Cooking Lesson #1038: Almost But Not Quite a Shamrock Shake

…from the Perspectives’ Happy Hour Bar 

How you doin’? Yes, I know, it’s Happy Hour Friday, but could make you happier than an ice cream shake/drink? Don’t worry cocktail lovers, we’ve got you covered later in this post.
 
I must confess, I goofed. I already had so much on the food calendar for St. Patrick’s Day, I missed one of Joan’s favorites. I am so ashamed.
 
To make up for my faux pax I made a pitcher of Shamrock Shakes this week. As we all know spirited St. Patrick's Day celebrations come with an onslaught of green foods and drinks. Did you know they even tint the Chicago River green?
 
The one green beverage that’s longed for by McDonalds’ cult of followers is none other than the Shamrock Shake. It is tall, minty, frosty, creamy goodness and only available for about a month at McDonald’s. Now with this recipe you can have one whenever you like. It’s just made with a handful of quality ingredients including real ice cream.
 
Here is a little undisputable history of the origins of the Shamrock Shake.
Since the 1970s, McDonald’s has offered this limited-time shake with its recognizable green hue as a specialty treat to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day from mid-February to mid-March. Its limited run has elevated its status, and it’s looked forward to by many all year long. In 2021, the Shamrock Shake celebrated its 50th (!!!) anniversary.
 
At its core, the recipe consists of vanilla ice cream, a “green Shamrock syrup,” whipped cream, and a cherry on top.
 
Here my simple list of ingredients but the end result is a creamy texture with balanced mint taste and a mound of whipped cream.
 
Like many of my recipes you can customize a Shamrock Shake to suit your needs and tastes. This doesn’t have to be a McDonald’s lunch dessert. Shakes are the portable dessert you get to drink anytime anywhere.
 
Try some favorite add-ins to make it your own. Here are some ideas to get you started!
 
Chocolate and mint are an iconic duo! Adding a drizzle of chocolate syrup over the top of your whipped cream. Or make it boozy (it is Happy Hour Friday, after all) by adding vodka or Irish Cream—not suggested for the kiddies.
 
Two ounces of vanilla vodka per shake adds an extra hint of vanilla without dramatically changing the minty flavor. Adding 2 ounces of bourbon turn this into a mint julep with a bolder flavor profile—perfect for watching the Kentucky Derby at home. Place a maraschino cherry on top and you’ve got a perfect copycat McDonald’s Shamrock Shake. If you can find green maraschino cherries that makes it that much more Irish.
 
My recipe makes two 8-ounce shakes, but it’s easy to scale up or down. I like to use my new Bullet blender which makes it a lot easier for clean-up.
 
Prep time:  6 minutes
Yield:  makes 2 8-ounce shakes
 
Ingredients 
12 ounces (1-1/2 cups) vanilla ice cream
3/4 cup whole milk
1 drop green food coloring
1/2 teaspoon mint extract
 
For the perfect garnish
 
Whipped Cream (Reddi-wip works)
1 tablespoon green sprinkles
2 red or green maraschino cherries
 
Directions

1. Put two glasses in the freezer to chill.
2. Add the ice cream, milk, food coloring and mint extract to a blender or Bullet mixing container.
3. Blend to mix all the ingredients until thickened and green throughout.
4. Pour into 2 chilled glasses.
5. Garnish with whipped cream, green sprinkle and cherries.

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ChefSecret: To make the shake a little thinner: add 1 to 2 tablespoons of milk
To make it thicker: reduce the milk by 1 to 2 tablespoons.

Quip of the Day:  Q: Why do people wear shamrocks on St. Patrick’s Day? A: Real rocks are too heavy!
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#Cocktail #ShamrockShake #MilkShake #StPatricksDay #Vodka #IrishCream #bourbon #chocolate #HappyHour2025 #Cheers #Recipes2025 #URM #T2T #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #SamaritansPurse #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup  
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