Strawberry Acai Refresher (Starbucks Copycat)

My Homemade Strawberry Acai Refresher is the bright, berry-licious sipper your summer deserves. Featuring a sweet-tart strawberry base that’s pumped up with acai, passionfruit, and lemon, this copycat Starbucks refresher recipe is a dead ringer for the original but costs just a fraction to DIY.

Is it just me, or does everyone get thirstier the warmer it gets? We’ve been hovering in the 80s here for a few weeks, and I can’t seem to slurp down drinks fast enough. As a dietician, I know I should probably be drinking more water than anything else, but water is just so BORING. 

My solution? Turn to Starbucks-style refreshers—deliciously fruity drinks with a hint of sweetness—and bring flavor back into the hydration equation. There’s the summer berry refresher, replete with juicy raspberry popping boba, the now discontinued cool lime refresher, and a handful of other fresh and fruity flavors to choose from. 

But this strawberry acai refresher recipe is my current go-to. Simply made with just 8 ingredients, it’s a delightfully tasty, caffeine-free drink—perfect for enjoying on a hot day. As a bonus, my recipe yields enough for 5 refreshers, so you can make it once and enjoy the fruity goodness of this Starbucks drink all week long!

What is Starbucks’ Strawberry Acai Refresher?

Starbucks debuted a line of drinks it dubbed “refreshers” back in 2012. The Starbucks refreshers are light, dairy-free, relatively low-calorie drinks that feature fruity flavors like very berry hibiscus, mango dragonfruit, and passion pineapple. YUM! This acai strawberry refresher is just the newest addition to the team.

If you’re not yet familiar, acai is a purple palm tree berry that’s been touted as a “superfood” for its high level of antioxidants. Its flavor is sweet-tart with an earthy undertone—sort of raspberry-ish with a hint of wine. When combined with strawberry-infused white grape juice, a splash of lemon, and an extra hit of citric acid, it makes for a deliciously refreshing drink!

What does it taste like?

This vibrant Starbucks strawberry acai refresher is a burst of sunshine in a cup, combining the sweet, natural flavors of ripe strawberries with the exotic, tangy twist of acai berries. It's perfectly balanced with a hint of brightness from passionfruit and, if you want, an extra hit of citrusy goodness from lemonade. In short, it’s refreshingly crisp and irresistibly delicious.

Whether you're lounging by the pool, needing a mid-afternoon boost, or simply craving a fruity treat, this drink will leave you feeling refreshed and revitalized. It's light, crisp, and oh-so-delicious—you'll feel like you're indulging in a little slice of paradise with every sip!

Why You’ll Love This Strawberry Acai Starbucks Refresher Recipe

• Hydration Made Fun - If you’re like me and feel like drinking water is a chore, this revitalizing drink is for you! It’s easy to stay hydrated when you have something this yummy to sip on.
• One & Done - My copycat strawberry acai refresher base makes enough for 5 delicious drinks, so you only need to prep once for the whole week!
• Budget-Savvy - By making your own refreshers at home, you’re saving big bucks. Each one cost me less than a dollar to make! Granted, there are a few specific strawberry acai refresher ingredients you’ll need to buy for the recipe (e.g. acai powder and passion fruit powder), but they’ll last far beyond this summer. You only need a little bit for each batch!

Ingredients Needed

As promised, this homemade refresher recipe requires just 8 simple ingredients. Here’s what to grab:

• Water & Ice - If possible, start with filtered water for the best results.
• White Grape Juice - This relatively neutral-tasting juice provides the perfect real fruit base for our deliciously refreshing drinks. Make sure you’re getting 100% pure fruit juice without any added sugar.
• Fresh Strawberries - No artificial flavors here! Fresh, real strawberries provide tons of yummy flavor.
• Granulated Sugar - For an added touch of sweetness. Feel free to use “caster sugar” or “superfine sugar” instead; these have just been pulverized into smaller granules. 
• Lemon Juice - If possible, use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the brightest taste.
• Acai Powder & Passionfruit Powder - These fruit powders are simply made by freeze-drying their respective fruits and blitzing them—if you have the freeze-dried whole fruits, just pulverize them! 
• Citric Acid - This all-natural flavor enhancer adds an extra bit of puckery yum to our DIY strawberry acai refresher. It’s also a natural preservative that’s often used in canning, and can even be used as a household cleaner so you’ll have no shortage of ways to put it to use.
• Lemonade - Totally optional, but excellent for adding another layer of brightness to your drink.

Substitutions

• Water - Try using sparkling mineral water or the plain or flavored seltzer water of your choice for an effervescent twist. 
• White Grape Juice - While it’s got a slightly more pronounced flavor, apple juice can be used instead.
• Fresh Strawberries - Feel free to swap in frozen strawberries if fresh aren’t in season. You’re also welcome to experiment with whatever type of berry you prefer. 
• Granulated Sugar - White sugar has a neutral sweet flavor, which allows the fruity flavors to shine through beautifully. You’re welcome to use brown sugar for a bit of a molasses-y, caramelly undertone. You can also use an equal amount of your favorite cup-for-cup sugar substitute like monkfruit or stevia.
• Lemon Juice - Lime juice would be delightful as well. 
• Acai Powder - Blackberry, blueberry, or pomegranate powders would be a close substitute. Again, if you can only get your hands on whole freeze-dried berries, just pulverize them into a powder for easier blending. 
• Passionfruit Powder - Feel free to swap in another powdered tropical fruit like pineapple or mango.
• Citric Acid - You can use about a teaspoon or two of lemon or lime juice instead. You can also use half as much cream of tartar—tartaric acid is a bit more sour than citric acid.
• Lemonade - Keep it simple with water, or swap in limeade, sparkling water, or seltzer.

How To Make A Strawberry Acai Refresher At Home

This delicious summer sipper comes together in just a few simple steps:

Step 1: Simmer Strawberry Acai Base. Add the water, grape juice, 1 cup strawberries, and sugar to a medium saucepan and stir. Heat to a simmer, then simmer for 10 minutes.

Step 2: Strain. After 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: Make Strawberry Acai Refresher Base. Heat the strained strawberry liquid over low heat and whisk in the lemon juice, acai berry powder, passionfruit powder, and citric acid. Whisk until everything is dissolved. Note that the acai powder will leave specks because it doesn't fully dissolve—totally normal!

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

Step 5: Assemble. Stir together ½ cup of the strawberry acai refresher base and ½ cup of either water or lemonade and pour over ice in a tall glass. Top with fresh sliced strawberries or freeze-dried strawberries and drink up!

Optional Variations & Dietary Adjustments

• Get Creamy - If you’re a fan of Starbucks Pink Drink, this one’s for you. Swap out the water/lemonade from the assembly step in favor of creamy coconut milk for the easiest pink drink recipe. Delicious!
• Add Some Buzz - If you get a Starbucks acai strawberry refresher in-store, it’ll be slightly caffeinated. If you want to replicate that for a little extra pep in your step, add some liquid or powdered green tea extract or green coffee bean extract to the refresher base. Note that about 250-500mg of green tea extract is as much as you’ll want to take in a day, so adjust how much you add accordingly. Please note that I would not advise adding green coffee bean powder, as it tends to not dissolve well into the refresher base.
• Make It Sparkle - Use sparkling lemonade in place of regular lemonade or water for a bubbly rendition of the classic.
• Spike It - Feeling like it’s 5 o’clock somewhere? Add a shot of vodka, rum, or tequila for a refreshing adults-only libation.

Serving Suggestions

• Chilled to Perfection: Serve your strawberry refresher over ice (maybe with edible flowers?!) in a tall mason jar to keep it cool and crisp. Garnish with fresh strawberry slices, a sprig of mint, and a cute paper straw for an extra touch of elegance.
• Poolside Sipper: Grab your favorite insulated tumbler for a fun and festive poolside beverage. Add a few frozen berries to keep it extra cold without diluting the flavor, then eat them afterwards as a little snack!
• Party Punch: Hosting a summer gathering? Make a large batch by doubling, tripling, or quadrupling the recipe as needed. Serve it in a pitcher, drink dispenser, or a punch bowl with a ladle. Float slices of lemon, lime, and extra strawberries on top for a visually stunning and delicious drink. Feel free to set up a small bar on the side with white rum, tequila blanco, or vodka for your guests to add some optional sass.
• Mocktail Magic: For a mocktail treat, serve your strawberry acai refreshers in cocktail glasses with a sugar rim and a splash of sparkling water. Who said being the DD couldn’t also be delicious?

Recipe Success Tips

• Storage Smarts - Store any leftover refresher base in the fridge for up to 1 week. I like to keep it in a pitcher for easy drink assembly. You can also pop your leftovers in the freezer for up to 6 months. BONUS TIP: Try freezing the base into ice cubes so you can add fruity goodness to any drink, any time.
• Waste Not, Want Not - Rather than tossing the spent strawberries from your refresher base in the compost heap, try puréeing them for a simple sauce you can pour over pancakes, waffles, oatmeal, or ice cream. And, if you’re trying to hydrate but don’t want the sugar of more than one refresher a day, save your spent lemon rind and the strawberry hulls to make a pitcher of waste-free fruit infused water. 
• Use Fresh, In-Season Fruit When You Can - There are a few months every year when the fresh strawberries are heady with perfume, which is when they taste their best. Also, use freshly squeezed lemon juice instead of bottled for the best, brightest flavor.

FAQs

Homemade Strawberry Acai Refresher Nutrition

Overall, this strawberry acai lemonade refresher is a healthier alternative to sugary sodas or overly sweetened store-bought drinks.

Each serving is just 80 calories, making it a guilt-free treat that's perfect for any time of day. It's completely fat-free and doesn't contain any protein, so it's a light and refreshing option without weighing you down.

With only 8 milligrams of sodium, this drink is super low in salt, which is great if you're watching your sodium intake. (If you’re feeling super dehydrated though, add a pinch or two for a DIY gatorade!) You'll also get 20 grams of carbohydrates, 19 of which come from sugar—some natural and some added. Not too bad, but I’d recommend you stick to just one a day!

Total nutritional content per serving is:

• Calories: 80 calories
• Total Fat: 0 grams
• Protein: 0 grams
• Sodium: 8 mg
• Carbohydrates: 20 grams
• Sugar: 19 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.

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Strawberry Acai Refresher (Starbucks Copycat)

This DIY Starbucks Strawberry Acai Refresher recipe makes enough for 5 drinks, so you can prep once & stay hydrated all week!

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time10 minutes mins

Total Time15 minutes mins

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Strawberry Acai Refresher

Servings: 1 drink

Calories: 80kcal

Author: Megan Byrd

Equipment

• 1 medium saucepan

Ingredients

Strawberry Acai Refresher Base:

• 1 ½ cups water
• 1 cup white grape juice
• 1 cup sliced/hulled, fresh strawberries
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• ½ teaspoon acai powder
• ½ teaspoon passionfruit powder
• ½ teaspoon citric acid

Strawberry Acai Refresher:

• ½ cup Strawberry Acai Refresher Base
• ½ cup water (or lemonade)
• 2 tablespoon sliced/hulled, fresh strawberries
• ice

Instructions

• Add the water, grape juice, 1 cup strawberries, and sugar to a medium saucepan and stir. Heat to a simmer, then simmer for 10 minutes.
• After 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.
• Heat the strawberry liquid over low heat and whisk in the lemon juice, acai powder, passionfruit powder, and citric acid. Whisk until everything is dissolved (acai powder will leave specks, it doesn't fully dissolve).
• Remove from heat, transfer to a large jar, and allow to cool completely before using.
• Make the refresher: Stir together ½ cup of the strawberry acai refresher base and ½ cup of either water or lemonade and pour over ice. Top with fresh sliced strawberries and drink up!

Notes

This makes 2 ½ cups of base, enough for 5 drinks. Store any leftover refresher base in the fridge for up to 1 week. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1drink | Calories: 80kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Sodium: 8mg | Sugar: 19g

xoxo Megan