Copycat Starbucks Pink Drink Recipe

Fans of the Starbucks Very Berry Hibiscus refreshers might be willing to shell out more than five dollars on a big pink drink, but the truth is that it doesn't have to be that way. Recipe developer Susan Olayinka of The Flexible Fridge makes a really compelling argument that buying the ready-made drink is just throwing money down the drain, especially when you can make your own copycat Starbucks pink drink at home for much less using her recipe. And that comes with the added bonus of not having to hear your name mispronounced by the barista for the thousandth time. 

But even if saving a ton of money on your refreshing pink drink fix isn't really a thing for you, you'll still want to learn how to make Olayinka's copycat Starbucks pink drink. That's because this recipe is flexible enough for quite a few dietary needs and variations, like allowing you to use sugar-free or reduced-sugar grape juice to make it that much healthier.

Although the default berry in the Starbucks version of this pink drink is blackberry, Olayinka went ahead and developed the recipe around fresh strawberries for a delicious twist. It's not that she doesn't love blackberries, but that she wanted to show you that this recipe is meant to be tweaked in an almost infinite number of ways just by swapping out different flavored teas, different kinds of milk, and different fruits.

To make your copycat Starbucks pink drink at home, you'll need two berry-flavored tea bags and one cup of hot water to steep them in. You'll also need two cups of refrigerated concentrated grape juice and half a cup of refrigerated sweetened coconut milk, which should hang out in the fridge for at least a few hours or even overnight. 

Although, as mentioned above, the default berry for the Starbucks version of this pink drink is blackberry, Olayinka developed her copycat version using strawberries. You'll need one strawberry for each serving, or, in this case, a total of four. That said, you should feel free to use any berry or fruit that strikes your fancy.

Before we begin, just a quick check-in: did you remember to refrigerate your grape juice and coconut milk so that they're both icy cold when you begin preparing your copycat Starbucks pink drink recipe? Good. That makes it all the easier to assemble and enjoy your pink drink as soon as possible.

Now it's time to brew the tea, which you'll do by setting your tea bags into a heat-resistant cup and filling the cup with the hot water. Then mix the tea bags around for 10 seconds before removing them from the mix and tossing the tea bags. Then you'll need to refrigerate the tea for about an hour, or until it's no longer hot.

After you've allowed the tea to chill, grab a pitcher, because it's time to start mixing up your copycat Starbucks pink drink. You're getting close!

Pour the tea, grape juice concentrate, and sweetened coconut milk into the pitcher and stir well to combine. Oh, and since we're getting to that point where it would be reasonable to sneak a taste — you know, just to make sure — know that Olayinka recommends always checking the nutrition info on your teabags before purchasing. "Some tea bags surprisingly have sugar," she says. "I look for sugar-free tea so that I can control sugar content." Of course, if you have any dietary needs, it's always a good idea to check the ingredients list first regardless.

Assuming you're following Olayinka's lead and using strawberries, as opposed to some other berry or other fruit entirely, now's the time to hull and slice your strawberries. Olayinka's preferred method for hulling strawberries is to slice through berry horizontally, just below the stem (as opposed to digging around or slicing on the diagonal). You can then simply toss the hull away. After hulling, slice the strawberries on the diagonal, as shown. 

Remember to always use a sharp knife when slicing fruit, or any other produce or ingredients for that matter. When it comes to slicing strawberries, a paring knife or small chef's knife will work well to get the job done.

Place the strawberry slices in the pitcher of pink drink. For further assurance that everything will be icy cold, feel free to briefly refrigerate the pitcher to get it closer to the drink's temperature. Stir everything gently to make sure that all the ingredients are well incorporated. Pour into glasses and serve immediately. 

Although Olayinka personally prefers enjoying this copycat Starbucks pink drink as a mocktail, you can also spike it with a little chilled rum or tequila — assuming it's five o'clock there, or somewhere. You can also top with a splash of one of many spiked seltzer brands for a spiky, fizzy kick. In any case, enjoy, and feel free to experiment next time with other teas, kinds of milk (oat milk, anyone?), and fruits.