years, so I’m confident making it for my picky kids. (Who definitely would NOT be okay with a smoothie that tastes like spinach.)
Once you taste this healthy shamrock shake recipe, I don’t think you’ll want the drive-through version this year!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Featured Review
“My son and I love this recipe! It tastes like mint ice cream. We’ve tried a different recipe from another site that uses banana instead of the avocado and all we could taste was the banana. This one is the one to use!” – Christy
Healthy Shamrock Shake Ingredients
- Spinach. Fresh baby spinach turns this smoothie green, without artificial food dyes, but you can’t taste it at all.
- Medjool dates. Shop for dates that look soft and juicy in the fresh produce section of your grocery store. They should be easy to split apart with your fingers.
- Milk of Choice. You can use regular cow’s milk or a dairy-free option, such as soy or almond milk, to keep this recipe vegan-friendly.
- Avocado. This adds creaminess without relying on banana, but you could also use a tablespoon of almond butter instead.
- Peppermint Extract. This is key for the minty flavor! It’s potent, so don’t add more than the recipe calls for until you’ve tasted it.
Note: Just like other smoothie recipes, this one is easy to customize. If you want to add protein powder or a tablespoon of chia seeds, go for it!
How to Make a Shamrock Shake
Step 1:
In a high-speed blender, combine the almond milk, avocado, spinach, pitted Medjool dates (or maple syrup), and peppermint extract. Blend until the dates are fully pulverized, and the mixture has a creamy texture, almost like green pudding.
Note: If you don’t have a high-speed blender, omit the dates and use two tablespoons of maple syrup instead. This will blend much more easily.
Step 2:
Once the mixture is smooth, add the ice and blend again until you achieve a slushy texture or your desired consistency.
Keep in mind that the more ice you add, the more diluted the flavor will become. (So don’t add too much!)
Taste the smoothie and make any necessary adjustments. You can add more mint extract for a stronger mint flavor, or a little more maple syrup for added sweetness.
Serving Tips
Pour the smoothie into a glass and serve it right away for the best taste and texture.
To mimic the McDonald’s Shamrock Shake recipe, garnish it with whipped cream and a cherry, or a few green sprinkles, if you keep them on hand.
Storage Tip: Smoothies don’t always store well in the fridge overnight, so if you have leftovers, pour them into a popsicle mold and freeze them for a treat later!
Healthy Shamrock Shake (No Food Dye!)
Ingredients
- ¾ cup almond milk (or water)
- ¼ avocado , pitted
- 1 cup fresh baby spinach
- ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract
- 5 Medjool dates , pitted (or 2 T maple syrup)
- 1 to 2 large handfuls of ice
Instructions
- Combine the almond milk, avocado, spinach, peppermint extract, and dates and blend until smooth. Taste and adjust the any flavoring as needed, but keep in mind that the flavor will be diluted slightly when you add the ice in the next step.
- Add the ice and blend again, until the smoothie is as thick as you’d like. Serve right away.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
More Recipes to Try
- Sweet Spinach Muffins
- Mint Matcha Cookies
- Pistachio Ice Cream
- Spinach Pancakes (naturally green!)
- Green Eggs
If you try this copycat Shamrock Shake recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below, letting me know how you like it.
Love this recipe! Dates are the way to go, I also sprinkle cacao nibs on top!
My kids love this shake so much and request it often! Sometimes I use kale if that’s what I have on hand. I also sometimes add in half a frozen banana and some Greek yogurt and hemp hearts for extra protein and make a meal out of it for myself. My kids often request a handful of chocolate chips thrown in at the end to make it a mint chocolate chip shake. So good. Tastes like an unhealthy dessert but I feel great making it for my kids.
My son and I love this recipe! It tastes like mint ice cream. I use dairy milk for his as he prefers it and can pick up the taste of my nut milk in everything. He’s having a second serving now. We will make this a few times this week as we get ready to celebrate St. Pat’s Day. We’ve tried a different recipe from another site that uses banana instead of the avocado and all we could taste was the banana. This one is the one to use!
This was SO GOOOD! Made it with dates that i soaked first and added half cup plain yogurt. It was Awesome! Thank you
I’ve never had the original, but my husband loves it, so I made him this and he said it was yummy. I did have to make some adjustments, because I didn’t have enough spinach, so I used a little bit of Romaine and I went a bit lighter on the peppermint, which he said could have been stronger, so if you have all the ingredients, I definitely recommend following the recipe😊. I thought it tasted like mint chip Ice cream, so I sprinkled some cacao nibs on mine.
Absolutely delicious
One of my kids’ favorite shakes/smoothies. I usually throw in some carob chips or chocolate chips at the end of blending. It’s so creamy and delicious and tasted like a dessert! I also added flax to make it a meal.
I’m not a fan of “flavorings” or extracts. I used a couple handfuls of fresh mint leaves instead. Yummy!
Excited to try this…finally something WITHOUT BANANAS! Thank you!