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Healthy Shamrock Shake Recipe (Paleo, Keto, Vegan)

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This healthy shamrock shake recipe is simply made with coconut milk, avocado, and fresh mint—no food coloring, complicated instructions or scary ingredients!

Healthy shamrock shake with avocado, dark chocolate and fresh mint.

‘Tis the season for the shamrock shake! The traditional drive-thru concoction has a distinctive minty-vanilla flavor and a bright green color for St. Patrick’s Day (but lots of people wish they could enjoy the special shake recipe all year long)! Alas, it goes without saying that drive-thru shamrock shakes are only available for a limited time AND they’re filled with all kinds of questionable ingredients.

This post may contain affiliate links to products I use and recommend (which means if you choose to make a purchase I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you).

A Much Healthier Version

The original shamrock shake recipe famously has 54 ingredients (including high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors, and preservatives)! The original shamrock shake is also a very vibrant, somewhat fake-looking green from the shamrock shake syrup that they blend with vanilla soft serve to make the shake. It’s topped with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry (all of which are loaded with processed food ingredients). The flavor is distinctively minty but it’s also extremely sweet.

If you’re looking for a way to create a healthy shamrock shake, the recipes and recreations you’ll find are all over the spectrum. Traditional copycat recipes are made with vanilla ice cream, milk, mint extract, and green food coloring. Some recipes include banana, almond milk, and other ingredients to make the shake creamy without dairy ingredients.

I wanted a shake that was creamy and thick. I was looking for a more substantial texture than other copycat recipes, so I took a few cues from other successful smoothie and shake recipes I’d created.

After working to perfect this healthy version, I have to admit I think it’s better than the original. It’s thick, creamy and delicious. The flavor is great. It’s cool and refreshing. Best of all, my healthy shamrock shake recipe is dairy-free, refined sugar-free, and additive-free.

This shake is simple to make—and you can pronounce and identify all the ingredients. My recipe is made with coconut milk and avocado and uses fresh mint leaves to add the green color and minty flavor.

Healthy Shamrock Shake with avocado and dark chocolate

How to make it without ice cream

I love to use avocado in recipes, especially as a dairy substitute for this dairy-free milkshake. The avocado adds a rich creaminess when it’s blended with the coconut milk. The green color obviously lends itself to this healthy St. Patrick’s Day treat too! Honestly, though? Even if you’re not looking for a green ingredient, avocado is the perfect creamy base for any type of shake you’re craving.

Using ice in the shake keeps the avocado very cold and it blends creamy. There’s no need to freeze the ingredients beforehand. All you do is simply add everything to the blender and mix.

I’ve found that adding a touch of real vanilla gives it more of an ice cream flavor without actual ice cream. It’s perfect for a treat craving!

The amount of mint you use is really up to your taste. If you like your shamrock shake extra minty (or extra green), add more mint leaves. Luckily, mint is in season in the spring — perfect timing for St. Patrick’s Day. You can find fresh mint in most grocery stores and even grow it in your kitchen garden! I recommend using fresh mint in this recipe. Here’s how to choose and store fresh mint.

Healthy Shamrock Shake with fresh mint and dark chocolate topping

The Perfect Toppings

I like to skip the whipped cream and cherry, and top the shake with a little shaved dark chocolate, which is so flavorful. It’s easy to create fancy chocolate mini curls and shavings to make this shamrock shake seem extra special. Just shave the side of a dark chocolate bar with a vegetable peeler. It’s almost like having a shamrock shake and a thin mint all in one. You could also garnish your shake with an extra mint leaf or two but I definitely recommend the chocolate shavings!

This healthy shamrock shake recipe is dairy-free, gluten-free, and paleo (and can be easily adapted to be keto-friendly/low carb/vegan). It’s the perfect treat for St. Patrick’s Day, but with this recipe, you can enjoy the shamrock shake all year long! Here’s to shamrock shakes in the spring, summer, fall, and winter. It’s the perfect festive drink!

Try these healthy dairy-free smoothie recipes after you get your shamrock shake fix.

Healthy smoothie ideas

Print Recipe
4 from 1 vote

Healthy Shamrock Shake Recipe

Made with coconut milk, avocado, and fresh mint, this healthy shamrock shake recipe lets you indulge without all the scary ingredients.
Prep Time5 mins
Total Time5 mins
Course: Smoothie
Diet: AIP, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Keto, Low Carb, Paleo, Vegan, Vegetarian
Servings: 2 servings
Calories: 308kcal
Author: Lisa Wells

Ingredients

  • 1 cup coconut milk
  • 1 cup ice
  • 1/2 avocado
  • 1 teaspoon organic vanilla extract
  • 1 large handful fresh mint leaves to taste
  • stevia, local raw honey, or maple syrup to taste

Instructions

  • Add all ingredients to the blender and blend until smooth.

Notes

For keto/low carb: use stevia for sweetener
For vegan: use maple syrup for sweetener

Nutrition

Calories: 308kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Sodium: 18mg | Potassium: 492mg | Fiber: 3g | Vitamin A: 75IU | Vitamin C: 6.2mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 4mg

More recipes to try

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3-Ingredient Green Smoothie

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Strawberry Banana Smoothie

Key Lime Pie Smoothie with avocado

Key Lime Pie Smoothie

Healthy Shamrock Shake Recipe (Paleo, Keto, Vegan)
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Filed Under: Drinks & Smoothies Tagged With: AIP, blender, dairy-free, gluten-free, keto, low carb, paleo, smoothie, vegan, vegetarian Posted by: Lisa Wells 14 Comments

Previous Post: « Paleo Blueberry Muffins Recipe (Gluten Free, Grain Free, Dairy Free)
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Thalia @ butter and brioche

    March 11, 2015 at 3:57 am

    WOW I never knew the history of the shamrock shake before.. 54 ingredients? It’s hard to believe! I love your super healthy shake.. and I especially love how i have all 6 ingredients on hand so I can make it.

    Reply
    • Lisa

      March 11, 2015 at 7:52 pm

      I know – it’s crazy what they put in “food” these days. Hope you enjoy my simple real food version! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Kerrin

    March 11, 2015 at 6:36 pm

    We are having a St. Patrick’s Day party for our chiropractic patients. I believe we will give this recipe a try. Yet another excuse to use our Vita-Mix!

    Reply
    • Lisa

      March 11, 2015 at 7:56 pm

      Yay! I couldn’t live without my high-speed blender – I think I use it every day. 🙂

      Reply
  3. Susan

    March 13, 2015 at 3:54 am

    This shake looks utterly delicious! I love its ingredients. Thanks for sharing. I will definitely try it.

    Reply
  4. Theresa

    March 16, 2015 at 3:18 pm

    This is so delicious, thank you for sharing!

    Reply
    • Lisa

      March 16, 2015 at 6:07 pm

      Thank you Theresa!

      Reply
  5. Chrissa - Physical Kitchness

    February 15, 2016 at 5:59 pm

    Mmmmm how did you know that shamrock shakes are my weakness come March?! Making this!

    Reply
    • Lisa

      February 16, 2016 at 5:06 pm

      Me too Chrissa! Hope you love it! 🙂

      Reply
  6. Michelle

    February 16, 2016 at 4:59 pm

    Looks delish! Thanks for sharing 🙂

    Reply
    • Lisa

      February 16, 2016 at 5:04 pm

      Thanks Michelle!

      Reply
  7. Lindsey

    February 22, 2016 at 6:03 pm

    This sounds and looks delicious! I love that it’s made with healthy avocado! Found you through Merry Monday!

    Reply
  8. Sabrina

    March 18, 2017 at 6:15 pm

    beautiful and so nice to know it’s composed of actual food instead of, whatever else is part of those 54 ingredients! Thank you for this, love avocado and never think to have ever added it to one of my smoothies, great thinking!

    Reply
  9. Seth Dylan

    March 11, 2018 at 6:55 pm

    What is the portion size please? Cause im following keto and 7grams of carbs is alot for me to blow on a single drink.

    I will try adapting this with full fat thick double cream though. And dropping the stevia.

    Still hands down better than anything processed! Thanks!

    Seth

    Reply

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