What Is In The Shamrock Shake? Ingredients List And Nutrition

Big news for McDonald's lovers: the Shamrock Shake is back and its Oreo-flavored counterpart: the Oreo Shamrock McFlurry. Every year, the restaurant releases the Shamrock shake for a limited time in celebration of St. Patrick's Day. This year, the classic dessert makes its debut on February 21.

If you've never had a Shamrock Shake before, you're probably wondering whether it 1.) actually tastes good, and 2.) what it's made of. On Reddit, fans gathered to discuss this beloved treat. One proclaimed it's, "The greatest thing I’ve ever consumed." Another person claimed the shake is the,"Only thing worth a damn at McDonalds."

Created back in 1970, this wouldn't be the first time McDonalds has shook up the Shamrock Shake. The fast food has brought back the original shake consistently alongside makeovers like the Shamrock Sundae, a chocolate Shamrock Shake and the Oreo Shamrock McFlurry just last year. It wasn't until 2012 that the Shamrock Shake went national, sold in every American McDonald's.

As for what is in the concoction, the original Shamrock Shake is basically vanilla ice cream, mint flavored syrup, and whipped cream. However, the recent Oreo Shamrock McFlurry introduces one crucial ingredient: Oreo cookie pieces.

What's in the Oreo Shamrock McFlurry?

According to the McDonald's website, the Oreo Shamrock McFlurry contains three major components: vanilla reduced fat ice cream, Oreo cookie pieces, and Shamrock McFlurry syrup. Below are the details for each.

Vanilla Reduced Fat Ice Cream

Ingredients: Milk, Sugar, Cream, Corn Syrup, Natural Flavor, Mono and Diglycerides, Cellulose Gum, Guar Gum, Carrageenan, Vitamin A Palmitate.

Oreo Cookie Pieces

Ingredients: Unbleached Enriched Flour (wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate [vitamin B1], Riboflavin [vitamin B2], Folic Acid), Sugar, Palm And/or Canola Oil, Cocoa (processed With Alkali), Invert Sugar, Leavening (baking Soda And/or Calcium Phosphate), Soy Lecithin, Salt, Chocolate, Natural Flavor.

Shamrock McFlurry Syrup

Ingredients: High Fructose Corn Syrup, Corn Syrup, Water, Glycerin, Contains 2% Or Less: Natural Flavor, Xantham Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (preservative), Yellow 5, Blue 1.

As far as nutritional information, the Oreo Shamrock Shake contains 560 calories (100 more than a traditional Shamrock Shake), 16 grams of fat, 12 grams of protein, and 68 grams of sugar.

What's in the classic Shamrock Shake?

According to the McDonald's website, the Shamrock shake consists of three parts: vanilla reduced fat ice cream, Shamrock Shake syrup, and whipped light cream. Below are the details for each.

Vanilla Reduced Fat Ice Cream

Ingredients: Milk, Sugar, Cream, Corn Syrup, Natural Flavor, Mono and Diglycerides, Cellulose Gum, Guar Gum, Carrageenan, Vitamin A Palmitate.

Shamrock Shake Syrup

Ingredients: High Fructose Corn Syrup, Corn Syrup, Water, Glycerin, Contains 2% Or Less: Natural Flavor, Xantham Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (preservative), Yellow 5, Blue 1.

Whipped Light Cream

Ingredients: Cream, Nonfat Milk, Liquid Sugar, Contains 2% or Less: Mono and Diglycerides, Natural Flavors, Carrageenan. Whipping Propellant (Nitrous Oxide).

As far as nutritional information, the Shamrock Shake contains 460 calories, 13 grams of fat, 10 grams of protein, and 63 grams of sugar.

Melissa MatthewsHealth WriterMelissa Matthews is the Health Writer at Men's Health, covering the latest in food, nutrition, and health.Taylyn Washington-HarmonTaylyn Washington-Harmon is a writer and editor based in Chicago. Her work has appeared in Men's Health, Health Magazine, and Self.com. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @taylynharmon.