I Made The Viral Pink Drink Because I Spend Way Too Much At Starbucks

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Like every other millennial who thought frappuccinos were the epitome of sophistication throughout high school, I spend *way* too much money at Starbucks—to the point where for nearly every special occasion, my friends and family get me a Starbucks gift card. They know that caffeine is truly the way to my heart. But, throughout the years I’ve always left $0.38 on each one. So, I end up with 15 nearly-empty gift cards cumulatively with like $5 total—that still isn’t enough to get a grande.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind shelling out $7 for 3 tablespoons of sugar with a side of oat milk every once in a while, but every day? I don’t think so. I’m also not the kind of girlie who’s going to invest precious morning time (and money) on a fancy espresso machine to make my lattes at home. I’m sorry, but I’m already being told by TikTok I should have a ten step morning routine, there’s no way in hell I can add, “become a barista” to that list.

So when an at-home version of my beloved Pink Drink came across my FYP, I, at first, shrugged it off. But, because TikTok has an amazing way of keeping me glued to my phone, I ended up going down a rabbit hole on how to make the PERFECT one. And let me tell you, it’s a lot better than you might think. This TikTok discovery, coupled with the fact that I had run out of my sacred Starbucks gifts cards made me finally decide to test my barista skills at home.

The recipe itself is incredibly easy, which TBH is the only reason I tried it. Move over overpriced iced coffee—I think I found my new fave drink.

Ingredients:

1/2 packet of Crystal Light Wild Strawberry With Caffeine (*important*)
1/2 packet of Starburst All Pink Strawberry Drink Mix
1 cup water
1 cup Almond Breeze Almond Coconut Blend
A handful of Natierra Nature’s Organic Freeze-Dried Strawberries

Step 1:

You start with those Crystal Light drink packets you used to mix in a water bottle during home room in high school (that I still use now, but the caffeinated ones because, well, it’s necessary to function).

Shop it: Crystal Light Wild Strawberry 30 Packets, $12.00, Amazon

Step 2:

Then add half a Starburst on-the-go drink packet. I’d like to note that this drink is called “All-Pink,” and I only ever ate the pink Starbursts growing up. So in my mind, although probably full of sugar, this drink is elite.

Shop it: Starburst Singles To Go Powdered Drink Mix in All Pink Strawberry, $8.51, Amazon

Step 3:

From there, I added it to a cocktail shaker (because I’d love to believe I’m having a cocktail with breakfast every day) along with 1 cup of water and 1 cup of a coconut and almond milk blend.

Shop it: FEOOWV Plastic Cocktail Shaker, $9.99, Amazon

Shop it: Almond Breeze Dairy Free Almondmilk Coconutmilk Blend, $3.99, Amazon

Step 4:

Shake it up and pour it over a glass of ice. And because it wouldn’t be a proper Starbucks dupe without the freeze-dried strawberries, I added a handful of those into the glass. Warning: No one tells you just how addictive they are. They remind me of a sour version of Lucky Charms marshmallows and, if given the opportunity, I would eat the entire bag in one sitting.

Shop it: Natierra Nature’s Organic Freeze-Dried Strawberries, $14.24, Amazon

Step 5:

Finally, and I know there’s going to be debate around this, I add a straw. Not a plastic straw. Not a paper straw. A pasta straw. I discovered these (again) on TikTok and even though I’m not Italian, I’d try anything with pasta involved. They don’t go limp like a traditional paper straw does and they’re 100% biodegradable and break down easily. (Kind of like me after my performance review.)