Homemade Starbucks Pink Drink with Coconut Milk

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Creamy, fruit-forward, and refreshing—just like the café favorite, made at home.
• No-cook base comes together in minutes with accessible grocery-store ingredients.
• Customizable sweetness and optional caffeine so everyone gets their perfect sip.
• Visually stunning pink swirls over pebble ice—weekend treat or party-ready pitcher.

Grocery List

• Produce: Fresh strawberries, lemon (if not using citric acid)
• Dairy: Refrigerated non-dairy coconut milk beverage (carton, not canned)
• Pantry: White grape juice, strawberry puree or strawberry syrup, açaí powder, simple syrup, citric acid (optional), green coffee bean extract (optional), pebble/nugget ice (store-bought bag or home ice-maker)

Full Ingredients

Strawberry Açaí-Style Refresher Base (makes 1 cup)

• 1/2 cup (120 ml) white grape juice, well chilled
• 1/2 cup (120 ml) cold filtered water
• 2 tablespoons (30 ml) strawberry puree or 1 1/2 tablespoons (22 ml) strawberry syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon açaí powder (unsweetened)
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice or 1/8 teaspoon citric acid
• 2 teaspoons simple syrup, or to taste (optional)
• Optional: 1/8 teaspoon liquid green coffee bean extract (or per label for ~25–45 mg caffeine per serving)

To Assemble 2 Pink Drinks

• 2 cups (280 g) pebble/nugget ice
• 1 1/2 cups (360 ml) refrigerated coconut milk beverage (unsweetened or original; not canned)
• 1/2 cup (75 g) fresh strawberries, thinly sliced
• Extra simple syrup to taste (optional)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Make the strawberry açaí base

In a large measuring cup, whisk together the white grape juice, cold water, strawberry puree or syrup, açaí powder, lemon juice or citric acid, and optional green coffee extract until the açaí and puree are fully dissolved and the mixture is smooth. Taste and add simple syrup in 1/2 teaspoon increments until it hits your preferred sweetness. Keep the base cold—use ingredients straight from the fridge for best flavor and color.

Step 2: Slice the strawberries

Hull and thinly slice the fresh strawberries. Aim for 1/8-inch slices so they float nicely and infuse quickly without sinking. Keep them chilled while you prep the glasses.

Step 3: Ice the glasses

Fill two 12–16 oz glasses each with about 1 cup of pebble or nugget ice. Pebble ice gives the drink its signature frosty, frothy sips and keeps the coconut milk swirl intact.

Step 4: Add base and fruit

Pour 1/2 cup of the strawberry açaí base into each glass. Add half of the sliced strawberries to each. Give a quick stir to distribute the fruit and start the infusion.

Step 5: Pour in the coconut milk for the pink swirl

Slowly pour 3/4 cup coconut milk beverage into each glass over the back of a spoon to create a soft, marbled pink swirl. The coconut milk should be very cold; if separation occurred in the carton, shake well before pouring for a creamy, uniform look.

Step 6: Sweeten, stir, and serve

Taste. If you’d like it sweeter, add a touch more simple syrup. Give a gentle stir to marry the flavors while keeping the color gradient. Garnish with an extra strawberry slice if you like. Serve immediately while icy-cold.

Pro Tips

• Use refrigerated coconut milk beverage (carton) rather than canned coconut milk for the classic light, sippable texture.
• Balance is key: a squeeze more lemon or a pinch of citric acid brightens if the drink tastes flat; a teaspoon of simple syrup smooths sharp edges.
• No pebble ice? Pulse standard cubes in a blender or bash in a zip-top bag with a rolling pin.
• For deeper berry flavor, add 1 teaspoon crushed freeze-dried strawberry powder to the base.
• Party pitcher: combine 2 cups base with 3 cups coconut milk and 1 cup sliced strawberries; pour over ice just before serving.

Variations

• Low-Sugar Pink Drink: Use unsweetened coconut milk, choose strawberry syrup sweetened with allulose or monkfruit, and skip added simple syrup.
• Sparkling Pink Refresher: Top each glass with 2–3 oz chilled sparkling water before adding coconut milk for light bubbles.
• Extra-Berry: Muddle 2–3 strawberry slices in each glass before adding ice for a more pronounced strawberry hit.

Storage & Make-Ahead

Mix the strawberry açaí base up to 5 days in advance and refrigerate in a sealed jar. Shake before using, as the açaí may settle. Slice strawberries the day you serve for best texture. Do not combine the base with coconut milk until just before serving—acidity can thin the coconut milk over time and the drink will lose its signature swirl.

Nutrition (per serving)

Approx. 110 calories; 3 g fat (2 g saturated); 21 g carbs; 17 g sugars; 1 g fiber; 1 g protein; 40 mg sodium. Caffeine: ~0 mg without extract; ~25–45 mg if adding green coffee bean extract (varies by product).