Copycat Chick-fil-A Cherry Berry Sunjoy Recipe

There’s something about sipping a Cherry Berry Sunjoy with the windows down that just makes the world feel softer. I remember the first time I tried it, late April, riding shotgun while a warm breeze rolled in through the car window. We’d just hit the drive-thru for nuggets, but that drink stole the show. The mix of tangy lemonade, sweet tea, and that pink burst of berry flavor hit like a memory of childhood summer camps and roadside fruit stands all at once.

This copycat Chick-fil-A Cherry Berry Sunjoy lets you capture that same sip-anytime sunshine at home. It’s tart, bright, and berry-kissed without being syrupy sweet. With real cherry, cranberry, and blueberry notes over a golden base of lemonade and tea, it’s a seasonal drink you can enjoy all year long, no limited-time drama required.

Whether you’re lounging on a porch, meal-prepping for a backyard BBQ, or just missing the magic of a Chick-fil-A afternoon, this one’s worth making by the pitcher.

How to Make Chick-fil-A Cherry Berry Sunjoy

Start with strong sweet tea and fresh-squeezed lemonade. Blend together a quick syrup made from tart cherry, cranberry, and blueberry juice, simmered just long enough to thicken slightly and brighten the flavor. Stir into your Sunjoy base, pour over crushed or nugget ice, and take a deep breath. It’s light, zingy, and the color alone will make you smile.

Nutrition facts (per 16 oz serving)

• Calories: 160
• Total Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 38 g
• Sugars: 33 g
• Protein: 0 g

Ingredients (1 serving, 16 oz)

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 1

For the Cherry Berry Syrup (makes about ¾ cup syrup, enough for 4 drinks)

• ¼ cup tart cherry juice
• 2 tablespoons cranberry juice (unsweetened or light)
• 1 tablespoon blueberry juice (or mashed blueberries, strained)
• ¼ cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• Optional: 1 teaspoon food-grade vegetable glycerine (for silky finish)

For the Sunjoy Base

• ½ cup Chick-fil-A-style lemonade (see below)
• ½ cup Chick-fil-A-style sweet tea (see below)
• 3 tablespoons Cherry Berry Syrup
• Nugget or crushed ice

For the Lemonade (makes 1 cup)

• ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
• ¼ cup sugar
• ½ cup cold water

For the Sweet Tea (makes 1 cup)

• 1 black tea bag (or 1½ tsp loose black tea)
• 1 cup boiling water
• 2 tablespoons sugar

Tools You’ll Need

• Small saucepan
• Blender or shaker
• Strainer (if using mashed berries)
• Measuring cups & spoons
• Tall glass (16 oz)
• Spoon or straw
• Optional: Ice maker or mallet + towel for crushing ice

Instructions

Step 1: Make the sweet tea

Steep the tea bag in 1 cup boiling water for 5 minutes. Remove the bag, stir in sugar, and chill in the fridge.

Step 2: Make the lemonade

In a cup, stir together lemon juice, sugar, and water until fully dissolved. Chill until ready.

Step 3: Make the cherry berry syrup

In a small saucepan, combine cherry juice, cranberry juice, blueberry juice, and sugar. Simmer over low heat for 3–4 minutes, just until slightly thickened. Stir in lemon juice and vegetable glycerine (if using). Let cool.

Step 4: Mix the drink

In a tall glass, add sweet tea and lemonade in equal parts (½ cup each). Stir in 3 tablespoons of the cherry berry syrup. Add ice to fill the glass.

Step 5: Serve

Top with a lemon wedge or fresh cherry if you’re feeling fancy. Sip with a straw, preferably in the sun.

Tips

• Use nugget or pellet ice if you can, it gives that fast-food texture. Crushed ice is the next best thing.
• Don’t overdo the berry syrup. It’s meant to enhance, not overpower. Start with 2 tbsp and increase to taste.
• Make a full batch of lemonade and tea to keep in the fridge and mix drinks all week.
• Add a tiny pinch of citric acid (⅛ tsp) to the syrup if you want a more tart, punchy flavor.

What to Serve With

Sweet Pairings

• Mini lemon muffins or scones – Their buttery crumb and citrusy bite pair effortlessly with the berry lemonade flavors.
• Shortbread cookies – A soft cookie mellow enough not to steal the show, but buttery enough to round out the drink.
• Vanilla ice cream – Yep. A scoop on the side turns this into a quick summer dessert pairing. Especially good after dinner.

Salty Companions

• Crispy chicken sliders – The classic sweet-salty match, especially with a hint of pickle or slaw to contrast the drink’s brightness.
• Waffle fries or kettle chips – Something salty and crunchy brings balance to the syrupy sip. It’s fast-food harmony at home.
• Pimento cheese toast – If you’re going for a Southern-style snack board, this is a rich, creamy, spicy counterpoint that plays nicely with the sweet-tart cherry berry layer.

Light & Fresh

• Arugula salad with berries & goat cheese – Throw in some toasted pecans and drizzle with balsamic glaze. You’ll have a picnic-worthy combo in one bowl and one glass.
• Cucumber sandwiches – A cool, crisp bite that helps reset the palate between sweet sips.

Variations

Berry Lemonade Only

Skip the tea entirely and just mix lemonade with the berry syrup. It’s a bit sweeter and more kid-friendly.

Half-Sweet Tea Version

Use unsweetened tea if you want to reduce sugar. The berry syrup will still keep things flavorful.

Berry Sparkler

Sub in sparkling water for the tea, and top with ice for a fizzy, brunch-worthy version. Bonus points for using a stem glass.

Frozen Cherry Berry Sunjoy

Blend everything with ice until slushy. Serve with a spoon and straw for a summer-day treat.

Cocktail Version

Add 1 oz vodka, white rum, or bourbon for a boozy twist. Garnish with fresh berries or a lemon wheel.

Winter Berry Sunjoy

Use a cranberry-pomegranate juice mix with orange zest in the syrup for a seasonal twist that still nods to the original.

Ingredient Substitutes

Tart Cherry Juice

• Substitute: Cherry concentrate diluted with water, frozen cherries blended and strained, or cherry juice cocktail (less tart).

Cranberry Juice

• Substitute: Pomegranate juice, raspberry juice, or cranberry cocktail (less sharp, more sweet).

Blueberry Juice

• Substitute: Muddled blueberries strained through a fine mesh sieve, or blueberry purée with a splash of water.

Vegetable Glycerine (optional)

• Substitute: A few drops of agave syrup for texture, or omit it entirely if unavailable.

Sugar

• Substitute: Honey, agave, or maple syrup (note: changes flavor slightly), or monk fruit sweetener for low-sugar option.

Fresh Lemon Juice

• Substitute: Bottled lemon juice (from concentrate), or a splash of lime juice for a twist.

Black Tea

• Substitute: Earl Grey (for floral twist), green tea (lighter), or rooibos (caffeine-free).

Crushed/Nugget Ice

• Substitute: Crushed ice from a blender or wrap ice cubes in a towel and bash with a rolling pin.

Honest Review

After a few test runs and syrup tweaks, I’ve got to say… this version of the Cherry Berry Sunjoy really does bring the Chick-fil-A vibes home. The lemonade and sweet tea base hits that familiar southern-style balance, tart, sweet, and just a little pulpy, like the kind you’d sip through a straw on a hot drive. But it’s the berry syrup that seals the deal.

The cherry comes through first, bright and fruity, followed by that deeper blueberry finish and a subtle cranberry tang that keeps it from being too candy-like. Stirred into ice-cold Sunjoy, it’s refreshing in that just got home from the farmer’s market kind of way.

Is it a 1:1 perfect copy of Chick-fil-A’s? I’ll be real, not quite. They’re likely using proprietary extracts, stabilizers, and a blending process you won’t mimic exactly in a home kitchen. But in terms of taste? It gets so close that I didn’t care. Especially when it’s this easy to make, and you get to control the sweetness and fruit strength.

If you’ve been craving that spring-limited drink but don’t feel like waiting around for it to show up on a fast food menu again, this homemade Cherry Berry Sunjoy is more than just a stand-in, it’s a regular-rotation kind of refresher. And the best part? You don’t even have to leave your kitchen.