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Making a boozy shamrock shake is a fun way to celebrate St Patrick’s Day with a grown-up twist. It’s creamy, minty and spiked with Irish cream for a smooth kick. The festive green color comes from food coloring and a topping of Lucky Charms marshmallows adds whimsy. Everything blends together quickly for a dessert drink that feels indulgent and special without taking much effort. It’s the kind of treat that makes a holiday more memorable.
This boozy shamrock shake blends ice cream, Irish cream and peppermint for a creamy holiday treat. It’s festive, fun and ready in minutes.
Also try these Lucky Charms Rice Krispie treats, pot o’ gold St Patrick’s Day shots or maybe one of these St Patrick’s Day drinks.
Why You’ll Love It
Quick to make: Blend everything in minutes for a simple holiday drink.
Festive look: Green coloring and marshmallow topping make it party ready.
Grown-up twist: Irish cream adds a fun kick to the classic shake.
Customizable: Adjust sweetness, color or topping to your liking.
Shamrock Shake Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Vanilla ice cream: Creates the creamy base for the shake.
Bailey’s Irish Cream: Gives a boozy, chocolatey flavor.
Milk: Helps the shake blend smoothly.
Peppermint extract: Adds a cool minty flavor.
Food coloring: Turns the shake bright green for St Patrick’s Day.
Whipping cream: Whips into soft peaks for topping.
Icing sugar: Sweetens the whipped cream.
Lemon wedge: Helps the sanding sugar stick to the glass rim.
Sanding sugar: Adds sparkle and texture around the rim and on top.
Lucky Charms marshmallows: Bring color and fun to the finished shake.
How to Make a Boozy Shamrock Shake
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Prep the glasses: Rub lemon wedge on rims, dip in sanding sugar.
Blend the shake: Blend ice cream, Irish cream, milk and peppermint.
Add color: Mix in food coloring for the shade you like.
Pour and whip: Pour shake into glasses, whip cream with Irish cream and icing sugar.
Finish and serve: Top shakes with whipped cream, marshmallows and sanding sugar.
Substitutions and Variations
Non-alcoholic option: Use extra milk instead of Irish cream for a family-friendly version.
Dairy-free option: Use dairy-free ice cream and coconut whipped cream.
Extra minty: Add more peppermint extract if you like a stronger flavor.
Different toppings: Try sprinkles, chocolate shavings or crushed cookies.
Serving Suggestions
Appetizers: Begin your Irish feast with Irish nachos or green goddess salad.
Main dish: Next, serve up a Crockpot corned beef hash au gratin or these fun Irish style tacos.
Dessert: Enjoy St. Patrick’s cookies and buttercream dip or a rainbow layer cake, and of course a boozy shamrock shake.
How to Store Shamrock Shakes
Store: Boozy shamrock shakes are best enjoyed right after making.
Freeze: I don’t recommend freezing.
Top Tips
Chill the glasses: Cold glasses keep the shake thick longer.
Blend well: Smooth blending gives the shake a perfect texture.
Taste and adjust: Add more peppermint or Irish cream to taste.
Serve right away: The shake is best when fresh and cold.
Boozy Shamrock Shake FAQs
Yes, simply replace the Irish cream with milk or coffee creamer.
Yes, crème de menthe or Kahlua work for different flavors.
Irish Ice Cream Milkshake Recipe
Boozy Shamrock Shake
Ingredients
- 2 Cups vanilla ice cream
- ½ Cup plus 1 Teaspoon Bailey's Irish Cream
- ¼ Cup milk
- ½ Teaspoon peppermint extract
- 3 Drops green food coloring
- ½ Cup whipping cream
- ¼ Cup icing sugar
- 2 Tablespoons green sanding sugar
- 1 Wedge lemon
- ¼ Cup Lucky Charms marshmallows
Instructions
- Rub the lemon wedge along the rim of the glasses. Place the sanding sugar on a small plate and dip the rim of glass into sanding sugar. Set aside.
- Put the ice cream, ½ cup of Bailey's, milk, and peppermint in a blender and blend.
- Add the green food coloring to get the preferred shade of green.
- Pour into glasses.
- In a cold metal bowl, whip the cream, 1 teaspoon of Bailey's Irish Cream and icing sugar together until peaks form.
- Add whipped cream to glasses, top with Lucky Charms marshmallows and a pinch of sanding sugar.
Notes
Blend well: Smooth blending gives the shake a perfect texture.
Taste and adjust: Add more peppermint or Irish cream to taste.
Serve right away: The shake is best when fresh and cold.
Nutrition
This boozy shamrock shake recipe makes it easy to whip up a fun, festive drink for St Patrick’s Day. It combines the cool flavor of peppermint with creamy ice cream and Irish cream for a treat that looks as good as it tastes. Add whipped cream, marshmallows and a sugared rim to this Baileys shamrock shake you’ll want to make every year.
Other Recipes to Try
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
