How To Make A McDonald's Shamrock Shake At Home

The whole world has gone green for McDonald's Shamrock Shake, available across the country until St. Patrick's Day. It's inspired a cult-like following, a Harlem Shake meme (yes, really), and dozens of copy-cat recipes. And we can see why everyone wants to try it at home. Since the Shamrock Shake launched in 1970, more than 60 million Shamrock Shakes have been sold in McDonald's nationwide.

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And surprisingly, the history of the Shamrock Shake is about more than just the green. According to McDonald's, the Philadelphia Eagle's tight end Fred Hill was looking for a way to help his 3-year old daughter get treatment for leukemia in 1974. His vision: the Ronald McDonald's House for children and families to have a "home away from home" treatment. Hill, with the support of McDonald's founder Ray Kroc and local McDonald's managers, worked up a Shamrock Shake promotion with profits going toward the cause; the first-ever Ronald's McDonald's House opened near the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in 1974.

But of course, paying for a signature green shake with a maraschino cherry on top has a price to your waistline — a cool 530 calories and 15 grams of fat in a 12-ounce Shamrock Shake. (At least, Philadelphia magazine points out, there's 11 grams of protein in it.) The pro of making one at home is that you can easily control your portion sizes and make a less-fattening version. However, there's also a con — you can feel free to add as much whipped cream, chocolate syrup, Oreos, and whiskey as you want — which may result in an even bigger calorie-buster than the Mickey D's version.

Fortunately, it's not hard to make your own Shamrock Shake at home. If you have the supplies for a vanilla milkshake, plus extra essentials for baking, you have basically all you need to make the shake yourself. However, there are lots of ways to update the Shamrock Shake — including a little boozy treat for the adults. (Because why drink green beer when you can drink an alcoholic, and green, milkshake?) Click ahead for tips and recipes on how to make the Shamrock Shake at home.