Starbucks vanilla bean frappuccino with strawberry puree

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Made with real berries, this Starbucks Strawberry Frappuccino is topped with a delicious homemade strawberry syrup and smoothly finished with vanilla whipped cream. Make an amazing frappuccino at home using simple ingredients and spending way less!

This strawberry Frappuccino tastes similar to a strawberry milkshake: it’s not as thick as the ice cream drink, but still delicious and made with WAY LESS sugar. Healthier, cheaper than buying one at your favorite cafe, and perfect to cool down in the middle of a hot summer day!

Wanna try the vanilla version of this drink? Here's a Starbucks Vanilla Bean Frappuccino recipe for you - no ice cream added! And for all matcha lovers, I have a perfect Matcha Frappe for the summer.

Starbucks vanilla bean frappuccino with strawberry puree

Does Strawberry Frappuccino have coffee?

This Frappuccino is a cream-based frappe, and as so, free of caffeine. So no, this recipe doesn't have any coffee.

Is this drink gluten-free?

Yes, this strawberry frappuccino does not contain any gluten.

Is this frappuccino made with ice cream?

No! This Starbucks strawberry frappuccino is made without ice cream.

Ingredients

What's in a Strawberry Frappuccino?

As the one made by Starbucks, this drink is a blend of ice, milk and strawberries. I added Greek yogurt for it to be even creamier, and a secret ingredient to enhance the flavors even more.

The strawberry puree sauce is the perfect topping, and can be used to create patterns on the glass cup, so you get an even more beautiful drink.

Strawberries. Use frozen strawberries for a better result. Fresh strawberries can be used, but they will make a less thick frappuccino. You can buy fresh, wash, remove the stems, and then freeze the clean berries for 2 hours before using.

Milk. You can use dairy milk (whole, skimmed, or partially skimmed), as well as plant-based options. If using plant based, my choices are almond or oat milk.

Starbucks vanilla bean frappuccino with strawberry puree

Greek Yogurt. It makes a creamier, smoother drink. You can use plain Greek yogurt, vanilla, or strawberry flavored. Flavored version tend to have added sugar and will make a sweeter frappuccino. You can use a plant-based yogurt for a dairy-free version.

Ice Cubes. It gives the drink a slushie, frappe consistency. You can use milk ice cubes: just freeze your choice of milk using an ice tray.

Sugar. If you’re using Greek yogurt with added sugar and want a less sweet drink, you can leave out this ingredient. If you like your frappuccino extra sweet, double the amount. You can substitute sugar for honey, maple syrup, agave, or your favorite sweetener.

Strawberry Puree Sauce. I’ll teach you how to make an easy homemade strawberry puree sauce below, but you can use a store-bought strawberry syrup if in a hurry.

Vanilla Whipped Cream. If making homemade whipped cream, just add a splash of vanilla extract when whipping it. It can be substituted for store-bought whipped cream, milk or plant-based.

Milk Powder. That’s my secret ingredient for a frappuccino to taste like a milkshake. Skip this ingredient for a a vegan version.

Starbucks vanilla bean frappuccino with strawberry puree

How to make it

If you’re making everything from scratch, let’s start with the strawberry puree sauced. If you’re only making the Frappuccino, and using store-bought syrup and whipped cream, jump to step 3.

1. Strawberry Puree Sauce. Start by blending strawberries, water and sugar. For this, strawberries cannot be frozen (if using frozen, let them thaw for some minutes first). Now, let the strawberry mixture come to a boil, then simmer for 5 minutes on medium high. Stir all the time to avoid burning.

2. Vanilla Whipped Cream. You can make it by hand, but it’s way easier to make it using a mixer. First, make sure the heavy cream is extra cold. In a bowl, add heavy cream and vanilla extract, and whip in medium-high speed. It will take 3 to 4 minutes until medium peaks are formed and your vanilla whipped cream is ready.

What are medium peaks? It’s one that keeps in the beater/whisk, not too soft but not too heavy either. If lifted, the peak will drop down slightly, but won’t totally lose its shape.

3. Strawberry Frappuccino. In a blender’s cup, add frozen strawberries, milk, milk powder, Greek yogurt, sugar and ice, and blend for 1 minute, or until well blended and smooth. Serve it in a tall glass.

You can make patterns in the glass using the strawberry sauce/syrup. Pour in the frappuccino, and top it with whipped cream and more sauce.

Starbucks vanilla bean frappuccino with strawberry puree

Quick Tips

  • Want it vegan? Use plant-based milk, yogurt and whipped cream, and skip the milk powder. My favorite vegan version for this strawberry frappucino: replace dairy option for almond milk, coconut yogurt, coconut yogurt ice cubes, and any plant-based whipped cream. Skip milk powder.
  • If you don’t want to use ice cubes, try freezing the milk in an ice tray and use it instead. It will give you a creamier frappe.
  • You can make it using any sweetener for a sugar-free version.
  • Use strawberry-flavored Greek yogurt to enhance even more the strawberry flavor.
  • Choose good-tasting strawberries for the best flavor. If you're using strawberries that taste bland, you'll end up with a bland strawberry frappe.
Starbucks vanilla bean frappuccino with strawberry puree

More Starbucks Copycats

Mocha Latte
Cinnamon Dolce Latte
Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
Chocolate Almond Shaken Espresso
Matcha Frappuccino

Prep Time 8 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Total Time 13 minutes

Ingredients

Strawberry Puree Sauce

  • 1 cup frozen strawberry
  • ⅓ cup sugar
  • ¼ cup water

Homemade Whipped Cream

  • ½ cup heavy cream, cold
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Strawberry Frappuccino

  • 1 cup strawberries, frozen
  • ½ cup Greek yogurt, plain
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup ice cubes
  • 1 ½ tablespoon milk powder
  • Whipped cream
  • Strawberry puree sauce

Instructions

  1. For the strawberry puree sauce, blend strawberries, water and sugar. For this, strawberries cannot be frozen, so if using frozen, let them thaw first.
  2. Simmer the strawberry mixture for 5 minutes on medium high. Stir all the time to avoid burning.
  3. For the homemade whipped cream, in a bowl, add heavy cream and vanilla extract, and whip in medium-high speed. If doing it with a mixer, will take 3 to 4 minutes until medium peaks are formed and your vanilla whipped cream is ready. It make take a little longer if doing it by hand.
  4. For the strawberry frappuccino, in a blender’s cup, add frozen strawberries, milk and milk powder if using, Greek yogurt, sugar and ice.
  5. Blend for 1 minute, or until well blended and smooth.
  6. Serve it in a tall glass. Top frappuccino with whipped cream, and strawberry puree sauce. Garnish with slices of strawberry if desired.

Notes

Make it vegan: use plant-based milk, yogurt and whipped cream, and skip the milk powder.

My favorite vegan version for this strawberry frappucino: replace dairy option for almond milk, coconut yogurt, coconut yogurt ice cubes, and any plant-based whipped cream. Skip milk powder.

If you don’t want to use ice cubes, try freezing the milk in an ice tray and use it instead. It will give you a creamier frappe.

You can make it using any sweetener for a sugar-free version.

Use strawberry-flavored Greek yogurt to enhance even more the strawberry flavor.

If you want your drink extra-sweet, double the amount of sugar.

Nutrition Information

Yield

1

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 464Total Fat 10gSaturated Fat 6gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 3gCholesterol 36mgSodium 164mgCarbohydrates 73gFiber 4gSugar 64gProtein 21g

Nutrition information is an estimate only and will vary depending on the substitutions made and/or brands used.

Can you add strawberry puree at Starbucks?

You can customize any drink by adding the strawberry puree sauce or freeze-dried strawberries. Strawberry puree sauce can even be added to the top of whipped cream as drizzle.

Can you add strawberry puree on Starbucks app?

At the end of July, Starbucks updated its app to prevent customers from adding the same "modifier," like syrups, purées, or espresso shots, to a drink more than 12 times. "I think it will help when it comes to mobile orders," one Starbucks employee told Business Insider.

What is strawberry puree at Starbucks?

In it's simplest form it's just strawberries and sugar. But we're going to add a few other ingredients to give it some lovely citric notes. In fact, the Starbucks Strawberry Purée Sauce ingredients include white grape juice concentrate and citric acid. Additionally, their sauce has xanthan gum to keep it emulsified.

What should I add to my vanilla bean frappuccino?

Ingredients for a Vanilla Bean Frappuccino.
Milk or almond milk..
Frozen whipped cream (fat free, low fat or frozen coconut whipped cream all work).
Sweetener: such as honey, sugar, or sugar free alternatives like swerve or monkfruit..
Vanilla beans..