Calling all Starbucks lovers! Get ready for the ultimate Strawberry Acai Refresher copycat recipe! Made with fresh strawberries and easy-to-find ingredients, this delicious drink is perfect for a hot summer day!
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I'm thrilled to finally share this recipe with you! I've spent over two months perfecting it, determined to recreate the delicious taste of Starbucks' Strawberry Acai Refresher - one of my favorite drinks! It took some trial and error, but I kept at it until I got it just right!
And let me tell you, this homemade version is fantastic! It tastes just as good, if not better, than the real thing.
I can't wait for you to try it out and see for yourself!
Not only is this recipe delicious, but it's also incredibly easy to make! The best part is all the ingredients can be easily found at your local grocery store.
I tried many variations of this recipe, some involving acai powder and passionfruit powder and even blending the ingredients. Unfortunately, none of them tasted quite right.
That's why I'm so excited to share this recipe with you - it's the perfect combination of flavors and textures and sure to be a hit on a hot day!
And the best part is that now that I have mastered this recipe, it was easy to come up with other Starbucks Refreshers, like their Strawberry Acai Lemonade Refresher and their super popular Pink Drink!
For more Starbucks copycat recipes, don't miss my Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso, Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew, and my super simple Iced Coffee Recipe.
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❤️ Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Enjoy your favorite Starbucks drink at home: If you are a fan of Starbucks, this recipe allows you to make your favorite Starbucks drink in the comfort of your own home. No need to leave the house for a strawberry refresher!
- Easy to make: This straightforward recipe is easy to follow. You don't need any complicated tools or equipment to make it; it only takes a few minutes to prepare.
- Cost-effective: Making this copycat strawberry acai drink at home is much cheaper than buying one from your local Starbucks. This saves you time and money from going to Starbucks to get your favorite drink.
- Refreshing: The combination of fresh fruit and acai berry tea creates a refreshing taste that's perfect for hot summer days when you need a refreshing drink to cool you down!
- Healthier Alternative: The Starbucks homemade strawberry acai refresher recipe is healthier than the original. It does not contain any additives or preservatives and has natural flavors.
- Customizable: You can customize the recipe to your liking by adjusting the sweetness. You can choose to add a sweetener if you want a sweeter drink, or decide not to add any sweetener - it's up to you!
🍓 Ingredient Notes + Substitutions
To make this delicious recipe, you only need a few simple ingredients that you can easily find at your local grocery store.
- Strawberries: Strawberries are used to make the base of this drink. They provide natural sweetness and a delicious flavor. I used fresh strawberries, but you could also use frozen strawberries instead.
- Sugar: Sugar is added to the strawberry base to help bring out the sweetness of the fruit. You can use regular granulated sugar or any other natural sweetener of your choice, like honey or agave syrup. If you're looking for a sugar-free alternative, you can use stevia or monk fruit sweetener.
- Lemon juice: Lemon juice is added to the strawberry base to provide a tartness that balances out the sweetness of the strawberries. It also adds a refreshing citrus flavor. If you don't have lemon juice on hand, you can use lime juice or citric acid instead.
- Acai berry tea: Acai berry tea is the key ingredient that gives this drink its unique flavor. I used Stash Acai Berry Tea, which had the perfect flavor. I tried making this drink with acai berry powder, but it made the drink dark purple, and it was kind of grainy as it didn't dissolve well. I also tried using Tazo Passion Tea, but the flavor wasn't quite right either.
- Filtered water: Filtered water is used to dilute the strawberry base and make the acai berry tea.
- Ice: Ice is added to the drink to make it cold and refreshing. You can use regular ice cubes, crushed ice, or use frozen strawberries.
- Freeze-dried strawberries: Add freeze-dried strawberries to the drink for an extra burst of strawberry flavor. If freeze-dried strawberries are not available, you can use chopped fresh or frozen strawberries instead. Starbucks uses freeze-dried to top off their drink, so I wanted it to be as similar as possible. I bought a huge bag of strawberries from Amazon, so I will be using them for a long time. They are great to add to desserts and smoothies as well. Or just eat them straight out of the bag. 🙂
- Green coffee bean powder: Green coffee bean powder adds a subtle caffeine boost to the strawberry acai refresher and is an optional ingredient. If you prefer a caffeine-free drink, you can simply omit it.
See the printable recipe card for exact measurements and a full list of ingredients.
🥣 How To Make A Copycat Starbucks Strawberry Acai Refresher
This recipe makes 2 Grande-size refreshers (473 mL) or about one Trenta-size refresher (887 mL).
First, you need to make strawberry puree for the base of the drink. Wash 2 cups of strawberries thoroughly under running water. Remove the stems and cut them in half or quarters. It doesn't really matter as you are going to mash them as they cook.
Next, combine strawberries, 2 tablespoons of sugar, 2 tablespoons of water, and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice in a medium saucepan. Heat over medium heat until the mixture starts to bubble, stirring occasionally. Turn down the heat to low and let the mixture simmer for 10 minutes. Use a potato masher to break up the strawberries as they cook.
While the strawberries are cooking, brew the acai berry tea. Place ½ cup of boiling water in a mug and add 2 acai berry tea bags. Let it brew for 5 minutes, then remove the tea bags. Squeeze the tea bags with your fingers to get all of the liquid out of the tea bag. Let the tea cool down to room temperature.
Next, strain the cooked strawberry mixture through a fine mesh strainer to remove any seeds or pulp. Use the back of a wooden spoon to push down the strawberries so you get all of the delicious flavors. Transfer the mixture to a jar with a lid and place it in the fridge to cool. Store the strawberry acai refresher base in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
To assemble your strawberry acai refresher, pour ½ cup of the strawberry base into a tall glass and ¼ cup of cooled acai tea. If you want a caffeine boost, you can also add a half teaspoon of Green Coffee Extract Powder - this is what Starbucks uses in all of their refreshers.
Next, add ½ cup of filtered water. Stir well to combine.
Place 1 cup of ice cubes in the glass and top with freeze-dried strawberries.
Taste the drink and add additional sweetener if necessary. You can use agave syrup, honey, or simple syrup. If your strawberries are sweet, you won't need any sweetener.
And that's it! Serve immediately!
Enjoy!
💭 Expert Tips
- Use fresh, ripe strawberries for the best flavor. If fresh strawberries are not available, use frozen strawberries instead.
- Strain the strawberry mixture through a fine mesh sieve to remove any seeds or pulp. This will create a smooth and clear drink. Store the strawberry base in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
- Brew the acai berry tea and let it cool down to room temperature before adding it to the mixture.
- Adjust the sweetness to your liking by adding more sweetener if desired.
- Use filtered water to get the best taste. If filtered water is not available, use cold tap water instead.
- Use freeze-dried strawberries as a topping to add extra flavor to the drink.
- For a creamier version of this drink, add a splash of coconut milk to make Starbucks Pink Drink.
- Make a Starbucks Acai Lemonade Refresher by using ½ cup of prepared lemonade instead of ½ cup of water.
- Use a clear glass or a large mason jar to showcase the beautiful, vibrant color of the drink.
❓ Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can make this drink ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator until you're ready to serve it. However, it's best to add the ice and freeze-dried strawberries right before serving.
The Strawberry Acai Base can be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Make sure to give it a good stir before using, as it may settle.
No, the green coffee extract is optional. It doesn't add any flavor to the drink. Just omit it if you want a caffeine-free version.
Absolutely! You can double or triple the recipe to make a larger batch.
Yes, if you prefer a fizzy Strawberry Acai Refresher, you can replace the water with sparkling water.
Absolutely! You can get creative and add a slice of lemon or top it with vanilla sweet cream cold foam or even a dollop of whipped cream for extra indulgence.
🥤 More Delicious Starbucks Drinks
If you like this post on how to make a Strawberry Acai Refresher (Starbucks Copycat), please take a moment to rate the recipe 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 and leave a comment below with your thoughts!
📋 Recipe
How To Make Strawberry Acai Refresher (Starbucks Copycat)
Ingredients
Strawberry Acai Base
- 2 cups fresh strawberries washed and stems removed.
- 2 tablespoons water
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Acai Berry Tea
- 2 acai berry tea bags
- ½ cup filtered water
To Assemble the Strawberry Acai Refresher
- 1 cup strawberry acai base
- ½ cup brewed acai berry tea
- 1 cup filtered water
- 2 cups ice cubes
- 2 tablespoons freeze-dried strawberries for garnish optional
- 1 teaspoon green coffee powder optional
- agave nectar, honey, or simple syrup to sweeten to taste optional
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine 2 cups of strawberries, 2 tablespoons of water, 2 tablespoons of sugar, and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Heat the mixture over medium heat until it bubbles, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat to low and let the mixture simmer for 10 minutes, using a potato masher to break up the strawberries.
- While the strawberries are cooking, brew the acai berry tea by placing ½ cup of boiling water in a mug and adding 2 acai berry tea bags. Let them steep for 5 minutes, then remove the tea bags. Use your fingers to squeeze all of the liquid out of the tea bags before discarding. Let the tea cool down.
- Strain the cooked strawberry mixture through a fine mesh strainer to remove any seeds or pulp. Use the back of a wooden spoon to get as much liquid out as possible. Transfer the mixture to a jar and refrigerate until cool.
- To assemble the drink, pour ½ cup of the strawberry base into each glass as well as ¼ cup of cooled acai tea and ½ cup of filtered water. Stir well to combine. Add ½ teaspoon of green coffee powder to each glass if you want a caffeine boost.
- Place 1 cup of ice cubes in each glass and top with freeze-dried strawberries.
- Taste the drink and add additional sweetener if desired.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- Use fresh, ripe strawberries for the best flavor. If fresh strawberries are not available, use frozen strawberries instead.
- Strain the strawberry mixture through a fine mesh sieve to remove any seeds or pulp. This will create a smooth and clear drink. The strawberry base can be refrigerated for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
- Brew the acai berry tea and let it cool down to room temperature before adding it to the mixture.
- Adjust the sweetness to your liking by adding more sweetener if desired.
- Use filtered water to get the best taste. If filtered water is not available, use cold tap water instead.
- Use freeze-dried strawberries as a topping to add extra flavor to the drink.
- For a creamier version of this drink, add a splash of coconut milk to make Starbucks Pink Drink.
- Make a Starbucks Acai Lemonade Refresher by using ½ cup of prepared lemonade instead of ½ cup of water.
- Use a clear glass or a large mason jar to showcase the beautiful, vibrant color of the drink.
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