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This vegan shamrock shake is my plant-based spin on the classic minty treat—no artificial dyes, no dairy, and no weird ingredients. It’s creamy, lightly sweet, and refreshing, with real mint flavor and a naturally green glow thanks to spinach. Balance is green smoothies and fun desserts, right?
Table of Contents
What is a Vegan Shamrock Shake?
A traditional shamrock shake relies on dairy milk, ice cream, and artificial green coloring. This version skips all of that. Instead, we use creamy coconut milk, frozen banana for thickness, dates for natural sweetness, and fresh mint for that cool, nostalgic flavor. Spinach is a mild leafy green vegetable that adds the green color without changing the taste. Plants for the win.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Coconut milk (chilled): Adds rich, milkshake-like creaminess. Check out my recommend coconut milk brands to use in smoothies.
- Spinach: Creates a natural green color without food coloring
- Fresh mint leaves: Gives that classic shamrock shake flavor profile. If you’re new to adding fresh herbs to smoothies, I recommend removing the stems before blending and just use the leaves.
- Banana: Thickens the shake and is a great natural sweetener in smoothies. I like to freeze bananas to have on hand to use in smoothies like this— it’s a great way to chill them down without needing ice (which can dull your blender blade overtime)
- Medjool dates: Balances the banana taste by provide caramel-like sweetness with fiber
- Pure vanilla extract: Rounds out the flavor and adds warmth
Topping Ideas
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. Top with coconut whipped cream, then sprinkle with cacao nibs, and finish with a fresh cherry.
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How to Make a Shamrock Shake
If you’re using one of my recommended blenders for smoothies, follow the steps below. If you have a low powdered blender, I recommend blending after step 2 and then again in step 4.
- Add liquids first. Pour the chilled coconut milk into your blender to help everything blend smoothly.
- Layer the greens and herbs. Add spinach and fresh mint so they break down fully.
- Add fruit and sweeteners. Toss in the banana, pitted dates, and vanilla extract.
- Blend until creamy. Start on low, then increase to high for 30–60 seconds.
- Taste and adjust. Add more mint for freshness or a splash of coconut milk if it’s too thick.
- Serve immediately. Pour into a glass and add toppings if desired.
Ingredient Swaps
- Want more protein? Add a scoop of plant-based protein powder.
- No coconut milk? Use cashew milk or make oat milk for a lighter texture.
- No dates on hand? Swap with 1–2 tablespoons maple syrup.
- Mint too strong? Start with 4–5 leaves and build from there.
More Dessert Smoothies
If this shamrock shake sparked your interest in more dessert smoothies, then try these other dessert smoothie recipes:
- Coconut joy smoothie bowl: Chocolatey, creamy, and topped with coconut for a dessert-inspired smoothie bowl made with real ingredients.
- Banana chocolate protein shake: Indulge in a velvety smooth, banana chocolate protein shake that’s not only delicious but also a powerhouse of nutrition.
- Skinny mint smoothie: Cool, refreshing, and lightly sweet, this minty smoothie satisfies dessert cravings the lighter way.
- Chocolate smoothie bowl: Rich, fudgy, and ultra-creamy, this chocolate smoothie bowl feels indulgent but is made with just plants.
If you make this vegan shamrock shake recipe, I’d love to hear how it turned out in the comment box below. Your feedback helps me and all the readers in this community. And if you’re interested in more plant-based recipes (and exclusive content), sign up for my weekly recipe newsletter.
Vegan Shamrock Shake
Ingredients
- 1 cup coconut milk chilled
- ¾ cup spinach
- 8 fresh mint leaves
- 1 banana
- 2 medjool dates pitted
- 1 tsp pure 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!
Helpful Tools
Notes
- Pour over ice or freeze banana first if you prefer a colder smoothie.
- 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.
Made this for myself and husband, it was delicious! ☘️☘️☘️
I loved this smoothie. It was delicious and felt more like I was having a sweet dessert as a special treat than just drinking a smoothie. The fact that it was healthy for me made it that much sweeter. This is a smoothie that I will continue making and enjoying in the future.
I thoroughly enjoyed made with all the right Ingredients followed the recipe as it said made double the amount and as it was smooth and sweet it did not affect my Diabetes at all so now I’m sitting here drinking my second one is so good
What a delightful, delicious dessert!
Delicious, but I have realized I don’t not at all like fresh mint leaves blended in my smoothies
Thank you for the recipes this week!!
Rawk on!!
Tasty but I suppose my blender is not powerful enough as I still was able to feel the pieces of the dates even though I soaked them as indicated.
The banana, spinach, dates, mint, and coconut milk with a half of vanilla seeds from the bean I had are a good mix. I did sprinkle cacao powder on top with a maraschino cherry. It was cute. I love whipped cream, but that would have been way too much sugar and I didn’t have any fresh cherries. They are super expensive at the grocery store. For I minute there,I thought I was looking at rubies for the price the store wanted. I turned to my friend and said guess who’s keeping their cherries this week and we had a good laugh. Yes. I would recommend this smoothies it was festive while being healthy and delicious.
SO delicious!!! I think my mint leaves were too small. I needed to add a dozen of them to taste the mint. But OH MY GOODNESS is this lovely! Such a nice treat, especially on St. Patrick’s Day!
This was a fun treat! It was creamy and sweet!
I love mint and this is just another wonderful and healthy thing to make with it!!! Very refreshing and tasty!
This smoothie challenge offered me the opportunity to experience such a variety of smoothies and to determine which types appeal the most to my taste pallet. This smoothie was good, but I think I prefer the smoothies in days 1 and 2 of the challenge the best.
The coconut, banana, date, and vanilla flavors go well together. I did as recommended by freezing the banana and adding frozen cauliflower in order to make a slushy smoothie. I will make this again.
Nice end to the week and how perfect for St. Patrick’s day. Great combination of ingredients and the mint makes it refreshing. Did not expect it to taste so good!
This Shamrock Shake smoothie isn’t just for St. Patrick’s day. This minty Shamrock Shake is delicious any time! The banana and coconut milk makes it sweet and creamy!
Love this with the cocoa nibs! Just like mint chip.
Excellent flavors in this one. Great healthy treat for St. Patrick’s Day 2024.