As you might remember from last year, I’ve never been one to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, but I have to say since my kids have gotten a little older (mischievous leprechauns visit our house, turn over furniture and leave gold coins everywhere) and becoming a green smoothie addict, this holiday is just one more reason to celebrate the luck of the Irish.
In lieu of getting buzzed on Guinness all day long, I decided to do a healthy re-make of the infamous McDonalds Shamrock Shake.
I have to be honest. Up until a year ago, I had never heard of the Shamrock Shake. Back in the day my “green” drink of choice was Mountain Dew, which was only available at Taco Bell. So there you have it. I didn’t live under a rock so much as I just didn’t frequent Mickey Ds.
Since I’ve never had a Shamrock Shake myself, I decided to visit the McDonalds website to check out the shake ingredients. I figured from the green color that it was mint flavored, but I had to check to be sure.
What I discovered was astounding, although not entirely surprising.
Would you believe that there is not a trace of mint listed in the ingredients of what McDonalds describes as a “smooth and creamy mint shake”? Shamrock syrup is nothing but a sticky, sugary, high fructose corn syrup gut bomb.
I’m sorry to be a bearer of bad news for the traditional Shamrock Shake lovers out there. The good news is we have the 80:20 rule for a reason so don’t feel any guilt if this happens to be the thing that you cannot live without.
On the other hand, perhaps you want to give my Healthy Shamrock Shake re-make a try. It’s decadent, filling and loaded with good-for-you whole food ingredients. The kids will love it too. I could hardly keep my son away from it. Here we are enjoying it together. And the homemade coconut whipped cream? Look out! You’re going to want to bookmark this for future desserts.
Is your mouth watering? Please leave me your comments below. Can you believe something so tasty is considered “cleanse-friendly”?
St. Patty’s day or not, we’re pretty darn lucky, don’t ya think?
With love and leprechaun mint kisses,
P.S. – Happy St. Patrick’s Day! ☺
Healthy Shamrock Shake With Homemade Coconut Whipped Cream
Serves 2
Ingredients for Coconut Whipped Cream:
- 1 cup full fat canned organic coconut milk, refrigerated overnight
- 1½ TB. honey
- 1½ tsp. vanilla extract
Directions for Coconut Whipped Cream:
Carefully open the can of refrigerated coconut milk. Keeping can level, scrape out thick waxy top layer of coconut cream and place in a mixing bowl. Save leftover coconut water from can for the shake.
Using a hand or stand-up mixer on high speed, whip coconut cream for 3 minutes until if becomes light and fluffy.
Add in honey and vanilla and mix for 2 more minutes.
Place in refrigerator while preparing the shake.
Ingredients for the Shake:
- 2 frozen ripe bananas (be sure to peel bananas before freezing)
- 1 heaping cup spinach, tightly packed
- ¼ cup fresh mint, stems removed, loosely packed (about 20 small leaves)
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- ½ tsp. mint extract
- 3-5 drops of stevia
- ½ cup unsweetened coconut milk
- ½ cup leftover coconut water from full fat canned coconut milk
- Cacao nibs for garnish (optional)
Directions for the Shake:
In a high-speed blender, combine bananas, spinach, fresh mint, vanilla, mint extract, stevia, coconut milk and coconut water until creamy.
Pour into two glasses, top with coconut whipped cream and cacao nibs (optional) and serve with a straw immediately.
I am so excited to try this. I learned about the McDonalds shamrock shake about 10 yrs ago, about 5 years after I gave up the taco bell Mountain Dew that we used to indulge in together. I fell in love with the shamrock shake. In fact, it is one of the 2 times a year I would even take our family anywhere near McDonalds. The kids love it. NOW, I don’t have to go there to indulge in this yummy tradition. AND we can have it for breakfast, which is when we get our family time. Thanks Jules, for experimenting with this and finding a healthy solution.
One of my mountain dew drinking buddies. Love you Bec. Let me know if it passes the “kid test.” :) xo
I could not resist this recipe. I just made one for me and my husband. It was so delicious! So much better than a McDonald’s Shamrock shake… And I feel healthier drinking! Happy St. Patty’s day!
So MANY recipes look and sound wonderful to me with only one exception, bananas. I have never been able to tolerate them, even as an infant. They taste and smell like cleanser to me, and the one known time I ate something that included them without detecting them, I had my first and worst migraine ever. SO, what are some good substitutes for those oh-so-convenient, healthy, creamy, yellow jewels for those of us who can not enjoy them?
Colleen, try an avocado instead. It you need more sweetener without the banana, add a few extra drops of stevia.
I made this shake for some friends after our dinner party last night. OMG! So amazing. It was a huge hit. Thanks for sharing (and for a sub for the ever tempting Shamrock Shake)!
We made these this morning – Yum! Happy St. Patty’s day!
Happy St. Patty’s Day. Glad you enjoyed!
Stevia tastes awful to me (as bad as cilantro does). What’s next ‘best’ sweetener to use?
Stevia is certainly an acquired taste. I think the liquid is best. For another sweetener try a few days, some maple syrup or honey.
This is my favorite goto sweet snack right now. I like to blend the cacao nibs in with the shake part to give it that mint-chocolate-chip-shake (one of my favs as a kid) taste. Also, if I don’t have spinach I so sometimes go triple on the mint or add lettuce or another green. Mmmmm!
Yummmmm! So delicious. Glad you’re enjoying it!