The Grimace Shake returns to every McDonald’s restaurant in the UK for the Christmas season, and you only have two weeks, or until supplies run out, to try it.
The shake first appeared in UK McDonald’s restaurants in September of this year, nearly two years after its initial release in the United States.
The drink is priced at £3.09 for a medium and an extra 10p for a large, though prices may vary upon location.
Nick Drewe, trend expert at online discount platform Wethrift, has shared how you can recreate the drink at home for just £0.47 per serving – an impressive 84% saving compared to buying it in-store.
So, what does the Grimace Shake taste like?
The shake features a vanilla milkshake base blended with blueberry syrup. It contains no fresh berries and, unlike the US version, lacks whipped cream and sprinkles.
According to McDonald’s, a medium Grimace Shake surprisingly contains 11g of protein but also packs 367 kcal and 56g of sugar.
This homemade recipe uses fresh ingredients, offering better flavour and some added nutritional benefits.
Cost of Grimace Shake Ingredients, Aldi, 2024
| Ingredient | Vanilla Ice Cream (2L) | Whole Milk (4 Pints) | Frozen Blueberries (400g) | Frozen Strawberries(400g) | Vanilla Extract | Total Cost | Cost per serving |
| Cost | £1.35 | £1.45 | £1.99 | £1.89 | £0.79 | £7.47 | £0.47 |
Ingredients (Serves Two):
- 150g Vanilla Ice Cream
- 240ml Milk or plant-based alternative
- 80g Frozen Blueberries
- 60g Strawberries or Raspberries (fresh or frozen)
- ½ tsp Vanilla Extract (2.5ml)
- Sprinkles (optional)
- Whipped Spray Cream (optional, 10g)
Method:
- Combine the ice cream, milk, frozen berries, and vanilla extract in a blender. Blend until smooth and evenly coloured.
- Taste your milkshake. If it needs more sweetness, add more ice cream. For a more vibrant colour, blend in additional frozen blueberries.
- Pour the shake into two glasses, top with whipped cream and sprinkles (if desired), and serve immediately.
Tip: Using frozen blueberries is essential to achieve the vibrant purple colour. This is because blueberries frozen straight from harvest retain higher levels of anthocyanins, the natural compounds responsible for their rich purple hue.