Strawberry Frappuccino (Our Copycat Recipe Is Better Than Yours)
Do you love strawberries? Milk? Vanilla? Ice cream? It’s time to mix it all up in a delicious Starbucks strawberry frappuccino! If you’ve come here for a strawberry creme frappuccino review, you’ve come to the wrong place. Why? Because this is our own take on this Starbucks’ classic recipe. After trying it out, we’ll finally reveal the secret of this delicious frappuccino (spoiler alert: it’s the syrup). You are guaranteed yummy results with our top-secret recipe.
Starbucks strawberry drink has no coffee or caffeine so you can share it with your kids too. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to make Starbucks strawberry frappuccino, including our tips and tricks for the best results.
What You Need
- 1 cup ice
- 1 cup water
- 1 1/2 cups strawberries
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup vanilla ice cream
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla syrup
- whipped cream (optional)
AT A GLANCE:
Prep Time:
10 minutes
yeild:
16 oz drink (Starbucks grande size)
How to Make a Starbucks Strawberry Frappuccino
There are several ways to make a simple frappuccino, but today we’ll discover the strawberry frappuccino Starbucks recipe. So, what does Starbucks put in its strawberry frappuccino? Here are the answers:
- Frappuccino base
- Milk
- Ice
- Strawberry syrup
- Whipped cream
As most other frappuccinos available at Starbucks, this is a highly customizable drink. It’s also a good one to make if you want to mimic Starbucks drinks for kids. You can use different kinds of milk and ice cream and make it extra indulgent with whipped cream.
Ready?
Step 1: Starbucks strawberry puree recipe
Preparing the puree sauce is the first step to making a strawberry creme frappuccino Starbucks drink. Here is how to make Starbucks strawberry puree:
- Heat half a cup of strawberries with 1 cup of water in a pan over medium heat
- Stir frequently and continue cooking until you have a thick strawberry sauce (it should resemble syrup)
Pro tip 1: Add sugar to make the strawberry puree sauce sweeter.
Once you’ve finished this step, you can puree or strain your sauce using a fine mesh. Make sure to mash the strawberries to extract as much juice as possible. In case you get a lot of juice out of strawberries, and the puree turns liquid again, here is what you’ll need to do:
- Return it to the heat until it thickens once more
- Finally, set aside
We’ve tried many puree variations and can confidently say that the strawberry flavor is the strongest in this recipe. However, you can opt for an easier route. Add the strawberries, water, and sugar to a blender and puree until you have a smooth consistency. Also, think about how grateful your future self would be if you made a batch of strawberry syrup ahead of time and stored it in the fridge! This makes it easy to prepare strawberry frap Starbucks whenever the craving hits you. But if you feel tired and have an earnest wish to enjoy your frappuccino, you can completely forego making the strawberry puree and go for store-bought syrup. You’ll need about four tablespoons of syrup in this case.
Pro tip 1: If you are watching your calories, use artificial sweeteners.
Pro tip 2: If you want to make the cream frappuccino, use frozen strawberries. Partially thawed frozen strawberries provide the strongest berry flavor and are full of nutrients (1). In addition, frozen strawberries require less ice, which is crucial because ice can water down the Starbucks strawberries and cream combo. Still, you can use fresh juicy strawberries instead of frozen ones and in that case use about ten medium-sized fresh strawberries.
step 2: Blend the Other Ingredients
To make this frappuccino in a blender, you’ll need to add:
- Strawberry syrup
- Milk
- Ice
- Vanilla ice cream
Then, blend all the ingredients until you get a smooth structure. Start on low and gradually turn it up. Add Greek yogurt for an extra creamy texture.
Pro tip 1: If you want to make a vegan version of this strawberry drink from Starbucks, use plant-based milk and ice cream. Based on our testing, we recommend trying this version even if you aren’t a vegan, as coconut milk (which is our favorite!) and strawberry pair great together.
Step 3: Make Vanilla Whipped Cream
You can always use store-bought whipped cream, but rest assured that homemade tastes better. So, how to make this cream?
- Put the whipping cream in a bowl
- Beat until you get soft peaks
- Add sugar and vanilla extract to flavor
Strawberry cream frappuccino usually has whipped cream on top, but you can have a delicious homemade cream frappuccino without the whipped cream too. Furthermore, you can make a cotton candy frappuccino if you like raspberry syrup.
Pro tip 1: If you want a stronger strawberry flavor, use strawberry syrup instead of vanilla syrup in the whipped cream.
Step 4: Combine the Drink
Pour the blended drink into a tall glass and top with whipped cream. Put a tablespoon of strawberry sauce on top for decoration.
Pro tip 1: If you need your daily caffeine fix, add a shot of espresso. However, the traditional Starbucks strawberry and cream frappuccino recipe doesn’t have coffee (2).
Final Thoughts
No more worrying about how to order a strawberry frappuccino at Starbucks. Instead, make this copycat strawberry frappuccino recipe. Our testing shows that it’s almost endlessly customizable, so you can continue experimenting with different ingredients (such as various kinds of milk). Let your imagination do the work!
Plus, get most ingredients at the store whenever you feel lazy and have them on hand when the strawberry frappuccino craving hits you. Or use the best of your inspiration to make the frappuccino from scratch and flex your barista skills.
FAQ
No, Starbucks strawberry creme frappuccino isn’t vegan. Generally, Starbucks frappuccinos aren’t dairy-free or vegan. However, you can ask for a vegan version, and the barista will use plant-based milk and won’t put whipped cream on top. You can choose between oat, soy, almond, or coconut milk. All the other ingredients are vegan.
Strawberry puree, natural flavors, water, fruit and vegetable juice, citric acid, xanthan gum, and grape juice concentrate are in the Starbucks strawberry syrup. Starbucks uses this syrup on lemonade and blended drinks. You can make it at home using strawberries, water, and sugar, or add honey to make it thicker and lemon juice for citric flavors.
No, there’s no coffee in Starbucks strawberry and cream frappuccino, and most Starbucks frappuccinos don’t have coffee. This strawberry drink is made with milk, ice cream, strawberry juice, and whipped cream, so it’s suitable for children. However, you can ask the barista for a shot of espresso if you want coffee in your frappuccino.
Yes, a strawberry frappuccino is like a milkshake, and the blended beverage consists of strawberry syrup, milk, and whipped cream. Just like a milkshake, there’s no coffee. The drink consistency is similar to a frappuccino, and milkshakes are somewhat thick until the ice waters down the drink. Another similarity is the endless variations and flavor possibilities for milkshakes and frappuccinos.
No, Starbucks Strawberry Frappuccino doesn’t have caffeine. It is an excellent drink to enjoy later in the day or to order for children or anyone with caffeine sensitivity.
References
- Fresh Versus Frozen Fruits and Vegetables. (n.d.). Www.diabetesfoodhub.org. https://www.diabetesfoodhub.org/articles/fresh-versus-frozen-fruits-vegetables/
- Young, E. (2021, December 15). 9 Things You Didn’t Know About the Starbucks Frappuccino. Taste of Home. https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/things-you-didnt-know-about-the-starbucks-frappuccino/
