Strawberry Acai Refresher Recipe – Better Than Starbucks!

By Juliea Huffaker on June 15, 2023, Updated December 30, 2024

There isn’t much that is more refreshing on a hot summer day than a cold strawberry acai refresher on ice in your hand! This homemade pink drink provides a customizable beverage option, allowing for caffeine or caffeine-free versions!

This is a delicious homemade recipe for the pink drink that rivals Starbucks, with optional ingredients to customize it to your preference! Enjoy this refreshing and delicious drink, perfect for a warm day or a flavorful treat at home.

If you adore Strawberry Acai Refresher, you have to homemade version a try! Once you create the foundation strawberry acai base, you can use it in a variety of other delightful drinks.

WHY YOU’LL ADORE THIS RECIPE

If you’re a fan of Starbucks’ Strawberry Acai Refreshers, this homemade recipe is perfect for you! You’ll be able to effortlessly prepare your own refreshers at home with just a few simple ingredients.

It’s a simple recipe, and once you prep your base, you can store it in your refrigerator and quickly whip up a Refresher whenever you have a craving!

What’s in Starbucks Strawberry Acai Refresher?

According to Starbucks, Strawberry Acai Refreshers feature “sweet strawberry flavors accented by passion fruit and açaí notes, caffeinated with green coffee extract—a welcoming sweet spot of refreshment.”

The recipe ingredients include a strawberry acai base, ice, and freeze-dried strawberries.

The strawberry acai base consists of water, sugar, white grape juice concentrate, citric acid, natural flavors, natural green coffee flavor, fruit and vegetable juice, and Stevia.

Do Starbucks Refreshers Contain Caffeine?

Absolutely! Some people assume that because Refreshers are juice-based, they are caffeine-free. However, Refreshers actually contain a significant amount of caffeine, approximately 45 milligrams in a grande size, due to the inclusion of green coffee extract.

The green coffee extract doesn’t contribute any flavor to the drink. Therefore, if you’re making it at home and prefer a caffeine-free version, just omit the green coffee extract! I’m using MaryRuth’s Ginseng Extract instead!

Homemade Strawberry Acai Refresher Recipe – 4 servings.

This is not a Starbucks copycat recipe… It’s even better!

How to Make Strawberry Acai Base

Creating the base is a pretty easy… And, once you’ve made it, you can store it in the refrigerator and make a Refresher whenever you crave it!

First, combine white grape juice and hulled strawberries in a medium saucepan and them bring it to a boil.

Then, Reduce the heat to a low simmer and let the mixture cook for 10 minutes, or until the strawberries break down.

Next, remove your saucepan from heat and carefully strain the hot strawberry and juice mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a large heatproof bowl.

*Tip – Use a large spoon to press down on those cooked strawberries to get as much juice out as possible! (You can discard the cooked strawberries or use them for something else.)

Next, Pour your strawberry juice syrup back into the saucepan and simmer over low heat.

Then use a whisk to stir in the powdered ingredients till dissolved: acai powder, and passion fruit powder.

Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice.

Transfer the mixture to a heatproof bowl or a large mason jar and refrigerate until completely cooled.

Now your base is ready to be transformed into a Strawberry Acai Refresher!

Simple Ingredients

½ cup Strawberry Acai Base
½ cup water Ice
1/4 cup Freeze-dried strawberries or Fresh Strawberries
1/2 Strawberry Acai Base
2 ¼ cups white grape juice
1 cup hulled and sliced strawberries
½ tsp acai powder
10-30 drops of MaryRuth’s Ginseng Extract Drops
¼ tsp passionfruit powder
1 tsp lemon juice

How to make Strawberry Acai Refresher

Add ½ cup of the Strawberry Acai Base and ½ cup of water to an ice-filled shaker.
Shake it well to combine.
Add 10 – 30 drops of MaryRuth’s Ginseng Extract to your drink for energy!
Pour the mixture into an ice-filled glass along with some fresh or freeze-dried strawberries.
If I want more sweetness, I add more of the base. (On the other hand, if I want less sweetness, I use less of the base.)

Strawberry Acai Base Recipe

start by combining 2 ¼ cups of white grape juice and 1 cup of hulled and sliced strawberries in a medium saucepan.
Bring them to a boil.
After that, I lower the heat and let the mixture simmer for about 10 minutes until the strawberries start to break down.
Once it’s done simmering, I remove the saucepan from the heat and strain the hot mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a heatproof bowl.
Then, Using a wooden spoon, press down on the strawberries and extract as much liquid as possible.
Next, I pour the strained liquid mixture back into the saucepan and return it to low heat.
Stir into the simmering juice: ½ tsp of acai powder, ½ tsp of green coffee extract powder or MaryRuth’s Ginsing Extract, and ¼ tsp of passionfruit powder.
Mix ingredients until the powders have dissolved as much as possible. *The acai powder may not fully dissolve, leaving behind little granules, they add to the drink and it’s normal.)
Then, remove the juice mixture from heat, and stir in 1 tsp of lemon juice!
After that, transfer the strawberry juice mixture into a large mason jar and place it in the fridge to cool completely.
Once the Strawberry Acai Base is completely cooled, We can use it to make delicious Strawberry Acai Refreshers anytime!

Green Coffee Bean Powder vs. MaryRuth’s Ginseng Extract

Green coffee bean powder and MaryRuth’s Ginseng Extract offer unique flavors and customizable options to personalize your drink.
Ingredient Overview: Green coffee bean powder is made from unroasted coffee beans, retaining certain compounds unique to its processing method. MaryRuth’s Ginseng Extract is another ingredient that has been traditionally valued in recipes for its distinct flavor and versatility. Both options can add variety and character to your homemade refreshments.

Starbucks Refreshers do contain caffeine.

The caffeine content in Starbucks Refreshers can vary depending on the specific product and size. In general, Starbucks Refreshers typically contain a moderate amount of caffeine, lower than that found in a cup of coffee but higher than caffeine-free beverages. The caffeine in Starbucks Refreshers typically comes from natural sources such as green coffee bean extract. If you are sensitive to caffeine or prefer to avoid it, you can inquire about the caffeine content of specific Starbucks Refreshers options or consider ordering a caffeine-free alternative.

By choosing Mary Ruth’s Ginseng Extract, you can create a caffeine-free drink with a natural energy boost while enjoying their commitment to organic ingredients and sustainability for a more conscious lifestyle.

Nutritional Information (per serving, based on 4 servings)

Calories: Approximately 50-100 calories
Total Fat: Negligible amount
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Sodium: 0-10 mg
Total Carbohydrates: Approximately 10-15 grams
Fiber: 1-2 grams
Sugars: Approximately 8-12 grams
Protein: Negligible amount
Please keep in mind that the nutritional values may vary depending on the specific brands, substitutions, or modifications made to the recipe. It’s always best to consult the packaging of the individual ingredients or use a reliable nutritional calculator for more accurate results.

Recipe Variations

There are several modifications you can make to this drink if you don’t have all the ingredients or if you want to customize it, including:

Exclude the powdered passion fruit and acai! If you don’t have acai powder or passion fruit powder, the Refresher will still taste delicious.
Use fresh strawberries instead of freeze dried strawberries in your cup!
You can add 1/4 cup of sugar to the white grape juice and strawberry mixture before boiling it in the base for a thicker simple syrup base that is sweeter.
If you’ve already made the base want to make it sweeter, add a little agave or honey.
Mint Leaves: Enhance the overall freshness by adding a few mint leaves!
Coconut Water: Replace a portion of the cold water with coconut water for a tropical twist. Coconut water also introduces a subtle sweetness and tropical flavor to the drink.