Let’s be honest, that daily trip to the coffee shop can be a bright spot in the day. But it can also add up. What if you could bring that little bit of joy right into your own kitchen? It’s totally possible, and it’s a lot of fun. You get to play barista and create something delicious just for you.
Today, we are diving into one of the most popular Starbucks drinks to try making at home: the beautiful Pink Drink. But we are adding a special touch with a creamy cold foam topping. It’s simple, refreshing, and the perfect way to start your journey into homemade cafe creations.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
First off, this drink is incredibly easy to make. You do not need any fancy equipment or professional skills. If you have a blender, you are pretty much ready to go. It’s a wonderful recipe for anyone just starting to experiment with making drinks at home.
You will also love the control you have over the ingredients. You can make it as sweet or as light as you want. You can use your favorite type of milk or swap out the fruit. This flexibility is what makes homemade drinks so special. It’s a great way to explore what you like before ordering something new.
It’s also a real money saver. Making your own cold Starbucks drinks means you get to enjoy a tasty treat without the daily expense. You can make a big batch for what one cup would cost you. That is a pretty sweet deal if you ask me.
And let’s not forget how pretty it is. The vibrant pink color topped with a cloud of white or chocolate foam is just gorgeous. It’s the kind of drink that makes you smile before you even take a sip. It looks just as good as it tastes, which is always a bonus.
Ingredients
Gathering your ingredients is the first step to creating this beautiful drink. Everything here is easy to find at your local grocery store. Nothing too exotic or complicated, I promise. Let’s look at what you will need.
For The Pink Drink
- 1 cup strawberries (fresh or frozen)
- 1 cup milk (coconut milk is a great choice)
- ¼ cup green grapes (or white grape juice)
- ½ cup ice
For The Sweet Vanilla Cold Foam
- ½ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
For The Chocolate Cold Foam
- ½ cup milk
- 1 tablespoon cocoa, unsweetened
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla
For Garnish
- ¼ cup strawberries (fresh and sliced)
Step-By-Step Instructions
Alright, let’s get to the fun part. Making this drink is a breeze. Just follow these simple steps, and you will have a delicious homemade treat in no time. I will walk you through everything, so do not worry.
Step 1: Prepare Your Ingredients
First things first, let’s get everything ready. Wash your fresh strawberries well. If you are using organic strawberries, you can even leave the green tops on for extra nutrients. They will blend right in. If you are using frozen strawberries, you can just pull them out of the freezer.
Measure out your milk, grapes or juice, and have your ice handy. Having everything prepped makes the whole process feel so much smoother. It’s a little trick that makes cooking feel less like a chore and more like a fun project.
Step 2: Get Your Glass Ready
Now, grab your favorite tall glass. This drink is all about the visuals, so a clear glass is a great choice. Fill it about halfway with crushed ice or ice pellets. The smaller ice makes the drink feel extra refreshing and looks really professional.
Step 3: Blend The Pink Drink
Time to bring out the blender. Add your strawberries, one cup of milk, and the green grapes or grape juice to the blender. The grapes add a subtle sweetness and flavor that really complements the strawberries. This is a neat trick used in many Starbucks secret menu drinks.
Secure the lid and blend everything for about 30 seconds. You want it to be completely smooth, with no chunks of fruit left. The color should be a beautiful, vibrant pink. Isn’t that just a happy color?
Step 4: Pour And Admire
Carefully pour your blended pink drink mixture over the ice in your prepared glass. Don’t fill it all the way to the top. You need to leave some room for that glorious cold foam we are about to make. Take a moment to appreciate how amazing it looks.
Step 5: Make The Sweet Vanilla Cold Foam
Now for the topping. If you are going with the vanilla foam, combine a half cup of milk, the maple syrup, and vanilla extract in a separate cup. Using a handheld milk frother is the easiest way to get that perfect foamy texture. Just submerge the frother and turn it on.
Foam it up until it’s light and airy and has about doubled in volume. If you don’t have a frother, you can add the ingredients to a small jar with a tight lid and shake it vigorously. It’s a great little workout. A quick pulse in a blender also works.
Step 6: Or Make The Chocolate Cold Foam
Feeling a bit more decadent? Let’s make the chocolate version. Combine the half cup of milk, unsweetened cocoa, maple syrup, and vanilla in a cup. Just like with the vanilla foam, use your hand frother to whip it into a light, chocolatey cloud. Making your own foam is one of the best ways to customize new Starbucks drinks to try.
Step 7: Top And Garnish
Once your foam is ready, gently spoon or pour it over the top of your pink drink. It should float nicely on top, creating a lovely layered effect. For the final touch, add a few fresh strawberry slices as a garnish. It makes the drink feel extra special.
How To Store Leftovers
Honestly, this drink is at its absolute best when it is made fresh. The texture of the foam and the chill of the drink are perfect right away. However, if you do happen to have some left over, you can store it. It just requires a little care to keep it nice.
The best way to store leftovers is to keep the components separate. If you have extra pink drink base, pour it into an airtight container and keep it in the fridge. Do the same for any leftover cold foam. When you are ready for another glass, just give the base a good stir, pour it over ice, and top with the foam.
It will stay good in the fridge for about a day. After that, the texture and flavor might start to change a bit. So, it is best to enjoy it as soon as you can. But it’s so tasty, I doubt you will have trouble with that.
Tips
Want to make this recipe even better? Here are a few handy tips. You can play around with different types of milk. While coconut milk gives it an authentic flavor, almond milk or oat milk would also be delicious. For the foam, a milk with a higher fat content, like whole milk or some barista blend oat milks, will give you a creamier result.
Feel free to adjust the sweetness to your liking. Maple syrup adds a lovely flavor, but you could also use agave, a simple syrup, or a sugar free sweetener if you prefer. This is your drink, so make it just right for you. It’s a fun part of finding new Starbucks drinks to try at home.
Don’t have a hand frother? No problem. A French press works surprisingly well for making foam. Just pump the plunger up and down quickly until the milk becomes frothy. This is a great hack for coffee lovers who already have one.
Get creative with your fruit. While strawberries are classic for a Pink Drink, you could try this with raspberries or a mix of berries for a different flavor. Thinking outside the box is how many popular Starbucks secret menu drinks were born. You could also toss in some other cold Starbucks drinks ingredients you love.
Conclusion
There you have it. A simple, delicious, and beautiful homemade Pink Drink with a creamy cold foam topping. It’s a fantastic recipe to have on hand for a sunny afternoon or anytime you need a little pick me up. It’s proof that you don’t need to be a professional barista to make amazing drinks at home.
I hope this inspires you to get creative in your kitchen. This is just one of many Starbucks drinks to try making yourself. Once you see how easy it is, you might find yourself experimenting with all sorts of new combinations. Maybe you’ll even create your own signature drink. Happy sipping!
FAQ
Can I Make This Drink Ahead Of Time?
This drink is best served immediately for the best texture and flavor. If you need to prepare it in advance, it is best to blend the pink drink base and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Make the cold foam right before you are ready to serve.
What Is The Best Milk For Cold Foam?
For the creamiest and most stable cold foam, 2% dairy milk or whole milk works very well due to the protein and fat content. For a non dairy option, barista style oat milk or coconut milk from a carton are excellent choices as they are designed to froth well.
Is This Recipe Kid Friendly?
Absolutely. This recipe is completely caffeine free and is made with simple fruit and milk ingredients. It’s like a healthier milkshake. Kids will love the fun pink color and the sweet, fruity flavor, making it a great treat for the whole family to enjoy.
How Can I Make This Taste More Like The Original Starbucks Pink Drink?
To get the flavor as close to the original as possible, make sure to use coconut milk as your milk base. Also, using white grape juice instead of whole green grapes will give you that specific sweet and tangy flavor profile found in the coffee shop version.
Homemade Pink Drink with Cold Foam
A simple, refreshing, and beautiful homemade Pink Drink, topped with your choice of sweet vanilla or rich chocolate cold foam. Enjoy this cafe-style treat without leaving your kitchen!
Requirements
Ingredients
For The Pink Drink
For The Sweet Vanilla Cold Foam
For The Chocolate Cold Foam
For Garnish
Instructions
- First things first, let’s get everything ready. Wash your fresh strawberries well. If you are using organic strawberries, you can even leave the green tops on for extra nutrients. They will blend right in. If you are using frozen strawberries, you can just pull them out of the freezer. Measure out your milk, grapes or juice, and have your ice handy. Having everything prepped makes the whole process feel so much smoother. It’s a little trick that makes cooking feel less like a chore and more like a fun project.
- Now, grab your favorite tall glass. This drink is all about the visuals, so a clear glass is a great choice. Fill it about halfway with crushed ice or ice pellets. The smaller ice makes the drink feel extra refreshing and looks really professional.
- Time to bring out the blender. Add your strawberries, one cup of milk, and the green grapes or grape juice to the blender. The grapes add a subtle sweetness and flavor that really complements the strawberries. This is a neat trick used in many Starbucks secret menu drinks. Secure the lid and blend everything for about 30 seconds. You want it to be completely smooth, with no chunks of fruit left. The color should be a beautiful, vibrant pink. Isn’t that just a happy color?
- Carefully pour your blended pink drink mixture over the ice in your prepared glass. Don’t fill it all the way to the top. You need to leave some room for that glorious cold foam we are about to make. Take a moment to appreciate how amazing it looks.
- Now for the topping. If you are going with the vanilla foam, combine a half cup of milk, the maple syrup, and vanilla extract in a separate cup. Using a handheld milk frother is the easiest way to get that perfect foamy texture. Just submerge the frother and turn it on. Foam it up until it’s light and airy and has about doubled in volume. If you don’t have a frother, you can add the ingredients to a small jar with a tight lid and shake it vigorously. It’s a great little workout. A quick pulse in a blender also works.
- Feeling a bit more decadent? Let’s make the chocolate version. Combine the half cup of milk, unsweetened cocoa, maple syrup, and vanilla in a cup. Just like with the vanilla foam, use your hand frother to whip it into a light, chocolatey cloud. Making your own foam is one of the best ways to customize new Starbucks drinks to try.
- Once your foam is ready, gently spoon or pour it over the top of your pink drink. It should float nicely on top, creating a lovely layered effect. For the final touch, add a few fresh strawberry slices as a garnish. It makes the drink feel extra special.
Step 1: Prepare Your Ingredients
Step 2: Get Your Glass Ready
Step 3: Blend The Pink Drink
Step 4: Pour And Admire
Step 5: Make The Sweet Vanilla Cold Foam
Step 6: Or Make The Chocolate Cold Foam
Step 7: Top And Garnish
Notes
Honestly, this drink is at its absolute best when it is made fresh. The texture of the foam and the chill of the drink are perfect right away. However, if you do happen to have some left over, you can store it. It just requires a little care to keep it nice.
The best way to store leftovers is to keep the components separate. If you have extra pink drink base, pour it into an airtight container and keep it in the fridge. Do the same for any leftover cold foam. When you are ready for another glass, just give the base a good stir, pour it over ice, and top with the foam.
It will stay good in the fridge for about a day. After that, the texture and flavor might start to change a bit. So, it is best to enjoy it as soon as you can. But it’s so tasty, I doubt you will have trouble with that.
Want to make this recipe even better? Here are a few handy tips. You can play around with different types of milk. While coconut milk gives it an authentic flavor, almond milk or oat milk would also be delicious. For the foam, a milk with a higher fat content, like whole milk or some barista blend oat milks, will give you a creamier result.
Feel free to adjust the sweetness to your liking. Maple syrup adds a lovely flavor, but you could also use agave, a simple syrup, or a sugar free sweetener if you prefer. This is your drink, so make it just right for you. It’s a fun part of finding new Starbucks drinks to try at home.
Don’t have a hand frother? No problem. A French press works surprisingly well for making foam. Just pump the plunger up and down quickly until the milk becomes frothy. This is a great hack for coffee lovers who already have one.
Get creative with your fruit. While strawberries are classic for a Pink Drink, you could try this with raspberries or a mix of berries for a different flavor. Thinking outside the box is how many popular Starbucks secret menu drinks were born. You could also toss in some other cold Starbucks drinks ingredients you love.
Nutrition
Calories
Sugar
Fat
Carbs
