Mango Dragonfruit Lemonade
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!
Easy Mango Dragonfruit Lemonade Recipe
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! A win win, that’s for sure.
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 specialty drink almost every day. They introduced refresher drinks then, and ever since, I’ve been hooked!
Except nowadays, I can’t afford to spend a crazy amount on mango dragon fruit lemonade. Instead, I recreate my favorite Starbucks refreshers at home!
This copycat Starbucks mango dragonfruit refresher 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, vibrant 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!
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
This is truly the most refreshing drink on a hot summer day. It’s so easy to love:
- Mango dragonfruit lemonade is a delicious drink for any occasion. This homemade version is caffeine free, has no artificial flavors or colors, and is more fresh than the Starbucks version.
- You only need four ingredients to make this delicious beverage. It really is that simple!
- This recipe has no added sugar, yet it perfectly sweet. That’s what the magic of a tasty fruit combination can do!
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make this recipe:
- 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 dragon fruit powder, like what Starbucks uses. You can usually find fresh dragon fruit 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 for the best flavor. 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: This is optional, but you can mix it in to make it a creamy pink dragon fruit drink.
You may also like: Tom Collins Mocktail, Kombucha Collagen Mocktail.
How to Make Mango Dragonfruit Lemonade
Let’s make this delicious lemonade!
First, add the dragonfruit to your blender. I find it works best when the frozen 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 blended 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!
Make Ahead Instructions
Mix together the dragonfruit, lemon juice, mango juice, and white grape juice and store in the refrigerator up to a day in advance. It stores great! Pour the mixture over ice just before serving. I don’t recommend storing leftovers that have already been served over ice because the ice will melt and water it down.
What to Serve with Mango Dragonfruit Lemonade
This refreshing summer drink pairs well with so many different meals. From pesto chicken salad to Greek chicken salad, this homemade mango dragonfruit lemonade. You can pair it with easy dinner recipes too — like stuffed buffalo chicken sweet potatoes and Mexican chicken stuffed peppers.
You can pair this drink with copycat Starbucks treats too. Iced lemon pound cake would be so yummy with this refresher. Even serve this at parties with appetizers like air fryer chicken wings.
Tips for Success
With these few tips, you can make your homemade creation taste just as good as the original drink:
- Make this drink even more smooth by straining the dragonfruit mixture through a fine mesh sieve before adding it to a glass.
- Wanna serve this at a party? Make a big batch and put it in a large pitcher. Then have some separate glasses and ice and pour over ice and enjoy!
- For best results, use fresh squeezed lemon juice instead of bottled. It will have brighter, more fresh and tart flavor.
FAQ
My homemade recipe does not contain caffeine. The Starbucks version uses green coffee bean powder which contains caffeine. But this recipe is not caffeinated, making it great for children, adults, and any time of day!
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.
More Delicious Drink Recipes
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
Equipment
Ingredients
- 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
- 1/4 cup coconut milk or almond milk, to make a Dragon Drink, optional
Video
Instructions
- 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!
