The BEST Shamrock Shake (Vegan)

This veganized version of the classic shamrock shake is irresistible! It’s ridiculously delicious but with a healthy twist! No added sugars but sweet and minty just the way a shamrock shake should be.

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I used to love the McDonald’s Shamrock Shakes every March but unfortunately they’re made with dairy, not to mention they have 460 calories in just the small plus 63 grams of sugar.

Traditionally, Shamrock shakes are made with vanilla ice cream but I knew I could make a vegan version that was not only dairy free but healthier too. You can achieve the same great taste and frothy, thick texture without ice cream.

Why this recipe works

• coconut cream gives it the creamy texture of shake
• several handfuls of ice thicken it (no ice cream needed!)
• dates are the secret natural sweetener—you won’t believe it’s not sugar!
• frozen bananas help with thickening and lend additional sweetness
• vanilla extract—adds the flavor that vanilla ice cream would provide
• peppermint extract—the signature refreshing minty flavor of the shamrock shake
• spinach gives it a natural green hue without food coloring, ups the fiber and nutritional value, and is completely tasteless in this shake!

Everything comes together to make an incredibly tasty minty milkshake without all the syrup and sugar!

How to make

Add all the ingredients to a high speed blender and blend well until smooth. Adjust flavors as desired. For sweeter, add a couple more dates. For a stronger mint flavor, add 1/8th teaspoon at a time of additional peppermint extract. It is a strong flavor so be careful not to overdo it.

Pro Tip: add the liquids and spinach first, then the frozen banana and ice. The weight of the banana and ice help to push the spinach down into the blades so that it blends more smoothly. No spinach bits to be seen!

To top it off, I added coconut whipped cream and dairy-free dark chocolate chips. I make the coconut whipped cream from my Watermelon Dessert Pizza recipe. It’s the perfect topping for any vegan milkshake. It’s really easy to make but there are also store-bought coconut whipped creams.

I also sprinkled some dairy-free chocolate chips on top.

Make it a mint chocolate chip shake

If you want to make a mint chocolate chip milkshake follow the recipe as written. Once everything is blended, add a couple tablespoons of chocolate chips and pulse to distribute. You can also chop some chocolate ahead of time and mix through.

Make sure to not over blend if you want some chocolate chunks visible. The coloring may turn a little brown from the chocolate otherwise.

Want to up the protein?

This milkshake as is has 6g of protein but to make it even more filling there are several ways to up the protein. Here are some easy ideas:

• Use protein powder—this homemade protein powder would be a great addition and as an added bonus, it’s green!
• Add hemp seeds, chia seeds, or ground flax seeds—all provide an extra boost of protein without changing the flavor
• Add nuts like cashews or walnuts—make sure you have a powerful blender that can pulverize them, otherwise try soaking them first

With the additional protein, this shake would even make a great after workout snack. I might even go so far as to say it’d make a wonderful, filling breakfast too! Choose one or several of the above to make a healthy Shamrock protein shake when you want something more filling.

More shake and smoothie recipes

• Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Protein Shake
• Coconut Shake
• Strawberry Banana Milkshake
• Green Tea Smoothie
• Birthday Cake Protein Shake
• Almond Joy Smoothie

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