If you are like me, St. Patrick’s Day always brings back fond memories of slurping McDonald’s Shamrock Shakes as a child. The green-tinted ice cream, the cool mint flavor, the whipped cream, the yum! I think it was also a welcome reminder that spring was right around the corner.
As a kid, I never worried about what nasty ingredients might be lurking in my shake. I just knew it tasted good. But now living in the information age as an adult and mom to two kids, I am more conscious about the things we put into our bodies. Sure, we eat “junk food” now and then, but I generally try to keep healthy foods in our home so we can easily make good choices.
When I saw the HuffPo’s article about the 54!!! ingredients (including High Fructose Corn Syrup, Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1, and artificial vanilla flavor), 820 calories, 135 grams of carbs and 115 grams of sugar in McDonald’s Shamrock Shakes, I knew I could make a healthier and just as tasty version at home with far fewer ingredients and no artificial dyes or HFCS. (Read a post I wrote about the problems with artificial colors.)
I used organic vanilla ice cream, 2% milk, mint extract, and a bit of frozen spinach for color. There were 10 ingredients in the ice cream, plus the milk, mint flavor (three organic oils) and spinach makes a total of 15 ingredients! If you add whipped cream on top, that’s about 5 more ingredients or less if you whip your own from whipping cream.
Homemade Shamrock Shake Recipe
- A few large scoops of vanilla ice cream
- About a cup of milk (add more if needed)
- Several drops of mint extract
- A handful of frozen or fresh baby spinach (for coloring)
Blend until well combined and pour into glasses. Add whipped cream on top if desired. Serve and enjoy!
The kids, hubby and I all agreed that they were better than McDonald’s version (which *ahem* we did recently partake in) and so easy to make at home.
Now you don’t have to wait for St. Patty’s day to roll around once a year. You can enjoy delicious mint shakes year-round!
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Stumble it!
Gwenny says:
Hey! This sounds tasty! And Colorado! I live in Colorado Springs. Any local groups for folks who are trying to be more healthy?
March 17th, 2013 at 9:08 pm
Kirsten says:
Thanks for sharing. I had one last time they had them and I loved it. Wasn’t really sure how to make it.
March 21st, 2013 at 10:58 pm
kate says:
OMG. I absolutely LOVE shamorock shakes but in the past few years the thought of drinking that chemical mess is too much. I have made my own at home too. I have found the magic ingredient….Liquid chlorophyll! There is a mint flavored one at Vitamin Shoppe I think, (it comes in a dropper bottle) and its bright green and MINTY! It is unreal. And tastes EXACTLY like the Shamrock shake…and in my mind, at least I am getting some chlorophyll!
April 3rd, 2013 at 8:42 am
Crunchy Domestic Goddess says:
that’s awesome, kate. thanks for sharing that elusive ingredient. :)
amy
April 3rd, 2013 at 10:19 pm
Judith says:
This is so awesome!!! Wonderful alternative to the toxic original!
May 7th, 2013 at 2:32 pm