Confession, I've never had a shamrock shake from McDonald's. But I love the idea of a green minty milkshake for St Patrick's Day, so I set out to make my own, with a bit less fat and calories.
Yesterday I drove to three McDonald's just to test them out, but no one seemed to carry them in my area, which surprised me since the commercials seem to be running frequently on my TV.
No worries, I figured I know what mint ice cream should taste like, I'm sure it's not much different.
I put a lot of thought on how I would make this sweet and creamy like a real ice cream shake, without having to add green food coloring. I knew I was going to start with Stonyfield's 0% fat vanilla frozen yogurt, because I love it and am always amazed at how much it tastes like full fat vanilla ice cream. I also knew I would add a little spearmint extract to give it that minty flavor. But for the coloring, I was stumped, and then it hit me... avocado's are green, creamy and taste great in smoothies, so it was the perfect solution.
In fact, I may drizzle a little chocolate syrup on top next time I make this to get that mint chocolate chip experience. This is a fun dessert your kids I bet will enjoy!
Skinny(er) Shamrock Shake
Skinnytaste.com
Servings: 2 • Size: little over 1 cup • Old Points: 3 • WW Points +: 4 pts (5 w/ sugar)
Calories: 169.5 • Fat: 6 g • Protein: 7 g • Carb: 23 g • Fiber: 2.5 g • Sugar: 19 g
Sodium: 90.5 mg
Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup fat free milk
- 3/4 cup Stonyfield Organic 0% fat vanilla frozen yogurt
- 1/3 cup sliced avocado
- a few drops Nu Naturals Stevia or 1 tbsp raw sugar
- 1/4 tsp mint extract (not Peppermint)
- 1 cup crushed ice
Directions:
Pour the milk, frozen yogurt, avocado, sugar, mint extract and ice into your blender.
Blend 3-4 minutes until the mixture is thick and icy.
Pour into two glasses, and serve with a straw. Serve immediately.
Sounds delicious! I like the idea of avocado for creaminess.. not to mention the GREEN color. I usually add cottage cheese for creamy and spinach for green :) Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAs I read this I was thinking of my Dad the whole time! He LOVES mint chocolate chip ice cream but is also trying to lose weight! This is perfect! Thanks for, yet again, a healthy and delicious recipe!
ReplyDeleteHope he likes it!
DeleteOh my gosh, this sounds delicious! I was just talking about Shamrock shakes last night and how I really wanted one, but how they are so unhealthy. I'm running to the store today to buy the ingredients and make this!
ReplyDeleteGina I've never had a SHAMROCK SHAKE either and McDonalds is right next to where I live.
ReplyDeleteToday I will venture over to Dunkin donuts to check out the Irish Mint iced coffee...OMG they even have an Irish cream filled donut!!!
Your recipes looks great.
Diane
Thanks Diane, yum that sounds good too!
Deletedunkin donuts is right next to us too!!! such temptations.
DeleteBwahahahaha! I can't wait to trick my tween drama queen into drinking avocados. This would be perfect to sip on after going to Denver's St. Patty's day Parade. I don't know if I'm more excited about my evil genius plan to trick my daughter or about actually getting to drink this yummy thing.
ReplyDeleteLOL
Deletewhy not peppermint extract? That's what I use for all things mint. Its a cleaner and crisper mint flavor than spearmint.
ReplyDeleteI was wondering the same thing, I LOVE peppermint.
DeleteNo rules, if you like peppermint, go for it!
DeleteThis is awesome! We love Shamrock Shakes around here and a skinny version is perfect.
ReplyDeleteIt looks delicious I will try out
ReplyDeleteFood & Emotions
http://fefoodemotions.blogspot.pt/
So, say someone is allergic to avocado...what would be a good substitute in this recipe?
ReplyDeletespinach! you could also add a half of a frozen banana to get the creaminess back without adding much taste. the mint over powers it.
DeleteI think I well take a rain check on that..
ReplyDeleteYumm this looks sooooo good! I will definitely have to try this out!
ReplyDeleteThis looks amazing and so much more healthier than the calorie laden one at mcdonalds! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeletePaige Flamm
http://thehappyflammily.blogspot.com
I'm dying!! I LOVE the Shamrock shake, but when I started eating clean I made the rule "you can only have the holiday food on the actual holiday". But now I don't really even want it then - too much crap in it. This recipe? I am making immediately. I LOVE avocado in a smoothie - so delish!!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much!!
Looks delicious! I'm going to try it with almond milk and see if it still works. Will let you know.
ReplyDeleteSoooo excited about this recipe and love the ingredients! Yum
ReplyDeleteThis is brilliant, Gina! I love that you used avocado for the green color and made this so much healthier and tempting than the ones at McD's.
ReplyDeleteGina Thanks so much for this recipe, I love Shamrock shakes,but I hate the calories and fat it contains. I can't wait to try this healthier version!
ReplyDeleteI was just thinking yesterday that I would LOOOOOVE a health(ier) version of a shamrock shake. So I came to your site... searched... nothing.
ReplyDeleteAnd then this today!!!!
It's like you read my mind! Thank you! Thank you! I can't wait to try it!
avocado in a shake?! I am totally loving this idea! plus who doesn't love a lighter version of the March classic?
ReplyDeletehttp://twotimestoomany.blogspot.com/
It's just as well... the Shamrock shakes don't taste like they used to! I switched to a home-made version a couple of years ago to get my fix. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's just as well... the Shamrock shakes don't taste like they used to! I switched to a home-made version a couple of years ago to get my fix. :)
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ReplyDeleteWow! What a great idea to add the avocado! Now I'm in the mood for something minty :) Thanks for sharing... this looks yummy & refreshing!
ReplyDeleteMy McDonalds has the Shamrock Shake all year, yet I haven't tried it. I have been known to get the mind chocolate chip shakes from Steak n Shake though. Ah guilty pleasures..
ReplyDeleteWhere would one find the Stonyfield organic frozen yogurt? Do they carry it any any grocery store or do I need to look at specialty stores? I just started counting calories and have been a little bummed (but still excited) about giving up sugar and sweets as well, so this was so exciting to find! Im going to try it right away. pinning! Love Skinny taste! :)
ReplyDeleteThis looks great!! I LOVE shamrock shakes, so I love this recipe even more!!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds perfect! Was just telling my hubby I have to have shamrock shake Bc I love them. Can't wait to try this.
ReplyDeleteBack again to tell you this recipe rocks!! I'm a Shamrock Shake lover, but I won't be getting one next year since I found this! I cut it in half to make a single serving and used unsweetened SoDelicious and it was only 130 calories! The avocado makes it so creamy - this was divine!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you liked it Jess!!! You could really use any milk :)
DeleteI'm not sure if you already know, but a McDonald's shake is pretty low fat anyways... 11 grams of fat for 12 ounces (if you don't put the whipped cream on); so, if you compare the same serving sizes, McDonald's and your shakes are about the same amount of fat. Yours is much healthier though, just sharing for those that are mostly just concerned with the fat and calories. McDonald's ice cream is reduced fat and delicious.
ReplyDeletebut full of all sorts of chemicals and garbage: Vanilla Reduced Fat Ice Cream: Milk, sugar, cream, nonfat milk solids, corn syrup solids, mono- and diglycerides, guar gum, dextrose, sodium citrate, artificial vanilla flavor, sodium phosphate, carrageenan, disodium phosphate, cellulose gum, vitamin A palmitate.
DeleteShamrock Shake Syrup: High fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, water, sugar, natural flavor (plant source), xanthan gum, citric acid, sodium benzoate (preservative), yellow 5, blue 1.
Avocado's definitely makes into my smoothie almost all the time. Yum :)
ReplyDeleteThose shakes look good and I am liking the avocado in them!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kevin!
DeleteI'll be honest, the thought of the avocado kinda scares me, but with all these great comments, I'm sure it's yummy! Plus, I've never tried avocado in a smoothie, so it'll be worth a shot!
ReplyDeleteYou really don't taste it honestly.
DeleteGina is right! You really can't taste it, it just adds awesome creaminess!
Deletei feel like I've seen this somewhere on your blog, but where do you get your straws?
ReplyDeleteI've seen those straws in target, by the special holiday sections. not sure where
DeleteGina get hers..
I buy them on Etsy, I think I saw them in Michaels recently though
DeleteThis looks amazing! I love the use of mint extract instead of peppermint!
ReplyDeletetried it this morning this was yummy ,although I didn't have mint extract .I also added some spinach .now I need another glass lol
ReplyDeleteWhen I made this, I thought delicious without the mint too!
DeleteI think I would be willing to forego the avocado to shave off a few points. But it looks great!
ReplyDeleteThis looks lovely! I've never had the McDonalds one either, I don't think we're missing out :)
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ReplyDeleteSounds great! Did you consider spirulina for the green color and (yes!) added protein?
ReplyDeleteI might have to try that sans avocado :)
Love this version of the shamrock shake! The avocado gives it the perfect green tint! I'm a sucker for mint!
ReplyDeleteI'd love one of these right now! So yummy and festive for St. Patrick's Day, Gina!
ReplyDeleteI love that it's made with avocado!
ReplyDeletehttp://therealfoodrunner.blogspot.com
I'm so glad I had avocado and frozen vanilla Greek yogurt in hand (I have Yoplait though). I made this today and it tastes heavenly! I also added my favorite vanilla-flavored whey protein. It's so delicious it feels like cheating on my healthy eating, but it's not! I love the idea of using avocados to make it creamier. Thank you so much for this wonderful recipe, I'll be making this over and over..
ReplyDeleteLoved this! I didn't have any Stonyfield 0% so I used Haagen Daz low fat though. It was very creamy and you couldn't taste the avocado at all, it just made it a very nice green color. Will definitely be making this again when I'm craving something thick and creamy.
ReplyDeleteI had a shamrock shake yesterday and regret it. It didn't really taste like anything other than sugar, not creamy, not minty, just so, so sweet. While I think it's funny to knock off something you haven't had, this is an innovative take and I might just try it!
ReplyDeleteApparently McDonald's uses broccoli to colour their Shamrock Shakes - I wonder if I would taste it in your version? Obviously I would have to juice/pulverize them to not get the texture LOL
ReplyDeleteVanilla Reduced Fat Ice Cream: Milk, sugar, cream, nonfat milk solids, corn syrup solids, mono- and diglycerides, guar gum, dextrose, sodium citrate, artificial vanilla flavor, sodium phosphate, carrageenan, disodium phosphate, cellulose gum, vitamin A palmitate.
DeleteShamrock Shake Syrup: High fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, water, sugar, natural flavor (plant source), xanthan gum, citric acid, sodium benzoate (preservative), yellow 5, blue 1.
maybe the broccoli is the "plant source" natural flavor ;)
This is magic... in a glass. No, seriously! Mint chocolate chip ice cream is my all time favorite and this is perfect! Creamy, minty goodness! Also, I do have to point out that having hunted down the suggested frozen yogurt I am now going to buy that when I want ice cream. You would never know it's not real full fat ice cream! Amazing!!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely planning to try this! I never thought of Avocado! :D I was at McDonalds with my little guy today, contemplating the desire for a Shamrock shake and wisely turning away from temptation... THIS, I can really wrap my head (and lips) around. Thanks!!!
ReplyDeletehttp://wp.me/p38DGE-4o
This looks seriously delicious. Can't wait to try it. I have a weakness for ice cream, but always feel so guilty eating it.
ReplyDeleteI was just telling my husband about this drink. =o) I will have to make it for him and see if he notices the avocado! =o) Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeletehttp://mindiesmomadventures.blogspot.com/
Tried this tonight and it was fantastic! The mint extract is spot on. Peppermint is fine if you like it, but the mint extract is true to the flavor of a shamrock shake. Made this for hubby and a friend and it exceeded everyone's expectations. It is not even a sacrifice to have this over the fuller fat version. Everything I've made of yours is a winner. Thanks Gina!!
ReplyDeleteMy husband is a HUGE ice cream and shake fan so we gave this a try tonight and we both LOVED it! This is certainly a make again for us. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI think I am going to make this and add some cocoa nibs for a mint chocolate chip shake!
ReplyDeleteI have some blended avocado in the freezer too. PERFECT!
How much would you say 1/3 of a cup of avocado is? About half?
ReplyDeleteMy daughter gave in to 'advertizing' and had to try the Shamrock shake at McD.. it was creamy, but flat. It definitely wasn't worth the calories -- empty calories. Green and creamy but not so great. I am glad you made one, much better for all!
ReplyDeleteThank you for making this! I just had it and it was very yummy!!
ReplyDeleteAvocados always make their way into my smoothies. I'm not sure how it will change the calorie count (I don't really count those, I just like eating healthier), but I'm going to try it out this afternoon with my Mint Chocolate Chip Frozen Yogurt and omit the mint extract.
ReplyDeleteMcDonald's Shamrock Shakes are nowhere near as good as they were years ago. I'm excited about this recipe.
Genius, Gina! Love the idea of the avocados!
ReplyDeleteI am drinking this now! I didn't have an avocado so I used spinach. And the yogurt I used was low-fat Dannon vanilla. It is surprisingly yummy! I only wish mine was thicker.
ReplyDeleteJust curious if you had any idea how many of the fat grams come from the avocado alone? Those are the good fats to eat!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea, thanks for posting this recipe I'm definitly going to give it a try :)
ReplyDeleteMy kids and I all loved it! I used 2 packets of Nectresse natural sweetener and it was absolutely perfect!
ReplyDeleteThis looks amazing!!!! I somehow missed it when it was first posted but was so glad to come across it today. Thank you!
ReplyDelete