It's that time of the year, when people are posting selfies with their "Shamrock Shakes" from McDonald's. I haven't had one in a couple years, but I have to admit in the past I was guilty of buying these too! Have you actually checked out the ingredients though? The maraschino cherry alone has 13 ingredients, including high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors, and red 40. Not to mention all the questionable ingredients in the ice cream, shamrock shake syrup, and whipped cream.
This healthy shamrock shake is so rich, creamy and delicious, you will never crave the McDonald's version again! It seriously tastes like a peppermint ice cream milkshake, and it is providing energy and nutrition to your body! The perfect green treat for St. Patrick's Day!
A handful of spinach makes this healthy shamrock shake wonderfully green, without taking away from the flavor. I tried multiple versions of this with avocado for extra creaminess, but I ended up liking the version with just cashews WAY better, as did Kevin.
When I make green smoothies, I usually just throw everything in the blender. Because I wanted this one to be more like a milkshake, I recommend first blending the almond milk and greens (this way you are avoiding spinach chunks), then adding the other ingredients.
Health Shamrock Shake
Rich, creamy, delicious and most importantly, HEALTHY, version of McDonald's popular "Shamrock Shake!"
Ingredients:
1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
handful spinach (about 3/4 cup packed)
1 large frozen banana
1/2 tsp peppermint extract
2 Tbsp raw cashews
3 dates
Instructions:
Blend milk and spinach first.
Add all other ingredients and blend until smooth.
Notes
This is a thick shake, so I used the "tamper" with my Vitamix to aid in blending.
And to make it even more decadent, top with coconut whipped cream and cacao nibs...
What about you? Do you have a favorite "green" treat that you have around St. Patrick's Day? Share with me in the comments!