Have you heard about Starbucks’ newest drink? Summer 2021 has brought us the Strawberry Funnel Cake Frappuccino, and it’s as colorful as it sounds. Vibrant, flavorful and bold are just a few words I’d use to describe this fruity summertime treat.
When I first try brand new Starbucks drinks I order them as-is, even though I don’t love every last ingredient (like whipped cream, unpopular opinion, I know). I do this to get the full effect of the drink as intended, in the name of journalism, and having a control to share with you when I inevitably order it with my customizations.
Here’s what I thought of the drink as-is, and how I’d suggest you order the drink based on my first take.
Strawberry Funnel Cake Frappuccino Review
Honestly, this was not my favorite new drink, by far. It falls just above the Unicorn Frappuccino for me (when ordered as-is). Speaking strictly about its appearance, I like the summer vibe, but looks only take a drink so far.
The TL;DR is that Starbucks needs to stop adding ingredients and empty calories into their drinks for the sake of making it more photographable. Sure it looks great, but this is why every other person that orders a drink there has customizations.
Every sip packs an overwhelming strawberry punch, it’s way too sweet; and I love sweet and strawberry. I’m disappointed, but don’t think the entire concept is a failure, just the execution. I can tell the drink has potential but no one at research and development could even possibly see that over the mountain of sugar and syrup someone stuck in this drink.
Kevin said he really liked how it tasted, but he only had one sip when I first got it. I agreed at first, but after drinking an entire drink like that? No way. The honeymoon was over after the first few sips.
How I’d Order the Strawberry Funnel Cake Frappuccino
Now onto the good stuff: how I’d customize this Frappuccino to make it potable.
For starters, I’d order it with nonfat milk and no whipped cream, because I don’t care for whipped cream and think nonfat milk in a blended beverage is indistinguishable, and both alterations are less calories/less fat/less bad stuff.
I’d also order it with less pumps of the Funnel Cake Syrup. A grande comes with three by default, and honestly one might even be enough, but definitely cap it at two.
The other two easy cuts are the Powdered Sugar Funnel Cake Topping and the Strawberry Drizzle. For starters, I couldn’t identify with my eyes nor taste buds where there was Powdered Sugar Funnel Cake Topping, so that’s an easy nix. And given how overpowering the strawberry taste is already, the Strawberry Drizzle can safely be removed.
With those alterations I would venture to guess this is actually a much more delightful drink. The big deductions I gave it were the wildly overpowering strawberry taste and the sweetness, and the above customizations should help with both.
Order My Version of this Frappuccino
- Nonfat milk
- No whipped cream, Powdered Sugar Funnel Cake Topping or Strawberry Drizzle
- One pump Funnel Cake Syrup
Pro Tip: if you’re like me and hate asking a barista to make so many alterations, you can order on the app, it’ll make it way easier for both of you.
Strawberry Funnel Cake Frappuccino Nutrition
Like many Frappuccinos, this one is heavy on a lot of the not-so-healthy stuff. However, I’m sure you can scale back greatly and make it a treat you can feel better about. For starters, you can order sans whipped cream, with nonfat milk and decrease your syrup pumps (for flavor and sugar intake) to cut back significantly.
For my low caffeine/caffeine sensitive crew, there’s not too much in this drink. However, as noted by Starbucks on their app pictured above, they can’t claim an exact caffeine amount, so take that number with a grain of salt.
Also, they now provide a tidy list of ingredients and allergens for applicable products. There doesn’t happen to be any in this one, per the screenshot, but the default version is made with 2% milk. So if you’re lactose sensitive you may want to take that into consideration and order with a milk alternative and/or no whip.
Naturally, my ride or die had to have a sniff. Fun Bickell fact: he LOVES strawberries. When we get ice cream he’ll stare at my strawberries and cream cup and completely ignore Kevin’s peanut butter and chocolate ice cream, it’s the craziest thing! So you might say he’s a fan, too.
Have you given the Strawberry Funnel Cake Frappuccino a try? I’d love to hear your take, especially if you altered yours, particularly if you tried it with my suggested customizations in the comments below!
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