Bloomington-Normal takes St. Patrick’s Day very seriously, with many locals participating in popular traditions. Every year, Uptown Normal hosts the Sharin’ of the Green Parade. This year it was held on Saturday, March 14, at 1 pm. The parade included local floats, marching bands, and performers. People dress head to toe in green clothing, decked out with sparkly necklaces and hats. Local restaurants, including Mugsy’s, Brewe-Ha’s, and Fiala Brothers Brewery, serve traditional Irish dishes for family-friendly fun. Downtown Bloomington hosts fun activities for kids, like finding the shamrocks hidden around shops to win a prize. One of the most popular St. Patrick’s Day treats are the Shamrock Shakes from McDonald’s. Introduced in the 70s, Shamrock Shakes are a seasonal treat, only available from mid-February until St. Patrick’s Day. If you’re in the mood to try the homemade version of this classic treat, or if your local McDonald’s ice cream machine “doesn’t work”, the recipe below is perfect for you. Simple to make, but just as good as the original (if not better).
Ingredients
- 2 cups vanilla ice cream
- 1 ¼ cups milk
- ¼ teaspoon mint extract, or more to taste
- 9 drops green food coloring
- 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup, or to taste
- 2 tablespoons whipped cream, or to taste
- ½ teaspoon green decorator sugar/sprinkles, or to taste
For a twist:
Thin Mint Vibes:
1/4 cup finely crushed oreos
¼ cup finely chopped chocolate
Shamrock Mocha Shake:
Add in:
1 shot cooled espresso
Shamrock Brownie Shake:
Add in:
1 small brownie
2 tbsp hot fudge
Top with hot fudge
Makes 2 servings
Directions
- Gather the ingredients.
- Blend ice cream, milk, mint extract, and food coloring together in a blender until smooth.
- Drizzle chocolate syrup around the inside of 2 tall glasses; pour shake into the glasses. Top with whipped cream and green sugar/sprinkles. Enjoy!
