Starbucks Pink Drink Recipe
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Recreate the popular Starbucks Pink Drink Recipe right at home. It’s perfectly sweet and creamy, plus my version is completely caffeine-free! Don’t limit yourself to summertime, either. Enjoy this pink drink Starbucks recipe any time of year, and make a big batch for celebrations instead of the usual punch!
Starbucks Pink Drink Recipe
Sweet and creamy drinks are always a favorite, especially in the warmer months, which is why you’ll find me with a creamsicle or strawberries and cream milkshake at the height of summer!
However, this recipe for Starbucks pink drink is perfect for when I need something a little less heavy, and it’s naturally dairy-free.
Sweet strawberries are balanced by herbal tea and a tart white cranberry juice blend, with creamy coconut milk tying everything together.
It’s easy to make and ready in a snap — just have some tea brewed and ready to go first!
Even better, you can make yourself as many as you’d like with this copycat pink drink Starbucks recipe for much less than it would cost to order them.
And if you’re craving something boozy, then a Lava Flow is the way to go! It combines the same strawberry and creamy coconut flavors with a little bit of lime, some pineapple juice, and plenty of rum.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Passion Fruit Tea – Not to be confused with passionfruit, the fruit! This is actually an herbal hibiscus tea flavored with orange peel and rose hips.
Tazo Passion is the best choice, but any similar variety will work. - Ocean Spray White Cran-Strawberry Juice – There is no suitable substitute for this ingredient!
Don’t even think about trying a store brand either — the flavor will be different, and your drink will be much sweeter. - Coconut Milk – Here’s where you’ll want the kind in cartons, not the canned version.
Make sure to pop shelf-stable varieties in the refrigerator first to get nice and cold. You can use sweetened or unsweetened, just adjust the simple syrup accordingly. - Strawberries – Add fresh slices to the glass both before and after adding the liquids.
To make a truly authentic pink drink recipe like Starbucks, you’ll need freeze-dried strawberries too.
Tips to Make this Pink Drink Recipe Starbucks Copycat
- Brew passion tea ahead of time.
It needs about 5 minutes to steep, plus plenty of time to cool. You can speed up the process by placing the pitcher in the refrigerator.
For a stronger flavor, consider brewing a double-strength batch or using a carton of concentrate.
Keep in mind that concentrates are often sweetened, so you will likely need to reduce the amount of simple syrup.
- Make your own simple syrup.
The process is quite simple, as the name suggests!
Combine equal parts water and granulated sugar in a saucepan on the stove, then simmer until the sugar is completely dissolved.
I like to match larger batches to store in the refrigerator — homemade simple syrup will last for up to 1 month.
Use it to sweeten coffee drinks, lemonade, and even cocktails!
- Use pebble ice if you can.
It will be closest to the kind used at the cafe and it will make your drink easier to stir.
If you don’t have any on hand, regular cubes are preferred, but avoid crushed ice entirely.
- Don’t forget the garnish!
Top each glass with extra fresh strawberry slices, plus some freeze-dried ones too — just like they do at Starbucks!
Prep Ahead
- Brew and cool passion fruit tea
- Slice strawberries
Kitchen Tools You Will Need
- Kettle & Pitcher for brewing the tea
- Bar Spoon – This long, slim spoon makes it easy to stir drinks, especially with plenty of ice! Plus, it can easily reach the bottom no matter how tall the glass is.
- Quality Knives and a big solid Cutting Board make prepping a breeze and are well worth the investment.
Serving Suggestions
Add some fancy to your glasses with red and white striped straws — or maybe a heart pattern for Valentine’s Day?
This Starbucks pink drink recipe would pair perfectly with some strawberry-glazed sugar cookies, cake pops, or raspberry swirl cupcakes to make the festivities complete.
Or, complete your at-home cafe experience with a warm slice of banana bread or a sweet blueberry muffin. My copycat recipes taste just like the real thing!
Variations to Try
- Try a different tea. Make this recipe for Starbucks pink drink with another fruity tea like hibiscus or peach.
- Add some mint! Muddle a few leaves at the bottom of the glass before adding the ice cubes.
- Crush the strawberries. You can also muddle a few berry slices, releasing their juices to mix with the other ingredients. Or, stir in a little strawberry purée.
- Make it extra fruity. A pump or two of peach or raspberry syrup is a popular addition to this Starbucks pink drink recipe.
- Top with sweet cream cold foam. In fact, I have a recipe for that too!
Pink Drink Starbucks Recipe FAQ
This fan favorite is a part of the Refresher line of cold drinks served at the coffee chain. It combines strawberry açai base with coconut milk and freeze-dried strawberries to make a creamy version of the Strawberry Açai Refresher.
This fruity iced drink is best served right away, but you can make the tea base up to 2 days in advance.
Combine cooled, brewed tea in a pitcher with the simple syrup and juice, then cover and store in the refrigerator. This is a great option for parties or larger batches!
When you’re ready to serve, fill each glass with ice and strawberries before pouring in the tea and juice mixture. Then, add the coconut milk and freeze-dried berries and give everything a stir.
The original pink drink recipe at Starbucks does contain caffeine — about 45mg for a Grande size — thanks to the green coffee extract found in the base.
Instead, this homemade version is completely caffeine-free making it safe for anyone to drink, including children!
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Starbucks Pink Drink Recipe
Ingredients
- Ice cubes, or crushed ice
- fresh Strawberries, sliced, (for garnish)
- 2 cups prepared passion fruit tea, cooled
- 1/4 cup simple syrup, adjust to taste
- 1/2 cup Ocean Spray White Cran-Strawberry juice
- 1/2 cup coconut milk
- Fresh strawberries, sliced (for garnish)
- Freeze dried strawberries, (for garnish)
Instructions
- Fill the glasses with ice cubes or crushed ice.
- Divide the prepared passion fruit tea evenly among the glasses.
- Add sliced strawberries to each glass.
- Pour the simple syrup into each glass, adjusting the amount to taste.
- Pour the Ocean Spray White Cran-Strawberry juice into each glass, dividing it equally.
- Slowly pour the coconut milk into each glass, distributing it evenly.
- Garnish each glass with freeze-dried strawberries for added flavor and visual appeal.
- Give the drinks a gentle stir to combine the ingredients.
- Serve the pink drinks immediately to enjoy them at their freshest and coldest.
Donna’s Notes
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published February 2024
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Wow, this was so good! It tastes like the real thing!
This recipe is absolutely amazing! I’m a huge fan of Donna and Chad’s recipes from The Slow Roasted Italian, and this one did not disappoint. So easy to make and incredibly delicious. It’s a 5-star treat!
Hi Oakley!
We’re so glad you enjoyed!!
TSRI Team Member,
Devlyn
Donna’s recipes are always a hit in my household, and this one was no exception! This Starbucks Pink Drink recipe from The Slow Roasted Italian is fantastic. I added a splash of lemon juice for an extra zing, and it turned out even better than expected. 5 stars!
Hi Zoe!
We’re so glad you enjoyed the recipe!
TSRI Team Member,
Devlyn