How to Make a Copycat Starbucks Pink Drink

If you can’t get enough of the colorful Refreshers at Starbucks, start making your own at home. That unmistakable Pink Drink can easily be whipped up in your kitchen any time of year. So beat the lines and cut back on the sugar with this simple recipe.

What’s in the Pink Drink?

Contrary to popular belief, the Starbucks Pink Drink isn’t made from swirly clouds, unicorn tails and Instagram likes. It combines the coffee chain’s Strawberry Acai Refresher Beverage and creamy coconut milk. It’s garnished with freeze-dried strawberries for a punch of berry flavor.

The pink drink used to be on the Starbucks secret menu but has earned a place on the permanent menu.

Does the Starbucks Pink Drink Have Caffeine?

Yes, the pink drink contains caffeine. The base is made from the Atrawberry Acai Refresher which has 45 milligrams of caffeine in a grande (16-ounce) size. To compare, a grande iced coffee at Starbucks has 165 milligrams of caffeine.

Starbucks coffee is known for being high in caffeine—here are the other secrets Starbucks employees won’t tell you!

How to Make a Copycat Starbucks Pink Drink

One of our favorite things about making Starbucks copycat recipes at home is the opportunity to cut down on sugar. A grande size Pink Drink at Starbucks contains 140 calories and 24 grams of sugar! This copycat Starbucks Pink Drink recipe uses frozen strawberries for sweetness. It makes two drinks.

Ingredients

• 1 cup hot water
• 2 berry green tea bags
• 1 cup coconut milk, chilled
• 2 cups ice
• 1/2 cup sliced strawberries
• 2 cups frozen strawberries

Directions

Step 1: Prepare the strawberry puree

Place the frozen strawberries in a saucepan over low heat. Cook the berries until they start to break down, about 30 minutes. Once the mixture has cooled, puree it using an immersion blender or in a food processor. Keep chilled until ready to use.

Step 2: Steep the tea

Choose your favorite berry tea and steep two tea bags in one cup of hot water. Allow the bags to sit for at least five minutes. Before removing the tea bags, squeeze out any remaining juice.

Step 3: Mix in the creamy goodness

Pour in your strawberry puree and coconut milk and stir to combine with the tea.

Editor’s Tip: If you have leftover strawberry puree, stir a little into lemonade!

Step 4: Pour over ice

Divide your drinks evenly over two cups of ice and garnish with fresh sliced strawberries.

We’re loving this fresh yet creamy treat. It’s the perfect pick-me-up!

Tips for Making a Starbucks Pink Drink

via @starbucks/instagram

What can I add to a copycat Starbucks Pink Drink?

Feel free to add additional flavors to our copycat recipe. Need more sweetness in your drink? Up the amount of strawberry puree or mix in sugar, stevia, simple syrup or agave nectar to the hot tea.

Speaking of tea, if you’re not a berry fan, branch out. Try passion tea, peach herbal tea or citrus tea. To add that comforting creaminess, stick with coconut milk or opt for a splash of cream, dairy milk, oat milk, almond milk or soy milk.

Starbucks even makes a skinny Pink Drink of their own!

Can I make a Pink Drink ahead of time?

Yes! To make this drink ahead of time, make the strawberry puree and steep the tea. These can chill in the refrigerator until you’re ready to drink. Hold off on mixing in the coconut milk and ice until it’s time. The coconut milk could begin to settle, and the ice will water down your tasty treat.

Is the copycat Pink Drink caffeine-free?

It’s not caffeine-free but the copycat version is low in caffeine. You can control the amount of caffeine in your copycat Pink Drink by changing the type of tea used. Our recipe calls for berry green tea. One cup of green tea (made with one tea bag) has about 28 milligrams of caffeine.

The pink drink does not contain gluten—here are the other gluten-free Starbucks drinks.