Recipes

Starbucks Copycat Refresher

If you’re looking for a delicious fruity drink to quench your summer thirst?  If you want to avoid excess sugar, calories and a long drive-through line?  If you want to use ingredients in your own kitchen?  I want to show you my version of a copycat recipe for Starbucks Refreshers.

I hope this isn’t too misleading.  Because the fact is.  I’ve never actually had a Starbucks refresher.  A cup of the hottest coffee, yes.  But I never order sweet drinks while I’m out.  Unnown quantities of sugar make me nervous.

But they are beautiful and look delicious.  So I tried my hand at making some really low-sugar, low cal and dare I say it?  Almost healthy summer quenching drinks.

Strawberry Lemonade Refresher

The first drink I tried used strawberries, lemon slices, water and ice and a base of Pink Grapefruit Zipfizz.

Zipfizz markets itself:

“an all-natural, no sugar, low cal, low carb drink mix that’s packed with vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, and our signature boost of vitamin B-12 for good measure.”

On its own it might be a bit underwhelming.  But made into a refresher?  Oh, my, yes please!

Here’s what I did:

  • Muddle three or four sliced ripe strawberries in a shaker
  • Fill  the shaker with 16 ounces of water and ice
  • Shake well and add the Zipfizz
  • Shake lightly until the Zipfizz dissolves
  • Pour into a glass
  • Squeeze lemon slices into the glass and tuck down into the drink with the strawberries

Here is where you try not to drink it so fast you get a brain freeze.

Tangerine Grapefruit Refresher

The other additive I have on hand is Tangerine Liquid IV.  Liquid IV does come in sugar-free options; however, this one is NOT sugar free.  We purchased it as a recovery beverage for hiking and hot outdoor activities since it is high in electrolytes.

For this option, I used fresh grapefruit with the strawberries.  I garnished with a sprig of strawberry mint from my garden.

One big complaint about Liquid IV from a lot of people is that it’s very salty.  Since I’ve never met a grain of salt I didn’t love, that’s not a problem for me, but this refresher is slightly sweet and salty too.

All in all, the Zipfizz and lemon strawberry was a clear winner.

If you’re a fan of salty LMNT drink mix, I’ve heard it is excellent as a fruity refresher.  And it you check out their website, you’ll see that they claim the latest science shows the need for MORE salt.  Yahoo!

I just ordered a variety pack of LMNT and will report back.

Wrap Up

These drinks are so pretty with their shaken ice and muddled fruit.  I re-use my Starbucks water glasses for my overnight water so I poured my copycat refreshers in those glasses and felt very authentic.  For someone who copies, that is.

Do you have any knock-off recipes you like almost as much, or even more, than the original?  Care to share?

The strawberry lemonade popsicles I made here, are still a favorite and will be making a come back soon this summer.

If warm weather has already come to visit you and you need a cool down, consider one of these drinks!

Have a wonderful weekend.