McDonald's Shamrock Shake is almost back. See when it's set to return

Light green in color and distinct from other ice cream treats, the Shamrock Shake is set to be available to customers once again later this month ahead of St. ‌Patrick's Day, which falls on March ​17 annually. The shake is made of vanilla soft-serve ice cream, artificially flavored minty green syrup and whipped topping, and is typically only ​available to customers for a limited time.

If you've been craving the fan-favorite dessert since last March, here's what you need to know about its upcoming return to McDonald's restaurants.

When will the Shamrock Shake return?

The Shamrock Shake will return to the ⁠McDonald's menu starting Feb. 17, according to a news release from the ​company. The release does not list an end date for Shamrock Shake sales.

McDonald's debuted the first Shamrock Shake in 1970, and the cult classic has returned to the menu around St. Patrick's Day each year since.

Oreo Shamrock McFlurry is also set to return

Alongside the return of the Shamrock Shake ⁠will be the Oreo ‌Shamrock McFlurry, which will also reappear on the menu starting Feb. 17. The Oreo Shamrock McFlurry debuted in 2020 as a celebration of the Shamrock ‌Shake's 50th anniversary. The seasonal dessert is made with ‌vanilla soft-service ice cream, artificially flavored mint green syrup and Oreo cookie pieces.

How many calories are in a Shamrock Shake?

A medium Shamrock Shake contains 540 calories, while ​a large contains 800 calories, according to McDonald's. This is ‌in comparison to the 570 calories in McDonald's medium vanilla shake and 650 calories in a medium chocolate shake.

As for the Oreo ​Shamrock McFlurry, the regular-sized dessert contains 460 calories, ⁠according to McDonald's.