Healthy Shamrock Shake Recipe
Posted Mar 06, 2017, Updated Jan 10, 2022
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This Healthy Shamrock Shake recipe is made with 8 nutritious ingredients like avocados, spinach, Greek yogurt and is ready in 5 minutes! The perfect St. Patrick’s Day treat that’s naturally dyed green! No food coloring!
Top ‘O the morning to you!!! This Healthy Shamrock Shake recipe goes out to all of my virtual friends who have a shamrock shake addict in your life.
My husband is that guy. You know the one I’m talking about. Literally the first day he sees a sign outside of the golden arches advertising the arrival of said beverage, he has to have one.
I had three main objectives in creating this Healthy Shamrock Shake, it had to be 1) creamy. 2) Green. and 3) minty!
The addition of avocado, spinach and fresh mint leaves worked together to achieve every one of those goals in a completely natural and healthy way. So I feel good about my husband and kids enjoying this green treat! (Instead of secretly being horrified about what they are putting into their bodies).
How to make a Shamrock Shake
This recipe is very simple to make. Simply put all the ingredients in the container of a Vitamix and blend until smooth.
The only tip I have is that in order to blend everything well you need to use a Vitamix (or another high-powered blender).
Serve
Serve this shake with a dollop of homemade whipped cream on top for a fun treat without any preservatives, food dyes, etc.
I suggest serving this healthy shamrock shake right away for the best flavor and texture.
Store
You could store leftovers in a glass jar with lid in the refrigerator for 1 day or in the freezer for 1 month, however it’s best when served immediately.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, this recipe is far healthier than the restaurant version, here are some comparisons for a small shake from McD’s: 460 calories (small size) 63 g refined sugar, 74 g carbs, 8 g saturated fat. No fiber or nutrients.
This Recipe: 336 calories, 30 g unrefined sugar, 39 g carbs, 4 g saturated fat, 8 g fiber, 1900 mg Vitamin A, 780 mg Potassium.
The ingredients in a McD’s shake are: Milk, Sugar, Cream, Corn Syrup, Natural Flavor, Mono and Diglycerides, Cellulose Gum, Guar Gum, Carrageenan, Vitamin A Palmitate.Â
So much less nutritious than making a shake with whole foods like avocados, Greek yogurt and honey!
You can freeze leftovers of this healthy shamrock shake in glass jars with lids in the freezer and thaw slowly in the refrigerator. You could also use a popsicle mold and make shamrock shake popsicles with leftovers – yum!
Healthy Shamrock Shake: Ingredients & Substitutions
There are a few easy ways to change up this Healthy Shamrock Shake to fit your dietary needs!
- Greek Yogurt/Milk: If you avoid dairy, you can easily substitute a dairy-free yogurt and almond or coconut milk to make this dairy-free! . recommend using honey or vanilla flavored yogurt. If you use plain yogurt, you will need to increase the amount of honey so that it’s sweet enough.
- Spinach. Use frozen spinach to make a thick and creamy shake.
- Honey: Use any liquid sweetener of your choice. Honey is by far my favorite.
- Mint: If you’d prefer, you can use mint extract instead of fresh mint, however I love the flavor the fresh mint imparts in this healthy shamrock shake!
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Healthy Shamrock Shake
Ingredients
- ¾ cup milk (2% or whole)
- ½ cup vanilla Greek yogurt
- 1 avocado
- ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup spinach frozen
- 10-15 fresh mint leaves
- 2 TBS honey
- ½-1 cup ice optional
Instructions
- Add ingredients to your Vitamix (or other high-powered blender) in the order listed.
- Blend, starting on low speed and gradually increasing to high until your mixture is smooth and homogenous.
- Pour and serve immediately, top with whipped cream or chocolate!
Video
Notes
Ingredient Substitutions
- Greek Yogurt/Milk:Â Â If you avoid dairy, you can easily substitute a dairy-free yogurt and almond or coconut milk to make this dairy-free! . recommend using honey or vanilla flavored yogurt. If you use plain yogurt, you will need to increase the amount of honey so that it’s sweet enough.
- Spinach. Use frozen spinach to make a thick and creamy shake.
- Honey:Â Use any liquid sweetener of your choice. Honey is by far my favorite.
- Mint:Â If you’d prefer, you can use mint extract instead of fresh mint, however IÂ love the flavor the fresh mint imparts in this healthy shamrock shake!
Serve
Serve this shake with a dollop of homemade whipped cream on top for a fun treat without any preservatives, food dyes, etc. I suggest serving this healthy shamrock shake right away for the best flavor and texture.Store
You could store leftovers in a glass jar with lid in the refrigerator for 1 day or in the freezer for 1 month, however it’s best when served immediately.Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More St. Patrick’s Day Recipes
Here are some more green and St. Patty’s Day themed recipes for you!
- These spinach pancakes, spinach muffins and these spinach donuts make a fun and festive breakfast!
- How adorable is this rainbow fruit pizza? Put a little pot of gold at the end and you have a fun dessert!
- I always think of potatoes when I think of St. Patty’s Day, and these mashed potatoes are the best!
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This healthy shamrock shake recipe is an absolute game-changer! I love how it incorporates nutritious ingredients like spinach, bananas, and almond milk, making it more than just a delicious treat. The natural sweetness fits perfectly with the refreshing mint flavor, creating a guilt-free indulgence that I can enjoy any time of the year. Thank you for sharing this fantastic recipe, it’s a true delight for both my taste buds and my well-being! Sincerely, Becky Gomez
Although March passed a few months ago, this shake was perfect to make as a special treat for my hubby on his birthday this May! He LOVES talking about how ‘this is the year’ he is finally going to try one of the traditional Shamrock Shakes when they come around every March… but never does. Secretly I am hoping he is as afraid of the ingredients in them as I am! Needless to say I was thrilled to see a healthy recipe on your site, and he was thrilled with the taste! He absolutely loved the shake and I am hoping we will never have to experience the fast food version haha 🙂 I am so happy I can provide him with a healthy Shamrock Shake any day of the year!
Made it this morning- so fun!! We used coconut 🥥 yogurt & milk to accommodate for food allergies. And ended up adding a banana to thicken it up more (we are banana lovers) such a great way to start the day!! Thank you!!
Does the spinach need to be frozen?
Hey Maria! No, it doesn’t need to be…however frozen spinach makes it thick and creamy without needing to add ice! If you don’t have frozen spinach it will be more liquidy and less thick!
I love the hidden avocado and spinach to give it that natural green color and still sneak in some veggies. Looks delicious!
Yes! Creaminess and greenness! 😉
I am in love with this gorgeous shake! I don’t think I could stomach a traditional shamrock shake if I wanted to, I love this version so much more!
I know!! I took ONE sip of my husband’s ONCE, that’s all I needed! LOL!
So I know I admitted that I’ve never had a shamrock shake before, but you can bet I’ll be trying yours! It has everything I love!
No worries Liren, you’re not missing much by not having the real thing! lol!