Cannabis Infused Shamrock Shakes – Our (Copycat) Recipe!

March. Well-known for a variety of things, chief among them Ides, Madness, and a whole lot of green.

Gearing up for St. Patrick’s Day is a little different in our post-COVID-19 reality; though city parades and festivities at your local watering hole are sure to commence, we couldn’t blame anyone for wanting to skip the crowds and stay at home this year.

If you’ll be celebrating St. Paddy’s in the comfort of your own abode (like ourselves), try skipping the traditional pint of green food coloring-enhanced beer this year – instead, consider bringing a different touch of “green” to your day via our copycat recipe for cannabis-infused Shamrock Shakes!

What is a Shamrock Shake?

March has plenty to offer on its own, but for a select group of people it’s best known as

First introduced in 1970, the creamy, sweet, freezer treat known as the Shamrock Shake has been a staple at McDonald’s restaurants every March, though likely in a form that would confuse most modern-day Shamrock Shake enthusiasts.

Originally the Shamrock Shake was a lemon/lime flavor, made with vanilla ice cream, lemon/lime sherbet and vanilla syrup; this evolved over time to simply become a vanilla shake dyed with green food coloring, before finally introducing the minty version known and loved today.

But what of those who find themselves craving the goodness of a mint milkshake out of season? Failing other alternatives, there’s no better way to satiate someone who loves Shamrock Shakes than crafting your own version at home – and, as an added bonus, ours has weed to boot. Check out the recipe below.

Photo Credit: Fred_DL via iStock

High There’s Infused Shamrock Shake Recipe

Thankfully, making Shamrock Shakes at home is as easy as making any other shake you’d happen to enjoy, and introducing our special “green” cannabinoid addition stays simple.

Before beginning, make sure you have the equipment and ingredients you need at-hand. We’ll go through a full list below but of note are a decent blender and, of course, your cannabis concentrate.

Infusing & Cannabis Edibles

Though your homemade edibles don’t have to include home made cannabis concentrates, if going the DIY route there are a few important considerations to undertake.

If starting absolutely from scratch,

Next, decide on the type of cannabis concentrate you’d like to use. Flavor profiles vary from strain to strain, but also in your infusing medium – per example, a

Also of special note is your infusion medium’s qualities. Coconut oil solidifies at cold temperatures, potentially leading to a lumpy texture in your end product, while an alcohol-based tincture could cause your ice cream to melt more quickly than you’d like (and would prevent re-freezing).

To combat textural issues in today’s copycat recipe, consider steeping your infused oil/butter with the milk at a low temperature until both are fully combined; then allow to cool completely before blending as normal.

A “Scandalous” Shamrock Shake

Our recipe, submitted by contributor Laurie Wolf, shows just how easy it can be to make your own copycat shamrock shake at home, with or without the cannabis edibles twist! As per the recipe author:

“This St. Patrick’s Day, think about doing something a little different. No green beer, no green eggs. Fully embrace the spirit of green with this peppermint Shamrock Shake, and you’ll be singing “

I gilded the lily a bit using the cannabis strain Thin Mint GSC for the infusion. It’s cool, minty and seemed a perfect fit. Full disclosure, I tried for the strain Lucky Charms, but it wasn’t available.”

For more from Laurie Wolf, make sure to check out her website

Scandalous Shamrock Shake 

(Serves 2)

Ingredients

• 4 scoops regular vanilla ice cream
• 1/4 cup green mint syrup (see note)
• 1/2 cup milk, any type
• 2 tsp. canna-butter or oil, melted and cooled
• Whipped cream to top
• 2-3 tbsp. mint syrup for drizzling
• Maraschino cherries and/or fresh mint leaves as garnish (optional)

Directions

1. Combine the ice cream, syrup, milk and cannabutter in the blender. Process until completely smooth and pour between two glasses. 
2. Top with whipped cream, drizzle with syrup, and add other garnishes as desired; serve immediately.

Note: If you don’t have the green mint syrup, you can go with a drop or two of peppermint extract and a couple drops of green food coloring to make a vibrant color.

Variations, Add-Ins & Hacks

While our Shamrock Shake copycat recipe above will definitely get you the original minty flavor you’re looking for, why stop there? There are plenty of tricks and hacks you can use to make our recipe your own!

Chocolate Shamrock Shakes

Mint and chocolate go hand-in-hand, so why not add some to your shake? McDonald’s even did the same, introducing several

Adding chocolate into your Shamrock Shake can be easily accomplished by any number of methods. First, a drizzle of chocolate syrup on top of your whipped cream can add both taste and a visual pop; likewise, blend in chocolate chips for an additional textural variation to your dessert.

Of course, if you want to go all out, consider replacing the vanilla ice cream in your milkshake with chocolate to make the ultimate chocolate mint milkshake treat – note, though, that you may want to add in an additional splash of vanilla extract and food coloring (and don’t be surprised if your color ends up rather swallowed by chocolatey brown) for a more authentic Shamrock Shake flavor.

Photo Credit: Lecic via iStock

A “Healthy” Shamrock Shake Recipe?

While tasty, the heavy cream and whole milk involved with any ice cream-based treat may be a bit too gut-busting for some, and those with sensitivities to dairy can find themselves excluded from the Shamrock Shake fun entirely.

But fear not! An incredibly delicious drink doesn’t have to include whole milk to be satisfying; our healthy alternative recipe has a frozen banana as its base, giving this green smoothie a satisfying, creamy texture.

Dairy Free Infused Shamrock Shake

(Serves 2)

Ingredients

• 2 frozen bananas
• 1.5 cups leafy green vegetables; spinach recommended, but kale or even cannabis leaves can also be used if available
• 2 cups non-dairy milk (IE: coconut, almond, or soy)
• 1 small avocado, diced
• 1/2 cup mint leaves
• 2 tsp. cannabis concentrate or infused oil
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 tsp. mint extract
• 2 tbsp. sugar; can be substituted with honey, agave nectar, or other sweetener
• Mint leaves, cherries, whipped cream, chocolate or mint syrup as garnishes (optional)

Directions

1. Place all ingredients into your blender and process until smooth.
2. Pour evenly into two pre-chilled glass cups, topping with garnishes as desired. Serve immediately.

Wrapping Up

For those who love Shamrock Shakes, we hope we’ve shown you that they don’t just have to be reserved for St. Patrick’s Day – and with a cannabinoid twist, this adult beverage can be a metaphorical cherry on the top of any weekend (much like the cherry on top of your milkshake)!

And don’t forget, our recipes are just a good starting point! Add-ins like chocolate, cherries, or even swapping your peppermint extract for another mint extract such as spearmint can make for a tasty change. When making your own infused treats at home, the sky is your only limit!

Speaking of – for more delicious recipes make sure to check out our detailed overview article on