Let’s celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a green smoothie that’ll fuel your body right, taste great, and…. is totally green! Give your body a reason to celebrate with this fantastic vegan shamrock shake recipe.
I’m talkin’ all the classic shamrock shake flavor you love, blended to perfection with ingredients that will fuel your body.
Table of Contents
What Makes a Shamrock Shake Vegan?
A shamrock shake is typically made with dairy in the ice cream and whipped cream. If it is made with chocolate, then that also contains dairy. My version eliminates dairy altogether, because my tummy tends to be happier without dairy products. And let’s be honest, if I can indulge in a decadent treat AND still feel good, then I’m all in.
Topping Options
If you’re like me, and pick food based on looks as well as taste, then you definitely need some fun toppings for this vegan shamrock shake. I like to top with coconut whipped cream. Then sprinkle with cacao nibs, or shavings from a vegan chocolate bar. And every delicious shake needs a cherry, right?!
A sprig or two of fresh mint will refine this beverage, as well as turn it into the shamrock shake of your dreams.
Naturally Low Sugar in Smoothies
I know dessert, even whole food + plant based ones, can still have a lot of sugar in them. To lower the sugar level in this shamrock shake recipe, replace the banana with 1/2 cup cauliflower (I like to use frozen).
You can also add in a serving of plant-based protein powder, like my protein powder recipe to up the protein + healthy fat content. This will help your body turn the sugar from this shake into lasting energy, instead of a sugar crash.
Easy Ingredient Swaps
The shamrock shake flavor comes from the mint. If fresh mint can’t be easily found, then up the spinach to 1 full cup, and add a few drops of mint extract. That way you don’t miss out on the leafy green goodness while still getting that minty flavor. If you want a chocolate boost, yet don’t want the crunchy topping, then add in a tablespoon of cacao powder when blending.
Swap the coconut milk with oat milk or cashew milk to keep this recipe vegan, yet eliminate the slight coconut-y taste.
More Dessert Smoothies
If this vegan shamrock shake sparked your interest in more dessert smoothies, then give these recipes a shot! I love creating sweet treats that my body can feel good about consuming. Cheers to your next dessert night with one of these incredible desserts:
- Banana ‘nice’ cream
- Raspberry smoothie
- Berry banana split
- Coconut joy smoothie bowl
- Strawberry milkshake
- Skinny mint smoothie
- Chocolate smoothie bowl
- Blackberry coconut sorbet
Now, these sweet treats are legit tasty, I promise. If I’m going to indulge in something sweet, I want it to be good. So pick the one that sounds yummy and go for it!
Don’t forget to try this vegan shamrock shake, then leave a rating + review below to let me know how you liked it.
Vegan Shamrock Shake
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup coconut milk chilled
- ¾ cups spinach
- 8 fresh mint leaves
- 1 banana
- 2 medjool dates pitted
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Toppings:
- 1 tbsp whipped coconut cream optional
- 1 tsp cacao nibs optional
- 1 sweet cherry optional
Instructions
- Blend spinach, mint, and coconut milk until smooth.
- Add remaining ingredients, and blend until smooth. Enjoy!
Notes
- Pour over ice or use frozen banana if you prefer a colder smoothie.
- Use at least 1 frozen fruit to make smoothie cold.
- If you can’t find fresh mint then up the spinach to 1 cup and add a few drops of mint extract.
- Use full-fat coconut milk for a more shake-like texture, or carton coconut milk for less healthy fat and a thinner consistency.
- Soak Medjool dates in water for 20 minutes before blending if your blender has a hard time blending certain ingredients.
Okay I am going to try this recipe as is even though it kinds of sounds really sweet to me. Then with 2 dates and 1 banana. We shall see tomorrow as I don’t have any mint so I will have to buy some tomorrow. Tell ya one thing…it looks yummo!
We hope you enjoy it as much as we do, Renee!
I made a smoothie like this with unsweetened vanilla almond milk, spinach, banana, cacao nibs and just a little peppermint extract since I didn’t have any fresh mint (I would rather have fresh mint but the extract was good in a pinch) and it was absolutely delicious, thanks to the green smoothie girls for their suggestions, they are great!
Sounds fabulous!
I will definitely be making this. YUM! I have a similar question to Rachel, though.
How do you know in general in recipes that call for coconut milk whether to use the carton (ie So Delicious, Pacific) or the canned version. (ie Native Forest) ?
Tho I love the taste of both, this has been very confusing to me.
Thanks!!!
Hey Melanie,
Great question. We mean the one found in the carton, or feel free to make your own. https://simplegreensmoothies.com/how-to-make-coconut-milk
Being Irish, I love everything about St. Patrick’s Day…OK-except maybe Shamrock Shakes 🙂 What a great smoothie recipe you have created. Luck of the Irish to both of you! I am sharing on my Facebook page now. Thank you!
Hey Carolyn! Thanks for sharing it with your friends, hope you enjoy this green smoothie!
I bet this would taste really good with a bit of those cocoa nibs added right in the smoothie….can’t wait to try it. Thanks
Cheers!
Sounds great but again bit wary of the high sugar levels, what smoothies would you recommend for weight loss?
Hey Amanda,
Thanks for the question. If you would like to sub in lower sugar fruits, feel free. Here are our favorites: https://simplegreensmoothies.com/low-sugar-fruits
Our co-founder Jadah lost 20+ lbs by drink 1 green smoothie a day (16oz) + her normal lunch and dinner. Results may vary, depending on how active you are. But the leafy greens and fresh fruit are awesome fuel for your body.
What is 1 teaspoon vanilla? Extract (fluid) or seeds?
Hey LadyBug, it would be fluid tsp.
How do you make coconut whipped cream?
To make coconut whipped cream you need to put the coconut cream and a sweetener (maple syrup or honey work well) into a mixer (or use a hand mixer) then let it mix for 5 to 10 minutes or until peaks begin to form. Hope this helps yall!
Hey Denise,
Thanks for the comment. Our recipe team is working on a DIY coconut whipped cream blog post. It should be coming out very soon. 🙂
I, too, love St. Paddy’s Day, although, I am not a bit Irish. 100% Portuguese. In fact, it’s my favorite holiday! And, yes, I will definitely be celebrating with this green smoothie. Since Jan 1st, I have only missed two or three days without a green smoothie. I even made a point of drinking one a day in my 5th period class (I am a teacher) to tide me over until my very late lunch. They’re so used to it now that if I don’t have one, they remind me. I halve your recipe and drink half of that on my drive to school and the other half either during 5th period or after school, when my energy is waning. Love, love, love this amazing improvement in my heath (as I tell my students and my teacher friends who think it looks “disgusting” – oh those poor wayward souls – it gives me vim, vigor, and vitality!)
Thanks!
Diane
Hey Diane,
You totally rawk! Thank so much for sharing how green smoothies have helped you as a teacher! The colors can be crazy sometimes, but I am sure if your students + teacher friends tried them, they would love them as much as you do! Cheers to health + energy! 🙂
Hi I was wondering if there’s any substitute for the coconut milk? I’m not a big fan of it.
I don’t see why you couldn’t use unsweetened almond milk (I prefer vanilla) instead.
Thanks Alicia! 🙂
Hey Monica,
Thanks for the comment, you can totally sub out coconut milk for any other nut milk. Here are some of our favorites: https://simplegreensmoothies.com/dairy-free-smoothies
Sounds yummylicious! Although it appears to have a high sugar content with 2 bananas, and 4 dates. I’m giving it try but will definitely dial down the bananas and a dates.
Cheers!
Hey Carla,
Our recipes are here to inspire you — you don’t have to follow them to a T. Yet we do think they are mighty tasty! Feel free to use other green smoothie recipes and even make some up yourself. The key to making green smoothies your lifestyle is making it easy and part of your daily routine. So we recommend using fruits and veggies that work well for your body.
Their recipes serve 2. So it would only be 1 banana and 2 dates per serving.
What is a substitute for the mint?
Feel free to leave it out. 🙂
Look supper yummie, will try it this weekend.
How to make the coconut whipped cream? kids will love it !
Marie
To make coconut whipped cream you need to put the coconut cream and a sweetener (maple syrup or honey work well) into a mixer (or use a hand mixer) then let it mix for 5 to 10 minutes or until peaks begin to form. Hope this helps yall!
What could be a substitute for the bananas?
I’ve substituted mangos in place of bananas often and can rarely tell the difference.
Any substitution for the dates?
Here are some other ways to sweeten your smoothies:
Pure Maple Syrup is a good choice too. 🙂
Just a question on the recipe. When you say coconut milk do you mean the full fat version in a can, or the lighter version (that’s more like almond milk) I’d find in a carton?
Hey Rachel,
Great question. We mean the one found in the carton, or feel free to make your own. https://simplegreensmoothies.com/how-to-make-coconut-milk
Perfect. Thanks!
I’m drooling all over my keyboard lol!!!
Hey Tara! Enjoy!