Strawberry Refresher
on Oct 01, 2021, Updated Jul 18, 2025
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You know that feeling when it’s 400 degrees outside, you’re questioning all your life choices, and your soul just needs to be quenched? This better than Starbucks Strawberry Refresher is that girl 🍓💦. It’s your fruity, fizzy, life-saving sidekick for when it feels like a sauna outside. Even better? It tastes like it came straight out of a a specific chain’s cup, but you won’t need to fork over $7 to be refreshed. Whether you’re lounging on the patio or just trying to survivor your afternoon Zoom call, this drink’s got your back.
Why You’ll Love this Strawberry Refresher
This drink is everything I want in the summer — cold, bubbly, fruity, and very pretty to look at 🍓🫧. It takes only a few simple ingredients, most of which you probably already have: fresh strawberries, a squeeze of lemon 🍋, a little mint 🌱 from the garden, and sparkling water to bring it all to life. It looks fancy, tastes fancy, but comes together with zero effort and no errands. One sip and suddenly you’re not melting — you’re thriving. Before you know it, this one will be going on repeat until further notice. Plus, you can tweak it to your heart’s content; add green tea for a little pep, sub in champagne if you’re feeling ✨extra✨, or go sugar-free with a natural sweetener.
Ingredients
🍓 Strawberries: I like to use fresh strawberries to form the base of my refresher, but you could also use frozen strawberries for added chill.
🤍 Sugar: This isn’t just a cure-all for your sweet tooth. When sprinkled over the strawberries, sugar draws out moisture and dissolves, creating a syrupy base through a process called maceration.
🍋 Lemon juice: A citrusy squeeze of lemon gives this recipe its tangy flavor and balances the sweetness of the strawberry syrup. The acid also helps soften the fruit during the maceration process.
🌱 Mint: This bright herb puts the ‘fresh’ in refresher. I like to add a couple of leaves to the drink and a sprig for garnish.
🫧 Sparkling water: Bubbles make everything better! Choose your favorite flavor for added punch, or use unflavored sparkling water (I like Sanpellegrino) for an ingredient-forward refresher.
🧊 Ice: This refresher is just begging for a tall glass of sophisticated chill! I make my own slow-melting ice at home using this ice tray.
Nonna’s Tip 🍓
Coat the strawberries with sugar and let them sit for at least 30 minutes (or up to 2 hours) to soften the fruit and develop the juiciest strawberry syrup.
Variations and Substitutions for Strawberry Refresher
- If you don’t have fresh strawberries on hand, or if you just want a slightly more chilled 🧊 version, use frozen strawberries.
- Add mixed berries 🫐🍓for a flavor (and antioxidant!) boost.
- For a boozy version, add your favorite champagne 🍾, Prosecco, or sparkling wine with just a splash of sparkling water.
- Feel free to use Stevia or monk fruit as a sugar alternative – it may help prevent blood sugar spikes.
- Add a couple of ounces of fresh brewed green tea 🍵 for a caffeine fix. Or, if you’re really going all in, add 1/2 a teaspoon of green coffee extract just like they do at Starbies.
- Garnish your refresher with a sprig of mint and some freeze dried strawberries for a true Starbucks copycat version.
Best Served With
- A slice of this Whole Lemon Blender Cake 🍋 for all the Starbucks copycat vibes.
- A plate of Watermelon Popsicles 🍉for the ultimate cool-down treat.
- This viral Polish Strawberry Pasta. (Don’t knock it til you try it 😉!)
- An ah-mazing Strawberry Spinach Salad 🥗 with a dressing you could chug.
Similar Recipes
Strawberry Refresher
Ingredients
- 10 strawberries, 1 cup
- 1 tablespoon honey , or sugar to taste
- ½ lemon, juiced
- 1 can sparkling water, any flavor you love
- 2 mint leaves
- ice, as much as you like
Instructions
Video
Notes
- Berry Variations: This recipe works with frozen or fresh strawberries. You can also add mixed berries (blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries) for a flavor (and antioxidant!) boost.
- Boozy Refresher: Add your favorite champagne, Prosecco, or sparkling wine with just a splash of sparkling water for a grown-up version.
- Sweeteners: Feel free to use Stevia or monk fruit as a sugar alternative.
- Caffeine add-ins: Add a couple of ounces of your favorite fresh brewed tea for a caffeine fix. Green tea, black tea, and flavored teas like passionfruit all complement the flavor profile well. Or if you’re really going all in, add 1/2 a teaspoon of green coffee extract just like they do at Starbies.
- Toppings: Add a sprig of mint for garnish and some freeze dried strawberries for a true Starbucks copycat version.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Common Questions
Yes! Since we’re muddling the strawberries, feel free to use fresh or frozen.
Starbucks refreshers are generally not considered healthy due to their high sugar and caffeine content. By making a homemade version, YOU get to control the ingredients and make it as healthy and delicious as you want it!
Yes! This refresher pairs well with champagne, Prosecco, or sparkling wine and a splash of sparkling water.
Yes, they contain green coffee extract for a caffeine boost. If you like, you can feel free to add a couple of ounces of your favorite tea or 1/2 a teaspoon of green coffee extract for a true Starbucks copycat refresher.
This was absolutely delicious, will definitely make it again.
So yummy and refreshing ! Love it !!
That’s a tall pour! Love it!! 😍
So delicious. It’s 90F and humid where I am and this hit the spot!
I love how healthy this is and it’s so easy to make. Thank you for the recipe- it’s my new summer go-to! Cheers!
I’d love to drink this everyday. I dream of a day that someone comes to my door and delivers me one just like this every day! 🙏 🍓
This is the PERFECT summer drink! Thank you!!! 🙌🏼🙌🏼