Healthy Shamrock Shake Mint Smoothie

2/18/19

Healthy Shamrock Shake Mint Smoothie satisfies your minty milkshake craving the healthy and guilt-free way with a naturally green smoothie. All of the minty flavor and creamy texture you love, but none of the extra sugar and calories! Plus there are no artificial colors or ingredients. This Shamrock Shake Smoothie recipe is a fun part of a gluten free St. Patrick’s Day menu!

I have been dying to get myself a Shamrock Shake from McDonald’s. But then I remember that the last time I had one, I wasn’t thrilled. I rarely indulge in a McDonald’s milkshake, but I don’t think they have been the same since they started putting whipped cream and a cherry on top. I mean, this is McDonald’s, not an ice cream parlor, or even a diner. Their food isn’t supposed to come with garnish.

Then I saw someone post the list of what is in a Shamrock Shake. Not that I don’t ever consume those ingredients – I do love McDonald’s plain old vanilla ice cream from time to time. And the ice cream is the main component of the shake. But it wasn’t worth the calories or chemicals for something I don’t really like.

But on St. Patrick’s Day, for some reason the idea of a Shamrock Shake for breakfast seems like the way to celebrate. And then after Easy Slow Cooker Corned Beef or Easy Shepherd’s Pie for dinner, why not have another one for dessert?!

Shamrock Shake Green Smoothie

This healthy Shamrock Shake smoothie will totally satisfy your craving for that minty milkshake. It’s sweet and creamy, and, in my opinion, perfectly minty. Honestly, I am not a huge mint person, so this is admittedly a little light on the mint. If you like things really minty, go ahead and add more mint extract.  And no, you can’t taste the spinach or kale, and if you blend it up, you don’t even know it is there, other than the lovely green color it gives the smoothie.

How to make a healthy Shamrock Shake smoothie:

• Make sure you have a banana in your freezer. Break it into chunks and throw it in the freezer at night for a breakfast smoothie. Or if you forgot at night, freeze it in the morning so you can have one as a healthy dessert.
• Add spinach or kale, milk, Greek yogurt or cottage cheese, frozen banana, mint extract, vanilla extract, and ice to your blender.
• Then all you have to do is blend until smooth. You can also adjust the sweetness if needed with your desired sweetener.

Are Shamrock Shakes gluten free?

McDonald’s does not promote any of their food products as gluten free. However, Shamrock Shakes do not have any gluten-containing ingredients. And the risk of cross-contamination is fairly low. But if you want to be 100% sure, your best bet is to make it a home.

Additionally, if you make a healthy Shamrock Shake, you can get the flavors you love without all the extra sugar and artificial ingredients. Then you can be totally confident your mint smoothie is safe since all of these ingredients are gluten free:

• spinach or kale
• banana
• your milk of choice (I prefer unsweetened vanilla almond milk)
• plain Greek yogurt or cottage cheese
• mint extract and vanilla extract (these are typically gluten free, but do be sure they are not made with grain alcohols if you are sensitive. McCormick and Nielsen & Massey are safe options)

What other mint recipes can you make?

• Mint Chocolate Chip Glazed Popcorn
• Chocolate Mint Smoothie
• No-Churn Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Cake
• And if that’s not enough, check out 17 Chocolate Mint Recipes and 35 Mint Chocolate Chip Dessert Recipes!

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Healthy Shamrock Shake Mint Smoothie Recipe

With natural, real ingredients, this Shamrock Shake smoothie is definitely healthy enough to be breakfast-worthy. But it’s definitely still sweet and yummy enough for dessert.  And that’s without any added sugar, or even any green food coloring, for that matter.

I hope you’ll leave a comment and give it a FIVE STAR rating or share a photo on this pin on Pinterest!

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Healthy Shamrock Shake Mint Smoothie

This St. Patrick's Day Green Smoothie lets you have a Shamrock Shake the healthy way! 

Prep Time5 mins

Total Time5 mins

Course: Breakfast, Drinks, Smoothie, Snack

Cuisine: American

Servings: 1

Calories: 211kcal

Author: Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips

Ingredients

• 1 cup baby spinach or kale or other dark, leafy green of your choice
• 1 cup milk of choice
• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt or cottage cheese
• 1 frozen really ripe banana
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon mint extract (or more, if desired)
• 4 ice cubes I used 4 regular-sized ones. This was probably about 3/4 cup. Adjust accordingly based on the size of your ice cubes and how icy you want it.
• Optional, honey, stevia, etc., if needed, depending on how ripe and sweet your banana is

Instructions

• Put all ingredients into a blender in the order listed, and blend until smooth.
• Pour into a glass to serve.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 211kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 377mg | Potassium: 647mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 1480IU | Vitamin C: 14.5mg | Calcium: 425mg | Iron: 0.7mg

Enjoy! Originally published on March 17, 2012. Photos updated on March 3, 2016.