If there’s one drink that instantly makes me think of summer, it’s the Starbucks Pink Drink. Back when I was a high school teacher, I’d often rush to the café after the last bell rang, craving something cool and energizing before heading home. But as much as I loved that beautiful, berry-hued treat, my wallet—and my schedule—didn’t always agree. Plus, I wanted to control the amount of sugar going into my favorite treat. That’s why I started recreating this copycat Starbucks Pink Drink at home, and let me tell you, it’s become my go-to pick-me-up on warm afternoons.
This homemade version is not only easy to whip up in minutes, but it also lets you customize everything from sweetness to milk alternatives. You’ll discover how to make the Starbucks Pink Drink sugar-free, how to swap out the coconut milk, and even how to add a luscious cold foam topping—so you can sip your favorite café drink without ever leaving your kitchen.
Ready to bring a little summertime magic to your glass? This recipe has become a staple in my rotation, right alongside my other favorite simple, refreshing drinks and beverages for those warm, sunny days
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Copycat Starbucks Pink Drink Recipe
There are so many reasons this homemade Pink Drink will become your new favorite refresher:
All the Flavor, None of the Guilt: This recipe delivers that iconic creamy, fruity taste you love, but with simple, real ingredients and far less sugar than the café version.
You Control the Ingredients: Easily make it sugar-free, keto-friendly, or use your favorite dairy-free milk like almond or oat. You’re the barista now!
Ready in 5 Minutes: Forget the drive-thru line. You can whip up this refreshing drink in your own kitchen in less time than it takes to find a parking spot.
Budget-Friendly Indulgence: Enjoy a Venti-sized treat for a tiny fraction of the coffee shop price. Your wallet will thank you.
If you’ve ever wondered how to make a Starbucks Pink Drink from scratch, this recipe will walk you through it step by step.
Ingredient Deep Dive
Let’s take a closer look at what goes into this irresistible copycat Starbucks Pink Drink, and why each ingredient matters:
Passion Fruit Tea
This is the base of the drink and gives it that tropical berry flavor. I love using Tazo or Stash Passion Tea, but any bright herbal blend will work. It’s naturally caffeine-free and creates the vivid pink color when mixed with juice.
Ocean Spray White Cran-Strawberry Juice
This juice mimics the strawberry acai base Starbucks uses but is easy to find in most grocery stores. It adds tangy-sweet flavor and balances the tartness of the tea.
Unsweetened Coconut Milk
Coconut milk makes the drink creamy and smooth. Be sure to use the kind from a carton, not canned coconut milk—it’s lighter and blends better over ice. If you’d like to try other options, I’ll share how to make the Starbucks Pink Drink with almond milk in the Variations section.
If you’re interested in learning more about coconut milk’s nutritional benefits and uses, check out this helpful guide from Healthline.
Simple Syrup
This is optional, but a touch of sweetness helps bring all the flavors together. You can use a keto-friendly sweetener if you prefer to make your Pink Drink sugar-free.
Fresh and Freeze-Dried Strawberries
Fresh strawberries infuse the drink with natural sweetness while freeze-dried berries add a pretty garnish and extra flavor.
Ice
Plenty of ice chills everything perfectly and gives the drink its refreshing, café-style feel, which is the secret to any great summer drink, including my popular cucumber mint lemonade.
The Secret to the Perfect Copycat Starbucks Pink Drink
You might be surprised to learn that the key to nailing this recipe isn’t just the ingredients—it’s all about the method. Here are my best tips to make your drink taste like the real thing (or better):
Cool Your Tea Completely
After you brew the passion fruit tea, let it cool fully before mixing. If the tea is warm, it will melt your ice too quickly and dilute the flavors.
Use a Shaker for Froth
Shaking everything together in a cocktail shaker (or a jar with a tight lid) does two things: it chills the drink fast and creates that frothy, creamy texture Starbucks is famous for.
Adjust Sweetness Gradually
Start with a smaller amount of simple syrup or your preferred sweetener, then taste. You can always add more, but it’s hard to take sweetness away once it’s mixed in.
Layer Your Strawberries
Adding fresh strawberry slices to the glass before pouring not only looks beautiful but also releases extra flavor as you sip.
Try Cold Foam
For a little café-style indulgence, top your drink with cold foam. It’s a lightly sweetened whipped nonfat milk (or non-dairy milk) layer you can make in seconds. I’ll explain exactly how in the Variations section.
If you’re wondering why is the Starbucks Pink Drink so popular, it’s this combination of sweet-tart fruit, creamy coconut milk, and the satisfying chilled texture that makes it so craveable.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s exactly how to make your own copycat Starbucks Pink Drink at home, with a few extra tips for perfect results:
1. Brew and Cool the Tea
Start by steeping your passion fruit tea bag in ½ cup of hot water for about 5 minutes. This extracts all that bright, fruity flavor. Once brewed, remove the tea bag and set the tea aside to cool completely. Cooling is essential so your ice doesn’t melt and water everything down.
2. Prepare Your Glass
Grab a large serving glass (think Venti size). Layer the fresh strawberry slices into the bottom—this makes every sip taste like ripe berries. Fill the glass all the way with ice cubes.
3. Mix the Drink
In a cocktail shaker or a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the cooled passion tea, white cran-strawberry juice, unsweetened coconut milk, and simple syrup if you’d like extra sweetness.
4. Shake It Well
Seal your shaker or jar tightly and shake it vigorously for 15–20 seconds. You’re looking for two things here: the drink should turn a beautiful, uniform creamy pink, and a light, bubbly froth should form on the surface. That froth is the secret to the café-style texture!
5. Pour and Garnish
Carefully pour your Pink Drink over the ice and fresh strawberries in your glass. Top with freeze-dried strawberries for a little extra color and crunch.
6. Serve Immediately
This drink is best enjoyed right away while it’s ice-cold, much like my popular Iced Strawberry Matcha Latte.
Variations & Add-ins
One of the best parts of making your own copycat Starbucks Pink Drink is how easy it is to customize. Here are some fun ways to switch things up:
How to Make Starbucks Pink Drink Sugar-Free
To create a low-carb or diabetic-friendly version, simply replace the juice with a sugar-free strawberry drink (like Minute Maid Light) and use a keto-friendly simple syrup such as monk fruit syrup or stevia drops. You’ll still get the bright pink color and fruity flavor without the extra sugar.
How to Make Starbucks Pink Drink with Almond Milk
If you prefer almond milk, swap it in for the coconut milk one-to-one. Almond milk makes the drink a bit lighter and less creamy but still delicious. Oat milk also works well if you want an extra-smooth texture.
How to Make Starbucks Pink Drink Without Coconut Milk
No coconut milk on hand? Use any non-dairy milk you love, or even regular dairy milk if you don’t need a vegan option. Just be sure it’s unsweetened so you can control the sweetness yourself.
Add Cold Foam
To mimic the Starbucks cold foam topping, froth about ¼ cup of cold nonfat milk (or dairy-free milk) with a handheld frother or blender until it’s thick and foamy. Spoon it on top of your drink before garnishing.
Extra Strawberry Flavor
If you really want to lean into the strawberry notes, muddle a few fresh strawberries in the bottom of your glass before adding ice.
This flexibility is why so many people love learning how to make a Starbucks Pink Drink from scratch—you can tailor every sip to your taste and dietary needs.
Serving and Storage Tips
How to Serve
The copycat Starbucks Pink Drink is best served immediately over plenty of ice so it stays chilled and refreshing. If you’re making this for a party, prep the tea and juice mixture ahead of time and store it in the fridge. Just shake with ice and coconut milk right before serving.
Garnish with fresh or freeze-dried strawberries for that signature café look. For an extra special touch, add a reusable straw and a dollop of cold foam on top.
How to Store
If you have leftover mixed drink without ice, you can refrigerate it in a sealed jar for up to 24 hours. Just shake again before serving, as the coconut milk can separate.
Avoid storing the drink with ice already added, since it will melt and dilute the flavor.
Copycat Starbucks Pink Drink
Ingredients
- 1 bag Passion Fruit Tea like Tazo or Stash
- 1 cup Ocean Spray White Cran-Strawberry Juice
- ½ cup Unsweetened Coconut Milk from a carton, not canned
- 2 –4 tsp Simple Syrup or to taste (optional)
- ¼ cup Fresh Strawberries sliced
- 2 tbsp Freeze-Dried Strawberries for garnish
- Ice
Instructions
- Prep the Tea: Brew the passion fruit tea bag in ½ cup of hot water for 5 minutes. Remove the tea bag and let the tea cool completely.
- Prepare the Glass: Add the fresh strawberry slices to a large serving glass (like a Venti-sized cup). Fill the glass with ice.
- Mix the Drink: In a cocktail shaker or a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the cooled passion tea, white cran-strawberry juice, coconut milk, and simple syrup (if using).
- Shake Well: Close the shaker and shake vigorously for 15–20 seconds until the mixture is well-chilled and frothy.
- Serve: Pour the shaken pink drink into your prepared glass over the ice and fresh strawberries.
- Garnish: Top with the freeze-dried strawberries and serve immediately.
Notes
Conclusion
Making your own copycat Starbucks Pink Drink at home is such a fun way to enjoy a little café magic without the cost—or the drive-thru line. Whether you keep it classic with coconut milk or customize it sugar-free and dairy-free, every sip is refreshing, fruity, and just the right amount of sweet.
I hope this recipe brings a little summer joy to your kitchen. If you give it a try, let me know how you made it your own! And don’t forget to explore more easy, budget-friendly drink recipes on Easily Meal. Cheers to bright pink sips and sunny days ahead—and if you love creating healthier versions of your favorite treats, you’ll love this Keto Jello Cream Cheese.
Comprehensive FAQ
What are the ingredients to the Pink Drink from Starbucks?
The official ingredients are the Strawberry Acai Refresher base, coconut milk, and freeze-dried strawberries. Our copycat recipe cleverly mimics this flavor profile using easy-to-find passion fruit tea and white cran-strawberry juice.
Is Starbucks Pink Drink healthy?
A standard Grande Pink Drink from Starbucks contains about 25 grams of sugar. However, this homemade recipe can easily be made healthier and sugar-free by using unsweetened juice and a keto-friendly sweetener like monk fruit.
Where can I buy a Starbucks strawberry acai base?
Starbucks doesn’t sell their Strawberry Acai Refresher mix directly to consumers. However, you can mimic it with passion fruit or hibiscus tea and berry juice, as we’ve done here.
What is the secret Pink Drink at Starbucks?
Some locations have secret menu variations, like adding vanilla cold foam or extra berries. But the most popular “secret” Pink Drink is simply the Strawberry Acai Refresher with coconut milk instead of water.
Why is the Starbucks Pink Drink so popular?
It’s refreshing, lightly sweet, and visually beautiful—basically summer in a cup. Plus, the combination of tart berries and creamy coconut milk is unique compared to other drinks.
Is a Pink Drink just a strawberry acai with coconut milk?
Yes! That’s the core of it. The official version is the Strawberry Acai Refresher made with coconut milk instead of water, plus freeze-dried strawberries.
If you’d like even more delicious drink ideas, check out my Banana Strawberry Blueberry Smoothie Recipe.
Does this homemade Pink Drink taste exactly like the one from Starbucks?
It tastes incredibly close! Our recipe is designed to mimic the creamy, fruity flavor profile. The main difference is that our version often tastes fresher because it uses real brewed tea and juice instead of flavored syrups and concentrates. Many readers say they actually prefer this homemade version!
