Homemade Starbucks Pink Drink

Love Starbucks’ secret menu item, the Pink Drink? It’s made with their Strawberry Acai Refresher and coconut milk… And now you can use this pink drink recipe to make your own Starbucks Pink Drink at home!

I’m the kind of person who gets totally flustered when ordering a drink in Starbucks. The menu completely confuses me, I never know what alterations I’m allowed to make to a drink (I constantly ask for things that aren’t possible!), and I always feel like I’m going to somehow order a drink that contains 8044 calories and not realize it until I’ve happily slurped the whole thing down.

Also, I really, really enjoy the Oprah Chai Tea Latte (a million times more than the regular Chai Latte). But I feel ridiculously absurd ordering a drink with Oprah’s name in it (but seriously, the proceeds go to Oprah’s Leadership Academy Foundation, so really, I should order with PRIDE). Also, it’s never on the menu anymore, so I always have to go up to the counter and say, “excuse me, do you still have the Oprah Chai?” And then I want to crawl in a hole.

I just want all my options laid out on the wall over the counter… But I guess there is just so much going on at Starbucks these days, it’s not possible.

Then there are the secret menu drinks. Ah. From what I hear, there’s not actually an official Starbucks secret menu… There are just people who order crazy off-menu things and then try to make them popular. And I guess you could say that worked with the Pink Drink, which all the sudden became all the rage (thanks, Insta!).

I ordered my own Pink Drink just a couple weeks ago in what was my very first Starbucks “secret menu” order. Of course, when I ordered it, the barista looked at me like I was crazy and said, “you mean, you want the Strawberry Acai Refresher with coconut milk?” Um yes, I guess? I don’t know; I thought it was SECRET. And you just destroyed the mystery for me. But thanks, I’ll have it anyway because it won’t get out of my Instagram feed and therefore my brain. Also, it’s beautiful.

And it was delicious to boot. So, I went home and decided to recreate it. And I think my homemade Starbucks Pink Drink turned out to be pretty fabulous!

Pink Drink Ingredients

To make your own pink drink at home, you just need a few simple ingredients. Here’s what I used:

• Fresh strawberries
• Granulated sugar (or sugar substitute of your choice)
• Acai green tea (can also use a plain or berry tea if you can’t find acai or a berry-based Starbuck’s Via packet)
• Ice
• Coconut milk

for the Strawberry Acai Refresher potion of the drink, I used iced Acai Berry Green Tea, but you can certainly use any berry tea or even the Starbucks Refresher Via packs (I couldn’t find any Strawberry Acai Refresher Via, but Very Berry Hibiscus should work).

How to Make a Copycat Starbucks Pink Drink

First, brew a strong cup of the tea and let it cool. Then put it in a blender along with fresh strawberries, a little bit of sugar, and ice. Blend away and pour the drink into two glasses with some coconut milk mixed in (I used Silk Unsweetened).

Obviously I mixed in some sliced fresh strawberries for garnish, too. And with that, you have your very own homemade Pink Drink without any awkward ordering or confused baristas. Thank goodness.

And it was awesome! Chris said it was way better than Starbucks Pink Drink and I don’t think he was just saying that because he’s my husband and he loves me (I can always tell when he doesn’t really like something I’ve made…).

I actually considered setting up a lemonade-style pink drink stand outside my house, but then I worried I live too close to Starbucks and if they saw me, they’d sue me.

I’m pretty sure Starbucks actually makes their Pink Drink with freeze dried strawberries, which I think would also be delicious. But at this time of year, I’m definitely not turning down any fresh strawberries.

I know it’s just so trendy and “basic” at this point, but come on, that color! How can I ever go back to an Oprah Chai when I can have Pink Drink? Also, don’t you think this pink drink recipe would be absolutely perfect for Valentine’s Day?

I’m pretty sure “Pink Drink” previously meant Pepto Bismol, so I hope this drink goes down in history and changes everything. And also fixes whatever ails you. At the very least, it will brighten up your day.

Also, in addition to Valentine’s Day, the pretty color makes this drink PERFECT for your 4th of July weekend, too! I hope that you have a fabulous one planned… I feel very lucky in that I not only have the 4th off from work, but I also have the 5th! And the weather is looking beautiful here in Boston. Hooray!

Next up? I’m newly obsessed with the Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew! Despite its name, a grande only has 110 calories. More than my typical morning black coffee, but still not too shabby for a treat. And I wonder if you can order it with sugar-free vanilla syrup?? I guess I’ll just have to ask and then crawl into my hole when they tell me I’m crazy. Or maybe I’ll try to recreate this one at home, too!

Have you tried Starbucks Pink Drink yet or ordered off their secret menu?

If you like this Starbucks copycat recipe, check out my recipe for their Shaken Watermelon and Passion Tea. Next up, I want to make these Starbucks Copycat Blueberry Muffins from Lil’ Cookie!