Beverages Ice Cream and Frozen Desserts Milkshakes Milkshakes Recipes

Peppermint Milkshake

An easy peppermint milkshake recipe. Made with vanilla ice cream, whole milk, and peppermint oil and tinted with green gel food coloring, this St. Patrick’s Day milkshake is best served with whipped cream and homemade shamrock sprinkles!

Looking down at a mint milkshake garnished with shamrock sprinkles

Why Make This Peppermint Milkshake Recipe?

Every year around the beginning of March, I start thinking about the Shamrock Shake.

Hal Rosen, a Connecticut-based McDonald’s owner/operator, created this iconic mint-flavored milkshake in 1967 as a way of commemorating Saint Patrick’s Day. The sweet, pastel green beverage launched at McDonald’s locations across the United States in 1970. In 2020 the drink celebrated its 50th anniversary, along with the introduction of a new Shamrock McFlurry.

The Shamrock Shake remains a seasonal favorite, but it’s exactly that—seasonal. My homemade version offers a suitable alternative for when the craving strikes at other times. While this isn’t a copycat recipe, the minty flavor (and  bright green color) will definitely hit the spot if you’re in the mood for a Shamrock Shake. And of course, it’s great for celebrating the actual holiday, too!

This peppermint milkshake recipe features three main ingredients: vanilla ice cream, whole milk, and natural peppermint oil. To finish, I’ve tinted it with green gel food coloring (unlike the fast food version, you can skip the coloring if you prefer a more natural shake) and topped things off with fresh whipped cream and a handful of homemade shamrock sprinkles.

This five-minute peppermint milkshake makes it easy celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day, no visit to the drive-thru required.

A peppermint milkshake in a tall glass

Peppermint Milkshake Ingredients

To make this peppermint milkshake (a.k.a. a homemade Shamrock Shake!) you’ll need the following:

  • Vanilla Ice Cream – Choose a smooth, creamy, good-tasting vanilla ice cream. with no mix-ins. For easier blending, allow the container to sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes before preparing your shake.
  • Whole Milk – Whole milk makes the creamiest shake, but semi-skimmed or skimmed milk will work, too.
  • Peppermint Oil – Choose pure peppermint oil, not an extract or flavoring. (LorAnn Oils is my go-to brand.) But add it sparingly—a few drops go a very long way!
  • Green Gel Food Coloring – I tinted my shake with Chefmaster’s Leaf Green; you can also use Mint Green coloring.
  • Whipped Cream – For garnish. It’s very easy to make your own whipped cream (or coconut whipped cream) at home, but the squirty store-bought stuff will certainly work, too.
  • Saint Patrick’s Day Sprinkles – You can make my homemade Saint Patrick’s Day sprinkle recipe, or use store-bought shamrock sprinkles (or green sprinkles) instead.
Ingredients for making this peppermint milkshake recipe
Peppermint milkshake ingredients

Ideas for Garnishing and Serving This Mint Milkshake:

This shamrock-inspired shake is super fun to garnish and serve, with plenty of room for creativity. In addition to whipped cream and sprinkles, some other Saint Patrick’s Day-inspired ideas include:

Mint shake garnished with Saint Patrick's Day sprinkles

Peppermint Milkshake Tips and Tricks

You’ll need a good-quality blender to make this peppermint milkshake. If you don’t have a blender, you can use an immersion blender instead. To do so, combine the milkshake ingredients in a large jug and blend until smooth and creamy.

Even in colder weather, this milkshake will begin to melt quickly. Don’t blend up the ingredients until you’re ready to serve and enjoy your peppermint shake!

Other peppermint recipes you might enjoy:

Peppermint Meringue Kisses
Easy Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Peppermint Marshmallows

And if you do make these, or any of my recipes, don’t forget to tag me @bastecutfold or use the hashtag #bastecutfold on Instagram. I always love to see what you’re making!

Green milkshake in a tall glass

Print

Peppermint Milkshake

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

A peppermint milkshake for St. Patrick’s Day. Best served with whipped cream and homemade shamrock sprinkles!

  • Author: becky
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 1-2 servings 1x
  • Category: Ice Cream
  • Method: No Cook

Ingredients

Scale

4 large scoops vanilla ice cream
125 milliliters whole milk (1/2 cup)
12 drops peppermint oil, or to taste
Green gel food coloring

Whipped cream and shamrock sprinkles, to garnish

Instructions

In a blender or the jug of an immersion blender, combine the ice cream and milk.

Vanilla ice cream in a jug

Blend until smooth and creamy. Add the peppermint oil and green food coloring and blend for 10 seconds more.

Peppermint shake in a jug

Pour into a tall parfait glass, or two smaller glasses. Garnish with whipped cream and Saint Patrick’s Day sprinkles.

Peppermint shake in a parfait glass

Peppermint shake with shamrock sprinkles

Serve immediately.

 

Notes

If you don’t have a blender, you can make this recipe using a hand blender (this is my preferred method!) Combine the ingredients in a large jug, and blend as outlined above.

Did you make this recipe?

Leave a comment below or share a photo on Instagram and tag me @bastecutfold.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star