This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see our affiliate policy.
You can’t help but smile when you have a Grimace Shake in your hands! This McDonald’s copycat recipe tastes even better than the viral menu favorite thanks to the just-right ratio of ice cream to fresh berries. Sweet!
Meggan’s notes
In case you missed it, a Grimace Shake isn’t something that’s designed to make you wince. Instead, it’s a wildly popular fruit-flavored vanilla milkshake that was added to the McDonald’s menu on June 12, 2023 to help commemorate the birthday of the big, beloved purple McDonaldland character by the same name. It was a viral sensation that first year; so much so that “Grimace Shake” and “Grimace Shake Recipe” were among the top food trends of 2023 on Google, YouTube, and TikTok.
Much like the McRib comes and goes from the menu, McDonald’s brought back the purple milkshake for Grimace’s birthday the next year (summer 2024), but it’s far from a menu mainstay. So I took to my Test Kitchen to design a copycat recipe of the internet phenomenon.
I didn’t take the task lightly. It needed to match the fruity taste, ideally using real foods for color (my personal preference), and had to have the correct consistency and sweetness level. And above all, this Grimace Shake needed to taste amazing from the first to the last sip. I tested a variety of possible mix-ins, including blue spirulina and ube extract, but those are quite expensive and more obscure than the color and flavor sources I landed on: raspberries and blueberries! The key to matching the color and rich, luscious consistency is an easy one: add more ice cream than you might typically use in a standard milkshake.
The resulting mixture sips much more like a milkshake than a smoothie, and the copycat recipe can be yours if the limited-edition item is on the official menu or not. The only thing that could make this better? A side of French fries to dip in the shake!
Table of Contents
Recipe ingredients
At a Glance: Here is a quick snapshot of what ingredients are in this recipe.
Please see the recipe card below for specific quantities.
Ingredient notes
- Vanilla ice cream: My personal favorite is Tillamook (I told my pals at Allrecipes why I think this is the best vanilla ice cream on the market), but any brand will do. You could even make your own homemade vanilla ice cream to use in this copycat milkshake. That said, since you’re blending it with other flavor boosters, I wholeheartedly agree with Ina Garten here: “Store-bought is fine!”
- Milk: Whole milk will be the creamiest and most decadent, but any fat content you have will do. If you’re not into cow’s milk, soy, almond, cashew, oat, or your favorite plant-based milk alternative works great too.
- Frozen blueberries: Opt for wild or regular blueberries. I prefer frozen here since they’re available and flavor-packed year-round and because they add to the thick consistency. If fresh blueberries are in season, you can certainly use those instead; you just might want to use a tiny bit less milk.
- Raspberries: These turn the milkshake from blueberry-hued to Grimace purple and add more complexity to the berry flavor.
Step-by-step instructions
- In the bottom of a high-speed blender, add ice cream, milk, blueberries, and raspberries.
- Blend until smooth.
- Serve with whipped cream and sprinkles if desired.
Recipe tips and variations
- Yield: This recipe makes about 24 ounces, enough for 2 shakes, 1 ½ cups each.
- Homemade whipped cream: Top off your Grimace Shake with homemade whipped cream, always better than store-bought, and you can make it in advance and keep it in the fridge for at least 10 hours.
- For the berry lover: Try my Raspberry Smoothie, Blueberry Smoothie, or Strawberry Smoothie.
- Best Blender: See my product guide on the Best Blenders for Protein Shakes.
- Protein boost: Trying to add some protein to your dessert? Check out my deep-dive on Best Protein Powders for Smoothies.
Frequently Asked Questions
I’m a fan of keeping things simple with whipped cream and sprinkles, but you can’t go wrong with a drizzle of chocolate sauce, berry sauce, chopped toasted nuts, or crumbled cookies, either. For a mash-up copycat recipe that combines the best of a McFlurry with a Grimace Shake, blend in some Oreo cookies or M&Ms.
Besides the Grimace Shake, this limited-time meal came with fries and your choice of a Big Mac or a 10-piece Chicken McNuggets. In lieu of gifts, fans were sweetly asked to make a donation to Grimace’s favorite non-profit: Ronald McDonald House Charities.
More ice cream treats to try
Fruit Dessert Recipes
Banana Split Recipe
Cold Desserts
Ice Cream Sundae Bar
Cold Desserts
Fried Ice Cream
Cake Recipes
Easy Ice Cream Cake (DQ Copycat)
Join Us
Grimace Shake Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups Vanilla ice cream (about 3 scoops)
- 1 cup milk plus more if desired
- 1 cup frozen blueberries
- 1/2 cup raspberries
- Whipped cream for serving, optional
- sprinkles for serving, optional
Instructions
- In the bottom of a high-speed blender, add ice cream, milk, blueberries, and raspberries. Blend until smooth. Serve with whipped cream and sprinkles if desired.
Recipe Video
Notes
- Yield: This recipe makes about 24 ounces, enough for 2 shakes, 1 ½ cups each.
Nutrition
Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.
very great recipe
Thank you, Nefartete! So glad you enjoyed it! – Meggan
Good recipe
Thanks, Manuel! So glad you enjoyed it! – Meggan