Starbucks Mango Dragonfruit Refresher Recipe

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This homemade Mango Dragonfruit Lemonade is absolutely delicious, super refreshing, and oh so easy to make! You only need four ingredients and five minutes to make it, so you may never go to a Starbucks again!

This drink is absolutely perfect for sunny days because it's lightly sweet, ultra refreshing, and nice and frosty when served over ice. Best of all, it's Whole30, Paleo, and Vegan! So yes, it's a copycat recipe, but don't expect it to be exactly the same, because this one is made with slightly cleaner ingredients and it's even a little better for you!

Side view close up of three glasses filled with bright pink mango dragonfruit lemonade, garnished with a lemon slice.

🥤About

When the sun is shining, I'm in the mood for something refreshing and lightly sweet! I love to make a quick Mango Chia Pudding or Boozy Arnold Palmer, but today I wanted something a little different.

Years ago when I worked at Starbucks, I got in the dangerous habit of grabbing a (free!) specialty drink… almost every day. They introduced refreshers then, and ever since, I've been hooked!

Except nowadays, I can't afford to spend $5.00+ per drink. Instead, I recreate my favorites at home!

The Starbucks copycat version is almost exactly like what you'd get in stores, take it from a former employee. But this version is a little easier, a little better for you, and today, I'm showing you how to make the Mango Dragonfruit Lemonade for a fraction of the price!

💖 What is Dragonfruit?

Dragonfruit is a super special ingredient that gives this drink the most GORGEOUS, deep pink color. It's creamy, mellow and mildly sweet. The flavor reminds it reminds me a bit of a pear or cantaloupe, with the texture of kiwi.

In this recipe, we use whole dragonfruit so you'll get to experience the full effect. If you haven't tried it before, you're in for a treat!

🥭 Ingredients

Dragonfruit. To keep this budget friendly, I buy a big bag of frozen dragonfruit from Costco or Kroger instead of buying a bag of expensive dragonfruit powder, like what Starbucks uses. You can usually find fresh dragonfruit in larger grocery stores too, but it'll cost more. If you're having trouble locating it, it's sometimes labeled as Pitaya. It makes this drink a little more smoothie-ish!
Lemons. Freshly squeezed lemons add a bit of bright sourness to balance out the rest of the drink.
Mango Juice. Look for 100% mango juice. It's sometimes called Mango Nectar, which may make it easier to find.
White Grape Juice. Choose 100% juice, which should be fairly easy to find!
Coconut or Almond Milk (optional), to make it a creamy Dragon Drink.

You may also like: Tom Collins Mocktail, Kombucha Collagen Mocktail.

Process collage showing dragonfruit and lemon juice added to the blender, then mixed into a liquid.

🍋 Step by Step Instructions

First, add the dragonfruit to your blender. I find it works best when the dragonfruit has softened a bit and isn't straight out of the freezer. To help it move through the blades, add the lemon juice for a bit of extra liquid.

Next, fill your glasses with ice cubes. Pour the dragonfruit and lemon mixture into each glass.

Add white grape juice and mango juice to each glass, and give it a stir with a straw or spoon. Optionally, you can top off the glass with unflavored seltzer to give it a little fizz. Last, garnish with a slice of lemon, and you're in business! Enjoy!

Top down close up of the finished drink.

ℹ️ Info & FAQ

Does this contain caffeine?

No. The Starbucks version is caffeinated using green coffee bean. This recipe is not caffeinated, making it great for children, adults, and any time of day!

Which version is better for you?

This drink is slightly lower in calories and higher in fiber than the Starbucks version. This recipe is also made with whole pieces of dragonfruit instead of powdered dragonfruit, and it's made with 100% juice and contains no added sugar.

Can I make it in advance?

Yes! Mix together the dragonfruit, lemon juice, mango juice, and white grape juice and store in the refrigerator up to a day in advance. Pour the mixture over ice just before serving.

Now all that's left to do is to start pouring! If you make this recipe, I'd love to hear about your experience making it. Leave a comment below or tag me on Instagram @cookathomemom.

Mango Dragonfruit Lemonade

Frosty, sweet, and oh so refreshing, this Starbucks Copycat Mango Dragonfruit Lemonade is absolutely delicious!

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Keyword Non-Alcoholic

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Servings 2 servings

Calories 169 kcal

Total Time 10 minutes

1 cup diced dragonfruit fresh or frozen
2/3 cup mango juice
2/3 cup 100% white grape juice
4 Tablespoons lemon juice freshly squeezed, about 2 lemons
1 lemon sliced, for garnish
ice

Optional Ingredient

1/4 cup coconut milk or almond milk to make a Dragon Drink

Add the dragonfruit and lemon juice to the blender. Blend just until the fruit is broken down and smooth.
Fill the glasses with ice cubes. Pour the dragonfruit and lemon mixture into each glass.
Add white grape juice, mango juice, and coconut milk (if using) to each glass, then give it a stir with a straw or spoon.
Garnish each glass with a slice of lemon, and you're in business! Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Mango Dragonfruit Lemonade

Amount Per Serving

Calories 169 Calories from Fat 9

% Daily Value*

Fat 1g 2%

Sodium 80mg 3%

Potassium 131mg 4%

Carbohydrates 33g 11%

Fiber 2g 8%

Sugar 32g 36%

Protein 1g 2%

Vitamin A 587IU 12%

Vitamin C 22mg 27%

Calcium 25mg 3%

Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet and may vary based on your ingredients.

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