Do you love McDonald's Shamrock Shakes? Here's a lower fat, lower calorie homemade version of your favorite mint flavored shake. Forget Pottery Barn, today I'm knocking off McDonalds! Next week, Chik-Fil-A! Just kidding.
You know the first sign of spring isn't a robin.
It's that first tortuous tweet or Facebook update saying: "Woo-hoo! Shamrock Shakes are back!
You try to ignore the seed that's now been planted, but it continues to grow until you JUST HAVE TO HAVE ONE RIGHT NOW.
{or maybe that's just me}
The amazing thing? As I take my first sip of that coveted McDonald's shake, I have dual feelings of: 'this really doesn't taste as good as I thought it would' and 'if I drink this, it will kill me.'
Now, I'm not claiming my version is good for you, or can be labeled "healthy." But it IS healthier, and made at home so you know exactly what's in it. Because what's in the McDonald's Shamrock Shake was pretty eye opening:
a 16 oz McDonald's Shamrock Shake has 560 calories, 13 grams of fat, and is 12.5 Weight Watcher points
The 32 oz size? 24.5 Weight watcher points (1110 calories alone). If you've never done WW, to put this in perspective I was allowed to have 21 points a day when I was on the plan. Yup, the 32 ounce version is 3.5 points over my maximum daily allowance.
Now onto the good stuff. The healthy (er) version cuts those points in more than half, and if you use skim milk and/or frozen yogurt it's even less.
How 'bout them Shamrocks?
Homemade Shamrock Shake Recipe
1 C. Low-Fat Vanilla Ice Cream (or frozen yogurt)
1/2 c. reduced fat milk
2 TB Fat Free Vanilla Non-Dairy Creamer (I used Coffeemate)
1/8 tsp. mint extract
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
pinch of Kosher salt
few drops of green food coloring
1. Gather ingredients.
2. Blend. I used a Magic Bullet, but of course a regular blender would work great too.
3. Drink.
As you can see, I enjoyed figuring this one out. I might need to try it again. Like, right now.
There's always some extra room for a faux Shamrock Shake. Then I'm retiring the blender until spring actually arrives.
Which is soon, right?
Because forget the robins. Here come the Shakes!
.
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Hi Carrie, just stopping by to say how delightful your blog is. Thanks so much for sharing. I have recently found your blog and am now following you, and will visit often. Please stop by my blog and perhaps you would like to follow me also. Have a wonderful day. Hugs, Chris
ReplyDeletehttp://chelencarter-retiredandlovingit.blogspot.com/
Homemade is always better and your version sounds terrific! I'm a fan of mint flavored everything!
ReplyDeletei definitely want one of these! thanks for the recipe! and because you keep bringing up shakes of one kind and another, i now have to share a breakfast shake that a super-zen coworker brought into my life and we are all now addicted to at my house:
ReplyDelete1 apple
1 banana
1 carrot
about 4 broccoli florets
one big spinach leaf or handful of baby spinach
one big kale leaf
some water to make it mix, & ice if you want it really cold
blend until drinkable
it's bright green as all get-out, but tastes like bananas! olive eyed it suspiciously for the first three days, but on the fourth day demanded some and is now hooked too.
i've also been adding some greek yogurt for tang/creaminess and some almonds or walnuts to get some of that healthy fat.
this weekend i might brew up a bunch of green tea that i can use for the water portion to pack even MORE antioxidants in!
after six days on it, i showed up somewhere and someone said, "YOU'RE GLOWING! you must be pregnant!" (she clearly never saw me when i was pregnant--i walked around with a face the color of that green shake for five months.) but joking aside, starting your day with this shake really does make you look/feel better almost instantly.
Hmmm... this is perfect timing! My husband was just talking about how much he liked those mcdonald's shamrock shakes. I think I may have to try this out!
ReplyDeleteI have to do this for the kids on St. Patty's day which falls on a Saturday so who cares if the kids have ice cream for breakfast!
ReplyDeleteLoved them as a kid but can't do them now! I'm all over homemade fruit smoothies though.
ReplyDeleteHi Carrie! I am stopping by to let you know I featured your Shamrock Shake today...what a let down McDonalds version was! I look forward to trying yours, you made my husband smile, he loves these! I hope you link up again today!
ReplyDeleteKim@madeinaday
http://madeinaday.com
Hi, I'm a new follower. Thank you for posting this recipe. I can't wait to try it. Please come and visit me sometime. Have a great day.
ReplyDeletehttp://llloft.blogspot.com/
Delicious! I will have to try this. I can't seem to quit the sweets. I am really trying to get my bod ready for the beach. We finally booked for the end of August so technically I have plenty of time.
ReplyDelete