Pink Drink Recipe (Starbucks Copycat)

Get ready for a creamy, fruity flavor explosion with my easy Copycat Starbucks Pink Drink Recipe! Simply made with fewer than 10 ingredients and just a few minutes of effort, this brightly flavored strawberry acai coconut refresher is the perfect drink for slurping down on a hot summer’s day.

I know this is CoffeeCopycat.com, but recently, I’ve been on a coffee-free drink kick. With the temps teetering close to 90ºF and two rambunctious tots at home, I’ve been sweating up a storm. Anyone else with me?

So, while mama still needs some sort of cold brew goodness to get her engines firing in the early morning—TBH I don’t think I can ever be 100% coffee-free—by the time I’m ready to refill my cup, I’m craving something light and juicy. Enter Starbucks-style refreshers.

With summer-ready flavors like cool lime and summer berry, these sweet, slurpable sippers are just what the doctor ordered. While most of these non-coffee drinks are clear, some genius figured out that if you mix up a strawberry acai refresher with sweetened coconut milk instead of water or lemonade, you get a yummy, indulgent, tropical beverage that tastes like a dream.

And while there is admittedly a *bit* more prep that goes into making a batch of refreshers than your average iced coffee drink, the tradeoff is that you’ll have enough to last a whole week. 15 minutes of work for a week’s worth of pleasure? Sounds fair to me!

Jump to:

• What is the pink drink at Starbucks?
• What does it taste like?
• Why You’ll Love This DIY Pink Drink Recipe
• Ingredients Needed
• Substitutions
• How To Make Starbucks Pink Drink At Home
• Optional Variations & Dietary Adjustments
• Serving Suggestions
• Recipe Success Tips
• FAQs
• Homemade Starbucks Pink Drink Nutrition
• Other Starbucks Refresher Recipes
• Pink Drink Recipe (Starbucks Copycat)

What is the pink drink at Starbucks?

If you’re a Starbucks fan-girl like myself, I’m sure you’ve at least heard about the beverage affectionately referred to as “the pink drink.” This sweet-tart, creamy drink used to be a secret menu item but has recently gone mainstream enough to make it on the official Starbucks menu.

It’s a coconutty, passionfruit-y, berry-licious drink that starts with the same base recipe as Starbucks acai strawberry refresher, but mixed with creamy coconut milk for richness. With a cheerful rosy hue and a fresh strawberry garnish, this refreshing drink looks like it was specifically designed for Barbie!

What does it taste like?

If sunshine and unicorns could be distilled into a cup, Starbucks’ strawberry pink drink would be the result. This delightful concoction bursts with the sweet, juicy flavors of fresh strawberries and acai, perfectly balanced with accents of passion fruit and tied together with a splash of creamy coconut milk. It’s divine!

Whether you’re lounging by the pool or just taking a moment to unwind, this fruity refresher is your ticket to instant bliss. So, why wait for a Starbucks run? Whip up my easy, cheerful pink drink copycat recipe and let every gulp bring a smile to your face!

Why You’ll Love This DIY Pink Drink Recipe

• Perfect for Planners. We’ve all heard about meal-prepping, but what about drink-prepping? This recipe makes enough strawberry acai refresher base for 5 drinks. Store any leftovers in the fridge for up to 1 week, then enjoy either creamy pink drinks or juicy refreshers whenever you get the craving! 
• Frosty Refreshment - Slurping down a glass of this homemade pink drink is nearly as revivifying as jumping in a pool! If you’re feeling hot and bothered, there’s no better remedy. 🥵
• Caffeine-Free Pick-Me-Up - If you’re sensitive to the effects of caffeine, sipping on a coffee after noon might disrupt your beauty sleep. Luckily, my homemade pink drink refresher is made without any—its bright flavor and chilly temps are enough to put a little pep in your step!

Ingredients Needed

Considering the bold flavor, it’s kind of shocking how few Starbucks pink drink ingredients there are. Here’s what you’ll need:

• White Grape Juice - Starting with real fruit juice adds natural sweetness so we don’t have to add as much sugar.
• Fresh Strawberries - No artificial flavors here! Infusing the refresher base with real strawberries makes all the difference in taste.
• Granulated Sugar - White sugar is a neutral sweetener, which allows the tart, tangy fruit flavors to shine. 
• Lemon Juice - Keeping fresh lemons on hand is an easy way to add bright acidity to everything from dinner to drinks. To get the most juice, firmly roll them on the countertop before slicing them open to juice.
• Acai Powder & Passionfruit Powder - A little bit goes a long way in terms of the flavor these fruit powders impart. So, if you’re worried about the upfront cost, just know that they’ll last for an eternity.
• Citric Acid - This compound gives citrus its zingy tang, so adding a little extra to our refresher base helps ensure a puckery tart flavor.
• Sweetened Coconut Milk - Opt for the kind that comes in cartons rather than cans, unless you can get your hands on light coconut milk. The canned variety is usually too thick and creamy for the consistency we’re after.
• Water & Ice - If possible, start with filtered water for the best taste.

Substitutions

• White Grape Juice - Plain apple juice makes a fine substitute, though it does have a bit more of a distinctive flavor than white grape juice.
• Fresh Strawberries - Frozen berries will also work, but they don’t make as pretty of a garnish. 
• Granulated Sugar - Feel free to use organic cane sugar or the cup-for-cup sugar-free sweetener of your choice.
• Lemon Juice - Lime juice would also be lovely!
• Acai Powder & Passionfruit Powder - Feel free to use other varieties of fruit powders. Try blueberry or raspberry powder for the acai, or pineapple or mango powder for the passionfruit. If you can’t find them in powder form, just buy the freeze-dried fruit and pulverize it in a blender or food processor.
• Citric Acid - This ingredient adds the neutral tang you love from Sour Patch kids. In a pinch, just add more lemon juice. You can also try adding about half as much Cream of Tartar, the commercial name for tartaric acid.
• Sweetened Coconut Milk - While I love making a tropical pink drink with coconut milk, you can feel free to swap in the milk variety of your choice.

How To Make Starbucks Pink Drink At Home

This pink drink copycat recipe comes together with just 15 minutes of effort. Here’s how:

Step 1: Add the water, grape juice, 1 cup of strawberries, and sugar to a medium saucepan and stir. 

Step 2: Simmer the mixture for 10 minutes. Strain out the strawberries, squeezing them to get as much liquid from them as possible. Discard the strawberries and pour the liquid back into the saucepan.

Step 3: Heat the strained strawberry liquid over low heat and whisk in the lemon juice, acai powder, passionfruit powder, and citric acid. Whisk until everything is dissolved (NOTE: the acai powder will leave specks because it doesn't fully dissolve).

Step 4: Cool. Remove the refresher base from heat, transfer to a large jar, and allow to cool completely before using.

Step 5: Shake it up! Add ½ cup Strawberry Acai Refresher base and ½ cup sweetened coconut milk to a cocktail shaker or a large jar with a lid. Shake a few times until well combined.

Step 6: Ice it. Add ice to a tall glass, then pour the pink drink over the ice. 

Step 7: Garnish with fresh strawberry slices and drink up!

Optional Variations & Dietary Adjustments

The great thing about making this DIY Starbucks pink drink refresher is you can customize it to your heart’s content—without any silly upcharges. Here are just a few ideas to get you started:

• Sugar-Free - Keep cool while also keeping your diet in check. Simply swap in the measure-for-measure sugar substitute of your choice (e.g. Swerve or Lakanto).
• Caffeinated - If you order the pink drink at Starbucks, it comes with a bit of caffeine. I prefer making mine without, but you’re welcome to add some green tea extract or green coffee extract to give it some oomph.
• Try Another Berry As The Base - Strawberries are delightful, but there’s no rule that says you can’t make a blueberry, raspberry, or boysenberry base instead. Have fun experimenting!
• Pink Drink with Cold Foam - Customize your at-home pink drink with a thick layer of fluffy sweet cream cold foam. 

Serving Suggestions

No matter how you serve it, this copycat pink Starbucks drink is sure to be a hit, bringing a splash of color and a burst of flavor to any occasion. Here are just a few ideas to get you started:

• Ice, Ice, Baby: Serve your Pink Drink over plenty of ice for an extra frosty feel. For a special potassium-packed touch, use ice cubes made from coconut water and freeze small pieces of strawberries right into the cubes for a pop of color and flavor!
• Garnishes Galore: Go all-out—a skewer of fresh fruit, a sparkling strawberry sugar rim, some cold foam (perhaps matcha flavored?!?) or whipped cream, a sprig of mint, and a round of lemon. You deserve alllllll the goodies!
• The More, The Merrier: Planning a brunch or a garden party? Make a big batch and serve it in a large pitcher, punch bowl, or a drink dispenser. Let your guests garnish at will from a selection of fresh fruit slices.
• Take it Outside! This pink drink copycat is perfect for sunny day picnics or cooling off by the pool. Don’t forget the SPF!
• Pink Drink Cocktail - It’s 5 o’clock somewhere, so add a little tipple of white or coconut rum, vodka, or tequila blanco for an adults-only twist.

Recipe Success Tips

• Allow the refresher base to cool completely before assembling your drinks so you don’t dilute it too much. Want to speed the process? Fill a mixing bowl with ice water, then place your jar of refresher base in the ice bath making sure to not let the water spill over into the jar. Agitate it by twisting the jar rapidly back and forth every few minutes. It should be perfectly chilled within 10-15 minutes!
• Scale as needed. Since the kiddos and my hubby love these pink drinks as much as I do, I like to make at least a double batch so it’ll last a few days. 
• Save your simmered berries for adding to a smoothie or using as a topper for waffles, pancakes, or oatmeal. 

FAQs

Homemade Starbucks Pink Drink Nutrition

Overall, this pink strawberry drink is a tasty, refreshing option that’s pretty easy on the calories and can fit into your day as a fun treat! Per serving, my copycat version fairly light, coming in at just 117 calories. It's also low in fat, with just 2 grams, and it has a minimal amount of protein—about 1 gram. Sodium is remarkably low at just 13 milligrams, which is great if you’re watching your salt intake. 

The carbohydrates are a bit higher, totaling 25 grams, with 23 grams of that being sugars. It's not too surprising, considering it’s a sweet drink, but it's something to keep in mind if you're trying to manage your sugar intake. Feel free to use a sugar-free sweetener in the refresher base to cut back on both carbs and calories! 

Total nutritional content per serving is:

• Calories: 117 calories
• Total Fat: 2 grams
• Protein: 1 gram
• Sodium: 13 mg
• Carbohydrates: 25 grams
• Sugar: 23 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