Copycat Dunkin Wicked Pink Refresher Recipe

If you’ve ever stood in line at Dunkin’, squinting at the menu and then impulsively ordering something pink and bubbly just because it “felt right,” chances are you’ve met the Dunkin Wicked Pink Refresher. For me, it was on a weirdly warm October afternoon, just after a work meeting that left my brain a bit scrambled. I didn’t want coffee. I didn’t want soda. I just wanted something happy. That drink: icy, fruity, and a little fizzy, hit like a reset button. It tasted like strawberry candy, a kiss of dragonfruit, and this soft blueberry note at the end.

This copycat Dunkin Wicked Pink Refresher gets you all that sparkle, sweetness, and gentle green tea energy without the Dunkin drive-thru wait. You can tweak the syrup ahead of time, pour it over ice with sparkling water, and suddenly your Tuesday feels like a mini vacation. Or a tiny party. Or both.

How to Make a Dunkin Wicked Pink Refresher

You’ll start by making a homemade strawberry-dragonfruit green tea syrup, then chill it until ready to use. Each drink is built to order with ice, syrup, blueberry flavor, and sparkling water. Stir, sip, smile.

Nutrition Facts (approximate for 16 oz serving)

• Calories: 85
• Sugar: 20g
• Caffeine: ~30mg (from green tea)
• Fat: 0g
• Protein: 0g

Ingredients (for 1 serving, 16 oz)

Prep time: 5 minutes (plus syrup prep)
Cook time: 10 minutes (syrup only)
Total time: 15 minutes
Servings: 1 drink + syrup for 6–8 more

For the Strawberry Dragonfruit Green Tea Syrup

• 1 cup brewed green tea (strong, cooled)
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup strawberry nectar or juice (or blended strawberries, strained)
• 2 tbsp dragonfruit puree (or 1 tbsp pitaya powder)
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp citric acid (optional but very close to the Dunkin taste)
• Pinch of salt

For the Refresher Drink

• Ice
• 3–4 tbsp homemade syrup
• 1–2 tsp blueberry syrup or concentrate
• 10–12 oz sparkling water
• Optional: splash of beet juice for brighter pink

Tools You’ll Need

• Blender or small saucepan
• Measuring cups + spoons
• Jar or bottle for syrup storage
• Tall glass (16–24 oz)
• Straw or long spoon

Instructions

Make the Strawberry Dragonfruit Syrup

1. Brew your green tea strong. Let it cool completely.
2. Simmer syrup: In a small saucepan, combine sugar and green tea. Warm just until the sugar dissolves. Don’t boil.
3. Add flavor: Stir in strawberry juice, dragonfruit, lemon juice, citric acid, and salt. Simmer gently for 2–3 minutes.
4. Cool and store: Let it cool fully. Strain if needed. Pour into a clean jar and chill.

Build the Drink

1. Add ice: Fill your glass with ice.
2. Syrup: Pour in 3–4 tablespoons of your syrup.
3. Blueberry swirl: Add 1–2 teaspoons blueberry syrup or concentrate.
4. Top with bubbles: Pour in cold sparkling water. Stir gently.
5. Optional color boost: Add a splash of beet juice for brighter pink (this is what Dunkin does with veggie juice for color).

That’s it. Your Dunkin Wicked Pink Refresher is ready. Chilled, pretty, fizzy, fruity. Like a pink cloud in a glass.

What to Serve With

Fruity pairings:

• Mini fruit skewers – Try strawberries, blueberries, and pineapple chunks on a toothpick. They echo the flavors in the drink and look adorable.
• Coconut yogurt parfait – Layer with granola and berries for a light breakfast or afternoon treat. It’s creamy and cold next to the fizzy drink.
• Dragonfruit cubes with Tajín – If you want to lean tropical with a spicy twist, try tossing chilled dragonfruit with a little chili-lime salt. Sweet plus heat? Yes.

Savory contrasts:

• Cream cheese bagel bites – Soft, salty, and creamy. The bagel brings comfort while the refresher keeps things bright.
• Egg and cheese croissant – Just like at Dunkin’, this combo works for a reason. The warm sandwich and cold refresher balance each other perfectly.
• Mini ham and cheddar roll-ups – A snacky, salty bite that doesn’t overwhelm the drink’s lightness.

Sweet snackies:

• Powdered sugar donut holes – Straight out of the Dunkin playbook. Sweet, soft, and dangerously snackable.
• Almond cookies – Light, crumbly, and subtle. Their simplicity makes the fruity refresher shine even more.
• Pink starburst or strawberry candy – Just for fun. You’re already drinking pink.

Variations

Low-Sugar Version
Swap half the syrup with monk fruit or stevia syrup. Use a strawberry-flavored sparkling water to keep the punch without extra sugar.

Lemonade Base
Replace half the sparkling water with lemonade. This makes it closer to Dunkin’s Lemonade Refreshers, bright, citrusy, and just a little tangier.

Coconut Milk Pink Refresher
Use half sparkling water and half chilled coconut milk for a creamy twist. The drink will turn soft pink and taste like a beach vacation.

Blueberry Bloom Version
Double the blueberry syrup and garnish with fresh blueberries. This leans more floral and berry-rich, and it’s beautiful.

Frozen Slush
Blend the syrup, blueberry, and a few ice cubes together, then pour sparkling water on top. It gets that frozen-drink texture you remember from mall food courts.

Boozy Backyard Edition
Add a shot of rum, vodka, or peach schnapps for an adult refresher. It’s a hit for pool days or sunset hangs.

Ingredient Substitutes

Strawberry Nectar or Juice

• Sub: Blended and strained frozen strawberries
• Sub: Strawberry jam thinned with water
• Sub: Strawberry Kool-Aid for a throwback vibe

Dragonfruit (Pitaya)

• Sub: Pitaya powder (easy to store and lasts longer)
• Sub: Beet juice (just a splash for color)
• Sub: Pink guava juice for a similarly tropical base

Green Tea

• Sub: Green tea powder (matcha), but go light
• Sub: Caffeine-free herbal tea if you want it buzz-free
• Sub: White tea for a milder base

Blueberry Syrup

• Sub: Blueberry preserves thinned with water
• Sub: Blueberry juice concentrate
• Sub: A few drops blueberry extract + simple syrup (but be careful, it’s strong)

Sparkling Water

• Sub: Club soda
• Sub: Strawberry or berry-flavored seltzer
• Sub: Sprite or 7-Up for a sweeter, kid-friendlier version

Honest Review

After a few test runs and syrup tweaks, this copycat Dunkin Wicked Pink Refresher lands surprisingly close to the real thing. The flavor is bright and layered, strawberry-forward with just enough dragonfruit to give it that soft, tropical roundness. The blueberry note at the end? Subtle but key. I found that using a good blueberry concentrate or syrup really ties the whole thing together.

Texture-wise, the syrup gives just enough body to the drink, and when you top it with ice-cold sparkling water, it hits that bubbly-sweet zone Dunkin’s Refreshers are known for. Is it an exact match? Not quite. Dunkin probably uses proprietary flavor enhancers and stabilizers I can’t replicate at home. But honestly, this version brings all the same good vibes, it’s refreshing, pink, fizzy, and just caffeinated enough to count as a pick-me-up.

If you’re chasing that playful, fruit-forward sip without the drive-thru trip, this is totally worth making. Especially if you batch the syrup ahead of time. It’s become one of my go-to “happy hour but non-alcoholic” drinks. Try it once, and you’ll get it.