The Arby’s mint shake is a popular menu item that customers love for its cool, minty flavor. But what exactly goes into making this icy, sweet treat? Here is a comprehensive look at the ingredients that make up the Arby’s mint shake.
The Base – Vanilla Soft Serve
The base of the Arby’s mint shake starts with vanilla soft serve ice cream. Arby’s uses a proprietary vanilla soft serve recipe that is creamy and rich without being too heavy or dense. The vanilla soft serve likely contains the following basic ingredients:
- Milk – The main ingredient in ice cream is milk. Arby’s probably uses a blend of milk and cream for the ideal texture and fat content.
- Sugar – Granulated sugar or liquid sugar is added to sweeten the ice cream base.
- Stabilizers – Stabilizers like guar gum or carrageenan are added to improve texture and prevent iciness.
- Emulsifier – An emulsifier like mono- and diglycerides helps incorporate air into the soft serve.
- Vanilla Extract – Pure vanilla extract provides that signature vanilla flavor.
The soft serve is made by blending these ingredients together and freezing them in a soft serve machine. This produces the smooth, creamy vanilla soft serve that forms the base of the mint shake.
The Mint Flavor
Next, mint flavoring is added to transform the vanilla soft serve into a minty treat. There are a few different ways Arby’s could flavor their mint shake:
- Mint Extract – Mint extract, usually made from peppermint oil, provides an intense minty flavor.
- Mint Syrup – A mint-flavored simple syrup adds sweet mintiness.
- Mint Ice Cream – Pre-made mint ice cream or mint gelato may be mixed into the vanilla soft serve.
- Mint Powder – Dried mint powder can be blended with the soft serve to provide mint flavor.
Arby’s likely uses a natural mint extract or oil to achieve that pure mint flavor. The mint extract is probably added directly to the soft serve mixture.
The Green Color
In addition to the minty flavor, Arby’s mint shake gets its vibrant green color from food coloring:
- Green Food Coloring – A few drops of green food coloring are likely added to the mint shake mix. This provides the bright green color customers expect.
- Natural Coloring – Natural colorings from sources like spinach, matcha, or spirulina could potentially be used instead of artificial dye.
Food coloring provides a consistent, vibrant green color that makes the shake look refreshing and minty. Arby’s probably uses a standard green food coloring made from safe synthetic coloring agents.
The Creamy Texture
To achieve the thick, creamy texture of a shake, Arby’s adds one more key ingredient:
- Ice Cream or Milk – Extra ice cream or milk is blended into the soft serve to create a creamy, spoonable texture.
The vanilla soft serve on its own has a light, icy texture. Blending in extra ingredients like ice cream or milk gives the mint shake a thicker, milkshake-like consistency.
Putting It All Together
To make the Arby’s mint shake, workers likely follow this simple process:
- Start with the base of creamy vanilla soft serve
- Add mint extract for pure minty flavor
- Stir in a few drops of green food coloring
- Blend in extra ice cream or milk to achieve the ideal thick consistency
- Serve immediately for a frosty, refreshing treat!
The combination of these simple ingredients – vanilla soft serve, mint extract, green food coloring, ice cream/milk – comes together to create the delicious and iconic Arby’s mint shake.
The Final Ingredients List
Based on this analysis, these are likely the main ingredients that go into an Arby’s mint shake:
- Vanilla soft serve (milk, cream, sugar, stabilizers, emulsifier, vanilla extract)
- Mint extract
- Green food coloring
- Ice cream or milk
There may be some additional proprietary ingredients or minor components, but these look to be the major ingredients used to make a mint shake at Arby’s.
Nutrition Information
The Arby’s mint shake is indulgent treat, but how does it measure up nutrition-wise? Here is the nutrition information for a standard Arby’s mint shake:
| Size | 16 fl oz (Medium) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 510 |
| Total Fat | 15g |
| Sodium | 180mg |
| Total Carbs | 90g |
| Sugar | 75g |
| Protein | 8g |
Some key takeaways from the nutrition info:
- The mint shake is high in calories, with 510 calories in a medium size.
- It contains 15g of total fat, which is fairly high coming mostly from the ice cream.
- Carbs make up the majority of the calories, with 90g total and a whopping 75g of sugar.
- Protein is low at just 8g.
So while incredibly tasty, the Arby’s mint shake packs quite a caloric punch and is high in sugar and fat. It’s the perfect occasional treat but moderation is key.
Possible Allergens
The Arby’s mint shake contains common food allergens that should be noted:
- Dairy – Since it contains milk, cream, and ice cream, the shake is not suitable for those with dairy/lactose intolerance.
- Eggs – If egg yolks are used in the ice cream base, it could contain eggs.
- Wheat – If the vanilla soft serve contains cookies or cake batter chunks, it may have wheat.
- Food Dyes – The green food coloring may cause reactions in some people.
Those with allergies should exercise caution and ask about preparation methods when ordering a mint shake. Inform staff about any food allergies to prevent cross-contamination as well.
Special Diets
Here are some key considerations for people with special diets ordering an Arby’s mint shake:
- Vegetarian/Vegan – Not suitable for vegetarians or vegans due to containing dairy.
- Gluten-Free – Should be gluten-free unless wheat is added to the vanilla soft serve.
- Low-Calorie – Very high in calories and sugar so not a good option for low-cal diets.
- Low Carb – The 90g of carbs make it unsuitable for low-carb or keto diets.
- Paleo – Not paleo-approved due to extensive dairy usage.
Those following vegetarian, vegan, low-calorie, low-carb, or paleo diets would be best avoiding the mint shake. Gluten-free diet followers can likely enjoy it in moderation.
Variations and Customizations
While the original mint shake remains the most popular, Arby’s offers a few variations:
- Small – A smaller 12oz size for less hungry customers.
- Large – A bigger 22oz shake for extra indulgence.
- Low-Fat – A version made with low-fat soft serve and low-fat milk.
- No Dye – A mint shake without food coloring for those avoiding dyes.
- Vegan – Made with non-dairy vanilla soft serve and almond milk.
Customers can also customize their mint shake with add-ins like chocolate chips, oreos, whipped cream, or cherry on top. The possibilities are endless for mint shake lovers!
Price
The price of an Arby’s mint shake can vary by location but averages around:
- Small: $2.99
- Medium: $3.49
- Large: $3.99
Coupons and happy hour specials may also lower the price at certain times. The mint shake provides a lot of thick, creamy flavor for just a few dollars!
History of the Mint Shake
The Arby’s mint shake has an interesting origin story. Here are some key facts about the history of this iconic menu item:
- First introduced in 2002 as a limited time offer shake.
- It was originally made with peppermint schnapps liquor and marketed to adults.
- The schnapps was removed shortly after introduction to appeal to all customers.
- It became so popular that Arby’s added it to their permanent menu in 2004.
- The shake is now marketed as a Cool Mint Shake on Arby’s kids menu.
- To this day it remains Arby’s top selling shake flavor.
Who knew such a simple combination of vanilla soft serve and mint would become an Arby’s classic for over 20 years and counting!
Consumer Reviews
The Arby’s mint shake has earned rave reviews from many happy customers over the years. Here is a sampling of consumer reviews:
“The mint shake is my go-to order every time I hit up Arby’s. It’s so creamy and full of fresh minty flavor. 5 stars all the way!”
“I’m not always in the mood for a chocolate or vanilla shake so the mint is the perfect, unique option. It really hits the spot on a hot day and brings back childhood memories too!”
“I was pleasantly surprised by the mint shake – it wasn’t artificial tasting at all. You can really taste the real mint. I’ll definitely get this refreshing treat again.”
“The shake was good but a little too sweet for my taste. Maybe next time I’ll ask for half the syrup. But you can’t beat the cool green color.”
From these reviews, it’s clear the minty flavor is a hit but the sweetness is a bit too much for some. Overall though, most customers seem to love this unique spin on a classic shake.
Conclusion
With its cool minty flavor and indulgent creamy texture, it’s easy to see why the Arby’s mint shake has been a fan favorite for over 20 years. Made with simple ingredients like vanilla soft serve, mint extract, green dye, and ice cream, it provides a sweet treat any time of day. Just be mindful of the high calorie, carb, and sugar count. Moderation is key with this indulgent shake. But when a minty milkshake craving strikes, Arby’s is surely the place to go.