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!
🥤About
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!
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.
🍋 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!
ℹ️ Info & FAQ
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!
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.
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.
More Delicious Drinks
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
Optional Ingredient
- 1/4 cup coconut milk or almond milk to make a Dragon Drink
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!
Video
Nutrition
Jennifer Cork says
Love this!! I love refreshers (and dragonfruit) and have wanted to save money and make it at home. I made it in a small amount (enough for two glasses). Nobody in my area sells fresh red dragonfruit, so I got a yellow dragonfruit and a bag of frozen red dragonfruit cubes. The first time I made it I did half of a yellow dragon fruit, roughly the same amount of the frozen red, and half a lemons worth of juice into a blender. Blended on low for about 30 seconds. Poured half of the blend over ice, topped with the white grape until the glass was almost full and then a splash of mango juice (that stuff is powerful!). I absolutely loved it, however it was a little too syrupy for me and I couldn’t really taste the lemon. So the second time I did the same exact thing, except I added a little less grape juice and finished it off with a little water. AMAZING! The water thinning it out brought the lemon out of hiding. I will absolutely be making homemade refreshers from now on!!!
I highly suggest trying the yellow dragonfruit, it’s delicious!
Cook at Home Mom says
Hi Jennifer, Thank you so much for sharing this feedback! I’m so glad you enjoyed the drink! 🙂 -Laura
Rhonda Saltamachio says
Thank you so very much for sharing this copycat recipe. I am looking forward to saving $40 a week…
Cook at Home Mom says
Hi Rhonda! I TOTALLY hear ya. That starbucks $$ adds up! 🙂 Hope you enjoy the lemonade! -Laura
Shannon Raines says
Is there caffeine in this drink?
Thanks
Cook at Home Mom says
Hi Shannon, No, this recipe does not contain caffeine. 🙂 -Laura