Aunt Clara blends up these 3 ingredient treats every spring and the kids go absolutely wild for them. I finally stole her secret and it takes barely any effort.

Every spring when the pastures start greening up and the grandkids pile into the house after school, I think of my sister-in-law, Aunt Clara. For years she’d disappear into the kitchen and come back with tall glasses of something frosty and pale green, and those kids would just about climb over each other to get one. I finally stood beside her long enough to steal her secret: it’s nothing more than mint ice cream, cold milk, and a generous crown of whipped cream. No fancy syrups, no fuss, just three simple ingredients and a blender. It’s the kind of easy little treat that fits right into a busy farm day and still feels special enough to mark the first warm afternoons of spring.

Serve these mint milkshakes in tall, clear glasses so you can see that pretty light green color, and top them right before serving so the whipped cream stays high and fluffy. A few chocolate sandwich cookies or a plate of simple butter cookies make a nice crunchy side. These shakes are perfect after a Saturday of yard work, as a sweet ending to a burger-and-fries supper, or as an after-school surprise on those first warm days when everyone’s tracking mud across the kitchen floor. If you like, add paper straws and long-handled spoons so folks can scoop and sip at their own pace.

Servings: 2

2 cups mint ice cream, slightly softened

Set the mint ice cream out on the counter for 5–10 minutes so it softens just a bit. You want it scoopable but still firm and cold.

Add the softened mint ice cream and cold whole milk to a blender. Start with the lid on tight.

Blend on medium speed until the mixture is smooth, thick, and a light, creamy green. If it seems too thick to pour, blend in an extra splash of milk; if it seems too thin, add another spoonful of ice cream and blend again.

Place two tall drinking glasses on the counter. Pour the milkshake evenly into the glasses, leaving about an inch of space at the top for the whipped cream.

Immediately top each glass with a generous swirl or dollop of whipped cream so it sits high and fluffy over the pale green shake.

Serve at once with straws and, if you like, long spoons for scooping the thick, creamy shake from the bottom.

For a slightly richer shake, use half-and-half in place of some or all of the milk, especially if your ice cream is on the lighter side. If your crew loves chocolate, you can tuck a few chocolate chips or a spoonful of mini chocolate chips into the blender with the ice cream and milk, pulsing just enough to break them up but still leave little flecks. For a stronger mint flavor, choose the boldest mint ice cream you can find rather than adding extracts, which can quickly become overpowering. If you’re serving a crowd, simply double or triple the amounts and blend in batches so the shakes stay thick and cold. For little ones who don’t finish a full glass, pour the extra milkshake into small paper cups, cover with foil, poke in wooden sticks, and freeze for simple mint pops. You can also dress the glasses up a bit by chilling them in the freezer for 10–15 minutes before pouring, or by lightly dipping the rims in a bit of milk and then in crushed chocolate cookies for a fun, crunchy edge.