This Healthy Shamrock Shake recipe is made with 8 nutritious ingredients like avocados, spinach, Greek yogurt & 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 don’t understand it {and never will}, but since my main man loves those shakes, and I love him, I made it my mission to create this homemade Shamrock Shake recipe. My goal: to save Ritch from making too many trips to that infamous chain this March.
How to make this Healthy Shamrock Shake Recipe
NO bananas!
In order to make a Healthy Shamrock Shake that my husband would still love, I knew I couldn’t use bananas. The guy has a super taster for anything that contains banana {and coconut for that matter} and I knew if he got one whiff of a banana the entire experience would be ruined for him. So, I used vanilla honey Greek yogurt and 2% milk for the base.
Use a Vitamix!
In order to blend everything to creamy perfection make sure to use a Vitamix (or other high-powered blender). A weaker blender will not do in this recipe!
Why this Healthy Shamrock Shake is amazing!
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 totally 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}!
Healthy Shamrock Shake: 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 {like So Delicious} and almond or coconut milk to make this dairy-free! I recommend using honey or vanilla flavored yogurt. If you use plain yogurt, you will need to increase the amount of honey so that this Healthy Shamrock Shake is still sweet enough!
- Honey: Feel free to use any liquid sweetener of your choice. Honey is by far my favorite!
If you make something from JoyFoodSunshine I would love to see your creations! Don’t forget to rate this recipe and leave a comment below! Also, follow along with me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter for more recipe inspiration and a glimpse into our everyday life!
Healthy Shamrock Shake
Ingredients
- ¾ cup milk
- ½ cup vanilla honey 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!
Nutrition
#Eat Seasonal March
This Healthy Shamrock Shake comes to you as part of one of my favorite times of the month…our Eat Seasonal recipe group! Every month an amazing group of bloggers join together to encourage all of our wonderful readers to eat seasonally!
My sweet friend Becky over at The Vintage Mixer posts seasonal produce guides every month to showcase the beautiful fruits and vegetables that are fresh and available to cook and bake with! Check out her March Seasonal Produce Guide to learn what’s in season {hello avocados}!
So here it is…a treasure trove of beautiful recipes that are perfect to make in March from some seriously talented bloggers! Click on the links below for some winter cooking inspiration! Join in the fun by tagging your photos with #eatseasonal!
This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product through a link you clicked on here, I receive a portion of the sale. Thank you for supporting JoyFoodSunshine!
S
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!!
Maria
Does the spinach need to be frozen?
Laura
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!
Emily Weir
I love the hidden avocado and spinach to give it that natural green color and still sneak in some veggies. Looks delicious!
Laura
Yes! Creaminess and greenness! 😉
Emily Kyle
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!
Laura
I know!! I took ONE sip of my husband’s ONCE, that’s all I needed! LOL!
Liren | Kitchen Confidante
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!
Laura
No worries Liren, you’re not missing much by not having the real thing! lol!
cakespy
LOVE this – all of the nostalgia of the classic treat but something you can feel good about consuming!
Laura
Absolutely! Fresh and green!
Jenn
My husband is that guy too!! And I have also never understood it. I prefer my green colored food and drinks to be naturally green in color – like your delicious smoothie! THIS is a Shamrock Shake I can get on board with!
Laura
LOL I’m totally with you! And lower in sugar too! 😉
Taylor Kiser
Made with everything I love! This healthy shamrock shake needs to be in my life asap! Perfect for breakfast or as my afternoon snack!
Laura
It’s definitely a great choice for either!
Sandra Laflamme
These would be fun to make for my kids for St. Patty’s Day. Also, they love spinach in smoothies anyways. Sounds absolutely delish!
Laura
That’s awesome that your kiddos enjoy spinach in their smoothies! I have to be a sneaky ninja mom to put it in my kids’ or else it’s quite a production getting them to take the first sip {and realizing they love it}! LOL!
Izzy @ She Likes Food
I’ve actually never had a shamrock shake before haha, but I keep hearing about them! I think I would like this healthy version much more than the original version though! Your husband is a lucky man 🙂
Laura
You’re too sweet! 🙂 Yes I actually like this one, not so much the original. LOL!
Sonali- The Foodie Physician
This looks like a great festive treat without the guilt! And it has such a lovely verdant hue!
Laura
Thank you Sonali! I love the way REAL ingredients make dishes so vibrant!
Rebecca | NOURISHED
This looks soooooo good. And so perfect for the season. I’ve never had a minty shake before so I am so excited to give this a try!!
Laura
I love using fresh mint too! So much better than extract!
Lydia @ Suitcase Foodist
Just magical substitutions … and I’m craving green right now. I really can’t seem to get enough.
Laura
I’m totally with you! Green everything!
kelley {mountain mama cooks}
What a gorgeous color! It’s so refreshing to see a naturally green treat for St. Paddy’s day. Avocado for the win!!
Laura
Avocado is ALWAYS a winner around here! 🙂
amanda -runtothefinish
Wouldn’t it be cool if ST Pat’s day got everyone drinking green smoothies?! We’ll use the trick of them thinking it’s a adult beverage to show them how tasty they are! 🙂
becky
Strangely enough, I’ve never had the real shamrock shake! Our versions are super similar but still unique. I’ll try yours next and you try mine 😉 Except Rich will hate mine!!
Laura
You know your Vegan version would agree with me much better! So I can make your version and not have to share with the Mister! LOL! Plus I love anything made with coconut milk, it’s so rich and creamy!
Lindsay Cotter
Love this healthy upgrade! Such a much better option for your family! Way to go!
Laura
Thank you Lindsay!
Sarah
A green smoothie with avocado is a win in my book, especially when it’s inspired by a treat. They make smoothies so thick and creamy and you even have the greens packed in there. A much better alternative, and one I’d love, over the “classic” Shamrock Shake!
Laura
Yes!! Avocados truly are magical in smoothies! 🙂
liz @ Floating Kitchen
Love the pretty color of these shakes. I have to admit, I’ve never had a real Shamrock shake before. But I’m kind of ok with that. I like your version better! 🙂
Laura
LOL YES! You absolutely should be totally ok with that! 😉
Letty / Letty's Kitchen
Shamrock shakes had not even hit my radar until I saw yours and Becky’s. Do I have my head in the flour bin? Truly–thank you. I’m off to the store to buy mint and spinach!
Laura
LOL Letty! I would have no idea if it weren’t for my husband! 😉
marcie
I’ve had my share of Shamrock shakes, but not in the past 20 years! lol I would much rather make my own healthier version at home too, and I’m so trying this. I’ve got lots of fresh mint in the garden that’s perfect for these!
Laura
OoOo I can’t wait until the weather gets warmer and we can plant our garden! Fresh mint will definitely be in there!
Emily
Now this looks AMAZING; I’ve never had a shamrock shake, but I think I can definitely see why your husband loves them so much; avocadoes and greek yogurt would be the key to making it super duper creamy!
Laura
He loves the shakes full of sugar and cream…lol! BUT he definitely enjoyed this one too and I’m hoping to convert him over to the healthy side! 😉 My kids gobbled them up in no time!
Maria @ kitchenathoskins
That is an brilliant idea…festive and healthy – win-win!!!!
Laura
No need to derail your healthy lifestyle to celebrate fun holidays with the kids! 🙂
Kathryn Pfeffer
My favorite color in a delicious looking smoothie! Will have to try this shamrock shake!!
Laura
It got devoured in 0.3 seconds around here! 🙂
REBECCA
I don’t think I’ve ever actually had a shamrock shake — golden arches or otherwise — but the vibrant color of this one is absolutely gorgeous!!
Laura
I love how real food naturally colors dishes so beautifully!