This vegan shamrock shake recipe is easy to make, super healthy and loaded with hidden veggies. It tastes incredible and is a top reader pick!
This is the perfect shake to get some greens on. My kids even know there are veggies in it and still love it!
This recipe was originally published on 3/15/14
Serve this as a nutrient rich smoothie or top it with vegan whipped cream for a delicious snack. Either way you're getting in something delicious and healthy!
Ingredients
Unlike your standard green milkshake, this healthy shamrock shake is filled with nutritious plant based ingredients!
- Milk
- Bananas
- Spinach
- Avocado
- Ice
- Dates or maple syrup
- Peppermint extract
- Chocolate chips
How to Make a Vegan Shamrock Shake
Making a homemade shamrock shake is easier than heading to the drive through, not to mention healthier!
- Put everything in the blender, except the chocolate chips, and blend.
- Add the chocolate chips and pulse until incorporated.
- Top with optional whipped cream and serve!
The Best Greens to Add to Smoothies
This vegan shamrock shake recipe uses spinach and avocado to get that classic green hue, but you can use other foods as well.
Spinach in a green smoothie tends to be the first pick for people. I love it because it is versatile and has so many great qualities!
Avocado is also a great addition, not only for it's creaminess but also because it is such a great protein and fat source. Our bodies need both of these to function, so to get it in all forms is not only healthy but the creaminess is also delish.
Here are more green foods to try adding:
- Zucchini
- Lettuce
- Kale
- Chard
- Peas
- Celery
- Cucumber
The shamrock shake is a seasonal milkshake served at McDonald's around St. Patrick's Day.
The flavor is minty and creamy. Shamrock shake ingredients include ice cream and the shamrock shake syrup which includes high fructose corn syrup, natural flavorings and food coloring. This homemade vegan shamrock shake recipe uses whole foods to recreate the cool minty taste.
According to the McDonald's website, the only allergen listed in the ingredients is milk, making the shamrock shake gluten free.
The way I see it, you can never have too many veggies. We eat them with our meals, but I love nothing more than sneaking them into treats.
Fruit is great in a smoothie, but it's best to balance out all the natural sugar in fruit with some veggies. There are loads of options that will give you a variety of nutrients.
The healthiest thing you can do is get as many veggies as you can into your body, making sure to mix it up so you are also getting a variety of vitamins and minerals.
The first thing I did was decide what veggies I wanted to use to get the flavor and texture of a milkshake but also have a hidden healthy factor.
Spinach disguises itself well so because this is kids I went with that as my hidden green.
To help add to the creamy factor, I chose avocado. I love that it has all that fat and protein too, so a perfect way to boost their health without them knowing.
More Vegan Milkshakes, Smoothies, and Drink Recipes
After this vegan shamrock shake is gone, slurp up any of the following healthy smoothies or milkshakes.
- Vegan Pecan Pumpkin Shake
- Vegan Homemade Strawberry Milk
- Peanut Butter Cup Milkshake
- Salted Caramel Pretzel Oatmeal Cookie Smoothie
- Vegan Carrot Cake Smoothie
- Chocolate Covered Candy Cane Milkshake
Healthy Vegan Shamrock Shake
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsweetened almond or cashew milk , or use 1 cup full fat coconut milk for optimal creaminess
- 1 ½ very ripe frozen bananas
- ¼ cup spinach
- ¼ avocado
- 5-6 ice cubes , optional for an icier shake
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup or 4 dates , optional for extra sweetness
- ⅛-¼ teaspoon peppermint extract , depending on how pepperminty you want it
- ¼ cup vegan chocolate chips , plus more to sprinkle on top (use raw cacao nibs for raw shake with less sugar)
Optional toppings:
Instructions
- Place all ingredients, except the chocolate chips, into a blender and blend.
- Add chocolate chips and pulse to chop them up, but don’t overblend because you will lose the green color.
- Top with whipped cream and more chocolate chips if preferred.
- Serve
Notes
- Make sure you are using a neutral tasting avocado, some types have stronger flavors than others. Hass is probably the best bet, I used a Fuerte one time and the flavor was way too strong for us.
- Make sure your bananas are very ripe when freezing to get the optimum sweetness. If they aren’t super ripe you may want to add more sweetener.
- To make this nut free use a nut free milk.
- Adjust milk amount to get your preferred thickness.
- Nutrition calculations use maple syrup and do not include whipped topping.
Recipe by Veggies Don’t Bite, visit our site for more great plant-based recipes.
Nutrition
Nutrition and metric information should be considered an estimate.
The Vegan 8
This looks so dang indulgent, but yet so healthy, my kind of shake! I'm not a big smoothie person, but I LOVE shakes and mint chocolate is one of my all-time favorite combos! I am loving how gorgeous and fancy it looks too girl! Awesome recipe!
JD
I love this time of year when I can make these over and over!
Sina @ Vegan Heaven
This shake looks so yummy, Sophia! Such a great way to eat/drink your greens! 🙂
veggiesdontbite
Thanks Sina!!
Alisa @ Go Dairy Free
Seeing the different versions of shamrock shakes is one of my favorite things about St. Patrick's Day. I'm so with you on the avocado!
veggiesdontbite
Thanks Alisa! Isn't it fun to see all the different ways?!
Lucie @WIN-WIN FOOD
Such a fun way to sneak those greens into a delicious drink 🙂 it's almost like a dessert you drink with a straw! I imagine the full fat coconut milk would make it super dessert-like <3 I'm almost tempted to turn this into shamrock ice cream as well
veggiesdontbite
Ha! Thanks Lucie! It's such a great drink for my kiddos and getting extra greens in!
Linda @ Veganosity
Twist my arm. Never mind, by the time you'd get it into a knot I'd have that gorgeous glass of green emptied out. This looks amazing! I need to make one now!
veggiesdontbite
LOL Linda! I bet if you add a little vodka in it would make a fabulous adult drink...just an idea 😉
Aimee / Wallflower Girl's Kitchen
YUM! Love the way you've served it with the whipped topping too. Looks so mouthwatering <3
veggiesdontbite
Thanks Aimee! The whipped topping is one of my favorite parts!
The Vegan 8
Ok, when I got the email, at first I wasn't sure if it was a brand new recipe or not! But DAMN it looks amazing! So pretty! I love how thick and creamy it looks and the green color is spot on! I absolutely love mint and chocolate together...it's addictive. Love how healthy it is too...great recipe girlfriend!!
veggiesdontbite
Yep, totally redid an old recipe for the season! I photographed it, WAY nicer this time, and updated the recipe a bit. It's a great way to get the old recipes up to speed!! Thanks girl!
Gin
This looks so good! I love how all the healthy stuff you snuck in there gives it a nice minty color!
veggiesdontbite
Thanks Gin!! I love being sneaky!
Cadry
That's hilarious that your youngest is part monkey. Does he get that from his mom or his dad? 😉 This shake sounds so tasty! I never use peppermint extract in my smoothies, but what a good idea!
veggiesdontbite
I think mostly dad, I like them but not love! The shake is really good though. The peppermint and chocolate take over!
Becky Striepe
Oh my gosh, this looks so good, especially with the whip on top!
veggiesdontbite
Thanks Becky! The whip I could shove my face in! LOL
Kat
Gosh, this sounds so so good <3 I love chocolate and mint in combination, but I never thought to add chocolate chips to a shake! Thanks for this great combination, Sophia 🙂
veggiesdontbite
Thanks Kat! Me too!! The chocolate chips are so yum!
Vanessa @ VeganFamilyRecipes
From looking at the picture I would have never guessed that it jam packed with so many healthy ingredients! Such an awesome idea and beautiful picture 😉
veggiesdontbite
I know!!! It's so sneaky! LOL! Thanks so much Vanessa!
Thalia @ butter and brioche
Loving your healthy take on a shamrock shake - this looks too good!
veggiesdontbite
Thanks Thalia! It's really a yummy way to get the greens in!
Jenn
Gorgeous! And the chocolate chips just take it to the next level! Fyi: I lost my very fist tooth while drinking a chocolate chip smoothie - it was loose already and the chip was basically frozen so.... Good times. 🙂
veggiesdontbite
Thanks Jenn! OMG, that's so funny!! This one is tooth free!