Shamrock Protein Shake 

Last Updated on March 12, 2024 by Christin Gillespie

The perfect festive drink to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day! This healthy Shamrock Protein Shake recipe is a vegan twist on the McDonald’s Shamrock Shake. It’s fully loaded with peppermint flavor, packed with plant protein, stuffed with spinach, and is naturally sweetened with a frozen banana. Enjoy this delicious drink as a post workout treat to kickstart your lucky day!

It’s March, which means it’s officially shamrock shake season and it’s your lucky day, because I am sharing with you my Shamrock Protein Shake recipe. It’s a healthy, vegan, & protein version of the beloved McDonald’s Shamrock Shake. Is it really beloved though? More details below.

While I haven’t been to McDonalds in a decade, I can attest that this healthy Shamrock Protein Shake is just as good, if not better. It’s super creamy, perfectly minty, and straight up delicious. I would consider it to taste more like a creamy mint milkshake, similar to a mint chip milkshake, but without the chocolate or the nonsense.

Even though this is technically a limited edition green drink, you can enjoy this protein shake all year long, unlike the shamrock shake at McDonalds. Also, if you’re feeling festive, you can even top it off with some coconut whipped cream, to make it even more special.

Why You’ll Love This Shamrock Protein Shake Recipe

• Vibrant in Color & Perfectly Pepperminty: Thanks to the handful of spinach and the splash of peppermint extract.
• Perfect Protein Shake: Whether you’re making it post workout or breakfast, this Shamrock Protein Shake features over 20 grams of plant based protein, to keep you full and satisfied.
• Tastes like a Dessert: The flavor & texture in this shake is that of the limited edition McDonald’s Shamrock Shake, but in a healthy, vegan shake form.

Shamrock Protein Shake vs. McDonald’s Shamrock Shake

This Shamrock Protein Shake recipe is a healthy + vegan take on the beloved McDonald’s Shamrock Shake. You know the one, it only is available during the month of March.

While the iconic shake is legendary, do you know what else is? The unhealthy ingredients and nutrition facts of the drink. 500 calories, 14 grams of fat, 82 grams of carbs, and 63 grams of sugar. Oh and to top it all off, minus the whipped cream, the vibrant green color and the peppermint flavor are fake. Yep, cold hard facts.

As a health conscious adult, I don’t understand how big food chains can get away with serving our country this. It’s so sad. However, instead of spending your hard earned money on questionable ingredients, invest in your health and support companies doing the right thing. We truly vote with our dollar folks.

While I could go on and on about this topic, I’ll get back to what you came here for the best + healthy Shamrock Protein Shake ever. You know what they say, there’s always a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow & in this case, that gold is your new favorite protein shake.

Ingredients

• Organic Unsweetened Oat Milk: Any non-dairy milk works in this recipe, but I love organic unsweetend oat milk! Just be sure to use trusted brands – I like MALK Organics or Three Trees.
• Organic Vanilla Plant Protein: Adding a scoop of protein powder helps to keep you full and satisfied longer. I love Truvani Organic Vanilla Plant Based Protein Powder  for this recipe. It’s ​​made with no preservatives, no artificial colors, & no artificial sweeteners. Oh & it’s super delicious. Nevertheless, if you have yet to try Truvani Organic Vanilla Plant Based Protein Powder you’re missing out, but you can add your favorite vanilla plant protein.
• Organic Hemp Seeds: Organic hemp seeds adds a boost of healthy fats, protein, omegas & minerals.
• Organic Mint Leafs or Peppermint Extract: You can use either fresh mint or peppermint extract in this shamrock shake. Just remember, a little goes a long way!
• Organic Almond Extract: Adding a splash of almond extract transforms this drink into a shamrock milkshake. Trust me! It’s the secret ingredient.
• Organic Spinach: To make the shake green. I recommend using fresh spinach for this shake, because you can barely taste it. Plus, it is a great way to get your greens inn!
• Sea Salt: A healthy pinch of sea salt is rich in a ton of minerals and beautifully enhances the flavor of this protein shake.
• Organic Frozen Banana: It only takes one fruit to sweeten up this protein shake. It’s best to use a frozen banana to create that super thick & creamy texture.
• Organic Coconut Whipped Cream: Completely optional, but if you’re wanting an extra special treat, dollop on the homemade coconut whipped cream.

How To Make

• Blend the Liquids & Powders. First, add the non-dairy milk, plant protein, hemp seeds, mint leaves, extract(s), spinach, and sea salt, to a high-speed blender. Blend these ingredients until smooth.
• Blend the Frozen Ingredients. Next, add in the frozen banana. Blend until smooth and creamy. If needed, you can pause the blender, remove the lid, and scrape down the sides so that everything is fully incorporated. You may need to add a little more non-dairy milk depending on how thick/thin you like your shakes.
• Serve. Pour into a chilled glass, along with a dollop of homemade coconut whipped cream, and enjoy immediately.

Optional Shake Add-Ins

Feel free to truly make this shake your own! Here are a few suggestions to amp-up this healthy shamrock shake recipe:

• Organic Chia Seeds: Add a scoop of organic chia seeds for some omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, selenium, phosphorus, calcium, etc. + it helps thicken this shake.
• Organic Ground Flax Seeds: Incorporate a tablespoon of organic ground flax seeds to increase the fiber & minerals to this shake.
• Organic Coconut Yogurt: Add some creaminess to this shake with a scoop of coconut yogurt. You may have to reduce the non-dairy milk to ½  cup in this shake when adding yogurt.
• Organic Medjool Date: If you’re wanting to sweeten your shake even more, start by adding one pitted medjool date.

Tips for Making the Perfect Shake

Interested in how to make the absolute perfect healthy shamrock shake recipe? As someone who makes protein shakes daily, here are my TOP tips:

1. Use Frozen Fruit: Adding a frozen to this shake is the only way to go! The ice from the frozen fruits adds thickness to the shake.
2. Adjust Liquid Amount: If you find that your shake is too thick to blend, not to worry! Just add a bit more milk, blend, open the cover, scrape down the sides if needed, and blend again. And when possible, always use a larger high-speed blender instead, as it will blend the ingredients much better.
3. How To Make: Add your liquid first & blend your powders first, before adding your frozen ingredients. This is my personal favorite way of preparing my shakes. By blending the liquid & powders first, it ensures that your powders blend completely.
4. Shake Blending Tip: Start your blender on low to medium speed. If you blend the shake too quickly from the beginning, it’s really hard for the blender to properly blend the frozen ingredients – so start lower and then gradually increase the speed.
5. Chill Your Glass: There’s nothing better than a cold shake, in this case, a shamrock milkshake. Put your serving glass in the fridge or freezer while you’re making your shake to ensure a chilled shake with every sip.

Protein Shake FAQ’s

Do I have to use a frozen banana?

The frozen banana in this recipe gives the shake a thick & creamy texture. If using a fresh banana, be to add a handful of ice cubes to achieve a cold, thick shake. However, if you’re looking to remove the banana altogether, because you’re allergic or simply don’t like them, you can replace it with ½ cup of frozen zucchini, frozen cauliflower, or frozen avocado chunks. If you elect to make this a banana free shake, I recommend adding an organic medjool date to maintain its sweetness.

Is it healthy to have a shake?

Duh! I wouldn’t post something that was unhealthy. Having a shake full of protein, healthy fats, & greens for a post workout breakfast is great, because you’ll be getting essential vitamins, nutrients, & protein, first thing. However, the McDonalds shake is loaded with added sugar, artificial ingredients, & nonsense, making them a less healthy option. 

What is the best protein powder to use?

For this healthy Shamrock Protein Shake recipe, I love using Truvani’s Organic Vanilla Plant Based Protein Powder. It’s ​​made with no preservatives, no artificial colors, & no artificial sweeteners. If you don’t have Truvani’s Protein on hand, you can use your favorite vanilla protein powder. However, when selecting a plant protein, it’s crucial to look at the protein content and most importantly, the ingredients. 

How can I add protein without using protein powder?

If you don’t have vanilla protein powder on hand, no worries! To increase the protein content, you can add a tablespoon of organic chia seeds and/or organic ground flax seeds, without changing the taste too much.

Can I make this protein shake into a shamrock smoothie bowl?

Absolutely! Simply decrease the organic unsweetened non-dairy milk to a ¼ cup. When transforming this shake to a smoothie bowl, you’ll definitely need a high-speed blender, along with a plunger to get things blended.

Can I make this protein shake recipe in advance?

Yes! Feel free to make the smoothie as is or double it for later. Check out this “How to Prepare Smoothies in Advance” post to achieve the best results.

More Protein Smoothie Recipes You’ll Love

• Mint Chocolate Chip Smoothie
• Snickers Protein Smoothie
• Birthday Cake Smoothie
• Pumpkin Spice Cold Brew Smoothie
• Mint Chip Energizer Smoothie

Sharing Is Caring!

If you make this recipe, please leave a review & rating below! I love hearing from you and it helps others learn more about the recipe too. Lastly, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Be sure to follow along on Pinterest, Instagram, & TikTok for even more deliciousness & wellness tips!

Xoxo.

Christin.

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