Shamrock Shake at Home Recipe

By Sarah Karnasiewicz

 

Photo by Williams-Sonoma.  For another mint milkshake recipe, click here. 

Our homemade take on the fast food favorite keeps the minty flavor (and awesome color!)  you love—but ditches the corn syrup and food coloring.

But before you go crying into your cup, take heart. We headed to the kitchen for some experimentation. The happy results? A homemade version that keeps the cool color and flavor, with just six ingredients.

DIY Shamrock Shake

The addition of heavy cream might seem indulgent here, but it has a practical purpose. Just as beating cream with a whisk will result in whipped cream, whirring some in your blender along with the rest of your ingredients will lend the finished drink a decadently rich, mousse-like texture.

 

Yield: 2 shakes

Ingredients:

• 2 cups vanilla ice cream
• ¾ cup milk
• ½ cup heavy cream
• 1 cup fresh mint leaves
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon peppermint extract

Directions:

Place the ice cream, milk, cream, mint, vanilla extract, and peppermint extract in a blender.
Blend until smooth and frothy.
And if you really want to live it up…. Adults ONLY!

Boozy Shamrock Shake

This twist on the classic gets a little pep in its step from the addition of a shot of Branca Menta, an Italian amaro with a complex minty, herbal edge. But if you can’t find it in your local store, classic creme de menthe will also do in a pinch!

 

Yield: Makes 2 shakes
Ingredients:

• 2 cups vanilla ice cream
• ½ cup milk
• ½ cup heavy cream
• 2 oz Branca Menta liqueur
• 1 cup fresh mint leaves
• 1½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Place the ice cream, milk, cream, mint, Branca Menta, mint, and vanilla extract in a blender.
2. Blend until smooth and frothy.

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Severed Hand Sangria

Recipe courtesy of Nadia G.

This punch is NOT for kids.

Photo: Cooking Channel TV

Yield: 10 glasses

Ingredients: 

• 1 non-powdered Latex glove
• Filtered water (enough to fill latex glove)
• 2 bottles Dry red wine
• 3 cups Sparkling water
• 3 cups freshly squeezed orange juice
• 3 ounces Brandy (or Cointreau)
• 3 Tbsp. brown sugar
• 2 fresh oranges, thinly sliced
• 2 fresh pink grapefruit, thinly sliced
• 2 fresh lemons, thinly sliced
• 2 fresh limes, thinly sliced
• 1 cup natural sour cherries in syrup

Directions:

1. The night before the party, fill a few latex gloves with some filtered water, tie them up like you would a balloon and freeze overnight.
2. In a big punch bowl, combine red wine, sparkling water, orange juice, Brandy, brown sugar, fruit slices and sour cherry syrup.  Stir and add 1 frozen ice-hand. (latex glove removed)

Red Ruby Sangria

Photo Credit: the Food Network

Ingredients: 

• 2 large pomegranates
• 2 red Bartlett pears, seeded and thinly sliced
• 2 star fruits, thinly sliced
• 3 bottles red wine, such as Rioja
• 1 cup brandy or cognac
• 1 cup pomegranate juice, such as Pom Wonderful or grenadine
• 1/2-cup sugar
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 2 star anise
• 1 liter club soda, chilled

Directions:

1. Spread some newspaper out on the counter because the bright red pomegranate juice can stain. Cut the pomegranate in half, open it up and you’ll see clusters of very juicy garnet seeds encased in a smooth off-white pulp. Gently pry out the ruby kernels with your fingers or a pointed knife, removing any of the bitter membrane that may adhere. Put the pomegranate seeds in a large pitcher or container and add the pear and star fruit slices.
2. Pour in the wine, brandy, and pomegranate juice. Add the sugar, cinnamon, and star anise; give the mixture a good stir to combine.
3. Chill the sangria in the refrigerator for several hours or up to overnight for the flavors to come together.
4. Just before serving, top the sangria off with the club soda and mix to combine. Spoon the fruits into glasses or goblets and pour in the sangria to fill.

Originally from FoodNetwork.com