Introduction: Starbucks Copycat Unicorn Frappuccino
I was super excited when I saw Starbucks come out with a Unicorn Frappuccino. Not only because it sounded fun, but it looked super tasty to me too. People loved to hate it and the baristas certainly hated making it, but I thought it actually tasted pretty good. I will admit that the drink itself (mango and vanilla) isn't spectacular, but there is just something about those flavors mixed with the tart white chocolate sauce that makes for a tasty drink.
If you never got an opportunity to try it out, here's your chance! Also, if you don't like artificial colors, just leave out the food colorings. You'll end up with a white frappuccino with tart white sauce that tastes the same (just won't look as awesome).
Step 1: Ingredients and Supplies
This is pretty basic as far as making the frappuccino goes. From there, the added aspects aren't really that complicated either. It's simply a matter of getting what you need and preparing things ahead of time.
This recipe is a single serving and makes about the equivalent of a 16oz Grande from Starbucks.
Ingredients:
- 2c Ice
- 3/4c milk - use whatever you want, to get it a little big creamier; use Half & Half or whipping cream
- 3 tbsp Mango Syrup
- 1.5 tbsp Vanilla Syrup
- 1.5 tbsp Simple Syrup
- Pinch of Xantham Gum (optional)
- Pink/Red Food Coloring
Toppings:
- Whipped Topping
- Blue Sour/Tart Sauce (see next step)
- Tart Blue and Pink topping (see next step)
Utensils:
- Blender
- Ice cube trays - small ice cubes make for even easier blending
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Cups for serving
- Straws
- Zip Lock bag
- Squirt Bottle (optional)
Step 2: Tart Sauce and Tart Sprinkles
Tart Blue Sauce
- White Chocolate Sauce
- Citric Acid - I think they all are, but make sure it is safe to eat
- Blue Food Coloring
Mix together 1/4teaspoon citric acid into 1/4c white chocolate sauce. Add blue food coloring to this. If you don't like too much tartness, try decreasing the amount of citric acid first. You can always add more but you can't take it away once it's mixed in.
It is also easy to go overboard with the blue food coloring. I think I did a 1/4c of the mixture with a drop of blue and mixed that with a 1/4c of the mixture not dyed at all. This lightened mine up a bit.
Tart Sprinkles
- Citric Acid
- Sugar (I actually only did citric acid, but I think it could benefit to mix it with sugar, it's your choice)
- Pink Food Coloring
Put some Citric Acid (and sugar if you want) in a zip lock bag. Drip in some food coloring, close up the bag and mix it up the best you can. Add more coloring as you need it. The food coloring I used came out more salmon, but that's okay. Make it as bright as you want.
Step 3: Blend and Assemble
Mix together all your frappuccino ingredients and blend until smooth. If you want the drink to be pink like Starbucks had it, you need to mix in some pink or red food coloring. It will probably take a few drops but just add until you get the color you want.
Once you have your mixture, you need to assemble it. To make it like they did, drizzle or squirt your tart sauce along the inside of the glass. (While this looks nice, I actually think it would taste better if you squirt this in while you were pouring in the frappe mix. I think the key to the taste is getting that tart sauce to mix in with the sweet drink.)
Now fill your glass with the frappe (mine got a little full and I had to take some out).
Like I said, I liked the tart sauce, so I added more on top before adding my whipped topping. This is optional.
Once you have the whipped topping, finish it all off with your tart sprinkles or regular sugar sprinkles.
Stick a straw in and enjoy! I suggest mixing that sauce for the best taste.
Step 4: Pretty
Doesn't the pink and blue look good together! As the blue mixes in, the pink will look more purple, but when you mix red and blue you will, inevitably, get purple.
14 Comments
5 years ago on Step 4
Does the real starbucks version have coffee?
Reply 5 years ago
Nope. It's one of their coffee free flavors. You could certainly add some but I wouldn't do too much as I'm not sure how well it will go with mango :)
Reply 5 years ago
Yeah, I wouldn't want to. :P
6 years ago
That looks better than the one from Starbucks! The changing pink and blue colors look nice on the side! How did you do that?
Reply 6 years ago
No magic color changing from me, just food coloring and a melting drink :)
Reply 6 years ago
I mean on the side of the 'ible.
Reply 6 years ago
Ah! Thank you :)
6 years ago
I heard a lot about these things but never did try one. I do love how you made the background of this page change colors as you scroll! Why did the baristas hate making them so much?
Reply 6 years ago
I was pretty excited when I learned how to change the background :D
I heard they didn't like making them because people would order a bunch of them at once and that the ingredients to make them would dye their hands. I also think there are people who don't like making the Frappuccinos in general so having a new one added to the menu must annoy them.
I was at a Starbucks once and the whole time the baristas were making mine and other peoples frappes, they complained loudly about how they hate making them. Never went back to that Starbucks.
6 years ago
I wondered why they disappeared so fast. I figured they didn't do so well. Tasted pretty gnarl, IMO.
http://www.today.com/food/starbucks-being-sued-over-unicorn-frappuccino-t111291
6 years ago
looks fantastic
Reply 6 years ago
Thanks :)
6 years ago
Starbucks uses natural color, much nicer to eat than artificial dye. The blue color comes from anthocyanins which naturally changes from teal to pink with pH. You can purchase cabbage blue powder or liquid color from ConfectionCrafts and add a drop of any acid, dissolved citric acid, lemon juice, vinegar, shrub.
Reply 6 years ago
That's cool, I hadn't heard of that :)