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If you have a teen in your life, you’ve likely heard of the famous Starbucks pink drink. It’s made with their Strawberry Acai refresher, coconut milk, and freeze-dried strawberries. A grande size costs a little over $6 where I live, so it can quickly become a costly habit.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t keep freeze-dried strawberries or an Acai-anything in my pantry. But that doesn’t mean we can’t make a delicious version at home!
Armed with white grape juice, fresh strawberries, tea, and coconut milk, you can make a better-for-you strawberry drink faster than you could drive to your local coffee shop. Your wallet and taste buds will thank you!
I’ve tested this recipe with my neighbor (and her teens!) for honest feedback. We also bought a real pink drink from Starbucks to taste-test our DIY version side by side.
Here’s what we tried:
- Test Round 1: 1 cup white grape juice + 1/2 cup strawberries + 1/2 cup green tea + 1/2 cup coconut milk (Result: yuck! Way too much coconut milk)
- Test Round 2: 1 cup white grape juice + 1/2 cup strawberries + 1/2 cup green tea + 1 tablespoon coconut milk. (Result: We loved this one! It doesn’t taste exactly like the Starbucks version; we all thought it tasted better.)
- Test Round 2.5: Tried the same combo above but with double the green tea for a lower sugar version. (Result: The green tea flavor is more prominent, which isn’t bad, but it doesn’t taste like quite as much of a treat.)
- Test Round 3: 1 cup white grape juice + 1/2 cup strawberries + 3/4 cup Passion tea + 1 tablespoon coconut milk (Result: I was worried about how red the color was at first, but when poured over ice, it looks like the real thing and tastes even better than the green tea version. This is my favorite so far, thanks to the added tangy flavor of the Passion tea.)
- Test Round 4: My neighbor’s teenage daughter reported that the test above still didn’t taste enough like the Starbucks version. So I ordered the real one again and realized what my version is missing—a “Jello”-like flavor! I added a scoop of collagen to my next batch, and that was the secret to making it taste more like Starbucks. Plus, it’s even creamier and has more protein per sip. Win-win!
I share these tests in case you’re considering making your own tweaks. Hopefully, my experience will help you choose what’s best for you and your taste buds.
Pink Drink nutrition
According to their website, a grande Starbucks pink drink has 140 calories and 25 grams of sugar. This homemade version isn’t significantly lower in calories, but I feel better about the ingredients since it uses 100% fruit juice instead of refined sugar for sweetness.
Pink Drink Ingredients
To make the pink drink from Starbucks, you’ll need 100% white grape juice, fresh strawberries, a can of coconut milk, and brewed green tea.
If you don’t keep tea bags in your house, that might count as a specialty item, but otherwise, these things are very easy to acquire—no specialty stores required! (I bought all of these ingredients at Target.)
This recipe has the best flavor when you use Tazo Passion tea. We always have these tea bags in the house because my kids love drinking this tea over ice. (It has a slightly tart flavor and gorgeous red hue.)
If that sounds like a challenge to find, use green or black tea instead. Both will offer you a caffeine boost— black has a little more caffeine than green— if you need an afternoon pick-me-up.
Coconut milk tip
I know, it’s annoying to open a can of coconut milk for only two tablespoons. But you can use the rest of the coconut milk can tonight for dinner! Make Coconut Curry Chicken or Thai Panang Curry and impress your family with these fancy pink drinks and a flavorful dinner. (Make up the missing two tablespoons from the can by adding extra water— no one will notice.)
How to Make a Pink Drink
Step 1:
Start by brewing the tea. Pour boiled water over a tea bag in a heat-safe mug, then steep it for 3 to 4 minutes. Remove and discard the tea bag, then let the tea cool briefly.
Note: For a caffeinated drink, use green or black tea instead.
Step 2:
Remove the hulls from the strawberries and cut them into quarters for easy measuring. Add them to a high-speed blender, along with the white grape juice, brewed tea, and coconut milk.
Secure the lid on the blender and blend until the drink looks light pink and creamy. Taste the drink and make any adjustments you like. (For a sweeter drink, add more juice. For a less-sweet drink, add more tea.)
Note: Add a scoop of collagen peptides for a more authentic flavor. The Starbucks drink has a “Jello”-like aftertaste, and this addition makes it taste more authentic.
Step 3:
Pour the blended drink over a cup of ice and garnish with sliced strawberries. It’s ready to enjoy right away!
Leftover strawberry drink can be stored in a tightly sealed jar in the fridge for up to 5 days. It will separate when stored, so shake well each time you serve it.
Ingredients
- 1 Tazo Passion tea bag (or green tea bag)
- 2 cups 100% white grape juice
- 1 cup sliced strawberries , plus extra for garnish
- 2 tablespoons coconut milk (see notes)
- 1 scoop unflavored collagen peptides (optional)
Instructions
- If you haven't brewed the tea, pour 2 cups of boiling water over a Passion tea bag in a heat-safe mug. Let it steep for 3 to 4 minutes, then remove the tea bag. (Alternatively you can use green or black tea, instead.)
- Combine 1 ½ cups of brewed tea, white grape juice, strawberries, and coconut milk in a high-speed blender. Secure the lid and blend until the strawberries are mostly pulverized. It's okay if a few pieces are floating around in the drink. Add a scoop (2 tablespoons) of unflavored collagen peptides for a creamier version that tastes more authentic. This gives the drink the same "Jello" like flavor that the Starbucks version has.
- Taste the pink drink and make any adjustments, if needed. For a less-sweet drink, add more tea or plain water. For a sweeter drink, you can add a splash of maple syrup or extra grape juice. Serve over ice and garnish with extra strawberry slices for a Starbucks-like experience.
- Leftover drink can be stored in a tightly sealed jar in the fridge for up to 5 days. It may separate when stored, so shake well before serving over ice again.
Notes
Nutrition
Looking for more fun drink recipes? Try my iced chai latte, pumpkin cold brew, or easy mocktail.
If you try this Starbucks pink drink recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below letting me know how you like it.
