Midnight Drink (Starbucks Copycat)

Slurp up some mysteriously creamy, deliciously dark berry goodness with my copycat Starbucks Midnight Drink recipe! This coconutty twist on the blackberry sage refresher is the perfect way to add a little homemade moonlit magic to your day.

By the time midday rolls around, this working mom of two littles is usually ready for some kind of treat. And, while I love coffee (obvi), my body is also quite sensitive to the effects of caffeine. Unless it’s an energy emergency, I try to drink my java fill before noon so I can sleep come bedtime. So, what’s a thirsty girl to do? Why, whip up a Starbucks refresher, of course!

If you’ve been keeping up on Starbucks news, you know they recently released a Valentine’s Day menu with multiple new juice-based drinks—the blackberry sage refresher, blackberry sage lemonade refresher, and this creamy variant fans are calling the midnight drink thanks to its dusky purple hue.

It’s apropos for this late winter/early spring season—a juicy hint of summer berry sweetness wrapped in a creamy coconut milk jacket that’s the color of a night sky. Delightful! So, if you’re in need of a little get-up-and-go without the coffee buzz, try making this intoxicating blackberry sage coconut refresher—you’re sure to love it!

Jump to:

• What is a Midnight Drink from Starbucks?
• What does it taste like?
• Why You’ll Love This Creamy Starbucks Refresher Recipe
• Ingredients Needed
• Substitutions
• How To Make Starbucks Midnight Drink
• Optional Variations & Dietary Adjustments
• Serving Suggestions
• Recipe Success Tips
• FAQs
• DIY Starbucks Midnight Drink Nutrition
• Other Starbucks Refresher Recipes
• Midnight Drink (Starbucks Copycat)

What is a Midnight Drink from Starbucks?

You know how the Pink Drink started as a “secret menu” item, when some brilliant customer somewhere asked for the strawberry acai refresher to be made with coconut milk instead of water or lemonade? 

Well, that started a fun trend of turning clear juice drinks creamy—with a splash of coconut milk, the mango dragonfruit refresher can be turned into a Dragon Drink, the pineapple passionfruit refresher can be made as a Paradise Drink, and the newest sage and blackberry refresher turns into a Midnight Drink.

What does it taste like?

If Puck from A Midsummer Nights’ Dream were to become a barista, I’m pretty sure this Midnight Drink would be his signature recipe. Like a fairy, it’s a bit of a shape-shifter in your mouth—it starts with zippy, tart-sweet, tannic blackberries at the fore, while the finish is soft and velvety thanks to a tropical infusion of coconut creaminess. Yum!

Why You’ll Love This Creamy Starbucks Refresher Recipe

• Simple & Speedy - All in, you need just 7 ingredients to make the whole thing from scratch, including everything for the blackberry syrup and the refresher base. And, like my other refresher copycats, this base recipe makes enough for 4 drinks, so you can try it in all its delicious forms throughout the week!
• Refreshing & Rewarding - We all know that staying hydrated is key to peak health, and, for me at least, having a sweet treat now and then is key to peak happiness. This homemade Starbucks Midnight Drink checks both boxes by quenching my thirst and scratching my sweet-tooth itch!
• Wallet-Friendly - It’s no secret that prices have been pretty wild lately, and from what I can tell, there’s no end in sight. So, rather than spending $5+ (pre-tip) on a single refresher at Starbucks, I’m doing my budget a solid by committing to making my own at home. One batch of 4 costs roughly the same as just a single one in stores!

Ingredients Needed

As promised, you only need a handful of ingredients to make my DIY Midnight Drink:

• Blackberry Sage Refresher Base - To make a batch, you’ll need blackberry syrup (made from water, sugar, and blackberries), blackberry extract, citric acid, and ground sage. If you need to make any changes to the base recipe, here are all my best substitutions.
• Sweetened Coconut Milk - If you can’t find any in the refrigerated section with the other plant-based milks, check in the shelf-stable drink aisle.
• Ice - Start with filtered water when making your ice for the cleanest taste possible.
• Fresh Blackberries - These are optional, but make the midnight drink look extra special. Plus, who doesn’t love a surprise snack at the end of a drink?!?

Substitutions

When you work as your own barista, you get to call all the shots! Here are just a few ways to tweak the midnight drink recipe to suit your needs:

• Blackberry Sage Refresher Base - Feel free to swap in any flavor of refresher base you prefer!
• Sweetened Coconut Milk - You can use other varieties of creamy plant-based milk like soy or oat milk. I have a feeling that regular dairy milk will curdle with the acidity of the refresher base, but the more fat in the mix, the less likely that is—try whole milk or half n’ half. Alternatively, try using water for diluting the base to make a regular refresher or lemonade to make a lemonade refresher.
• Fresh Blackberries & Ice - Kill two birds with one stone and swap in frozen blackberries to act as both!

How To Make Starbucks Midnight Drink

This yummy Starbucks copycat drink comes together in just a few simple steps:

Step 1: Make the Blackberry Refresher Base. Add the water, blackberry syrup, blackberry extract, and citric acid to a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Simmer for 2-3 minutes, or until the citric acid is dissolved and everything is well combined.

Step 2: Cool. Remove from heat, transfer to a large jar, and allow to cool completely before using.

Step 3: Add ice to a cocktail shaker, then pour in ½ cup Blackberry Sage Refresher base 

Step 4: Add sweetened coconut milk. 

Step 5: Shake a few times until well combined.

Step 6: Garnish & Serve. Add ice to a tall glass, then pour the Midnight Drink over the ice. Stir in fresh blackberries if desired, then drink up!

Optional Variations & Dietary Adjustments

• Sugar-Free - Swap in sugar-free blackberry syrup (either store-bought or homemade) when making your refresher base, then use unsweetened or sugar-free coconut milk to keep this drink diabetic-friendly.
• Caffeinated - If you want to make the Midnight Drink just like Starbucks, you’ll need some green coffee extract (or green tea extract) to the refresher base to give it some oomph.

Serving Suggestions

I’ll happily mix up a Midnight Drink whenever I need a coffee-free refreshment, just as the recipe is written. That said, there are plenty of ways to sass up your servings:

• Refreshment Table - Next time you host a get-together, put out a bowl of ice, a few pitchers of the blackberry sage refresher base (or mix and match with other refreshers), then offer water, lemonade, and coconut milk as different mix-ins for guests to choose from. Don’t forget to leave out some fresh berries and sprigs of sage for garnish!
• Midnight Mojitos - Those Owens sisters were onto something with their midnight margaritas! While you are welcome to spike these creamy berry coconut refreshers with tequila or vodka, I think they taste even more craveworthy with a splash of coconut rum. Go the extra mile by rimming your cups with blackberry syrup and crushed freeze-dried blackberries for pizzazz. 
• Magic Cup - Feeling extra? Swirl in a spoonful of purple luster dust or edible glitter for a midnight drink that looks as magical as it tastes. For extra sparkle, rim your glass with blackberry syrup and even more glitter. ✨

Recipe Success Tips

• Plan Ahead - You want to make sure to give the refresher base plenty of time to cool down before shaking up your midnight drink. If you move too quickly, the ice in the shaker will end up melting and diluting the flavor. If you’re in a rush, speed up the cooling process by submerging the bottom of the saucepan in an ice bath and agitating it every few minutes—it should be ready for use within about 10-15 minutes.
• The Milky Way - Make sure you’re grabbing the right type of milk for your drinking adventures. Whenever possible, use “barista blend” style plant-milk for the best mouthfeel and consistency. 
• Shake It Up - Using a cocktail shaker to mix drinks isn’t just a fancy way of cooling them down; it also aerates the drink with tiny shards of ice, making it frothy. (Think of it like creaming sugar into butter.) Make sure you shake aggressively for about 45 seconds to get the full effect!

FAQs

DIY Starbucks Midnight Drink Nutrition

No need to derail your diet to sneak a Midnight Drink into your day—each serving has just 107 calories and 2 grams of fat. Not too shabby! There’s no protein in the mix, and only 9 milligrams of sodium, so not much to worry about there. 

The only thing you might want to keep an eye on are the carbs—22 grams per serving, 21 of which are from sugar. If you want to cut back on the sugar content, use the sugar-free “optional variation” instructions above. Otherwise, I’d say this is a fantastic way to treat yourself without going overboard!

Total nutritional content per serving is:

• Calories: 107 calories
• Total Fat: 2 grams
• Protein: 0 grams
• Sodium: 9 mg
• Carbohydrates: 22 grams
• Sugar: 21 grams

*This nutritional information is an estimate and calculated based on the ingredients used to create the recipe. The nutritional value of your ingredients may differ slightly. Furthermore, this food is not intended to prevent, diagnose, cure, or treat any disease.

Other Starbucks Refresher Recipes

xoxo Megan