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This Starbucks pistachio frappuccino copycat is creamy, nutty, and perfectly balanced! Not overly sweet like the original. Made with real pistachio butter and a simple thickening trick, this homemade version has the same smooth texture as Starbucks, but with way more pistachio flavor.
If you love Starbucks-style frappuccinos but want better flavor and control over sweetness, this recipe is for you. It’s refreshing, customizable, and easy to make at home in minutes.
If you love Starbucks, you need to try The best Starbucks Salted Cream Cold Foam Cold Brew, Starbucks Irish Cream Cold Brew, Starbucks Vanilla Bean Frappuccino with No Ice Cream and even this Starbucks Matcha Frappuccino.
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I’ve been making this pistachio frappuccino at home for years, and it’s honestly one of my favorite Starbucks copycats on the site. Every time Starbucks brings their pistachio drinks back, I try them again, and every time I’m reminded why I prefer this homemade version.
Using real pistachio butter instead of syrup makes such a difference. The flavor is deeper, nuttier, and not cloyingly sweet. Plus, once you buy the pistachio butter, you can make multiple drinks for the price of a single Starbucks frappuccino, which feels like a win every time. This is the drink I make when I want something indulgent, cold, and café-worthy without leaving the house.
Why This Pistachio Frappuccino Copycat Works
- Customizable milk and sweetness makes it work for dairy-free, vegan, or low-sugar needs
- Real pistachio butter gives authentic nutty flavor instead of artificial syrup
- Xanthan gum replaces Starbucks crème base, creating a thick, smooth texture
- Balanced sweetness means you taste pistachio first, not sugar
Honest Starbucks pistachio frappuccino review
The second I received the email from Starbucks letting me know that they release their pistachio drinks, I knew I had to go and get my hands on it.
I blamed it on research, but secretly I wanted to try it for my pure enjoyment but unfortunately, I was very disappointed. The drink itself didn’t taste a lot like pistachio, I’m guessing because they used syrup instead of anything that had pistachio. The drink was overly sweet too so I was extremely disappointed with the whole drink itseld.
But because I know that this drink has so much potential I decided to try and make a copycat recipe for it.
Pistachio frappuccino ingredients
Here are the ingredients you’ll need to make this pistachio frappuccino copycat. Scroll to the recipe card for exact measurements.
- Milk– Use 2% milk for this recipe if you can, if not any milk works fine!
- Pistachio butter– Pistachio butter is a little on the pricey side but if you’re addicted to Starbucks like I am it’s a little investment that’s definitely worth it.
- sugar– You’ll just need some granulated sugar for this recipe, you could also use simple syrup or vanilla syrup.
- Xanthan gum– The xanthan gum is used instead of the creme base in the Starbucks frappuccino drinks.
- Salt– The salt helps bring out the pistachio flavor even more.
- Ice– Use clean ice, not something that sat in the freezer for a few weeks/months to get the best tasting frappe ever!
How does pistachio butter taste like?
Pistachio butter has a nutty, earthy, and somewhat sweet flavor. It is made by blanching and removing
Recipe variations
- Want a dairy free pistachio fappe? You can make this recipe using almond milk or soy milk. If you decide that you want to top your drink with whipped cream as well, make sure that you use dairy free whipped cream too.
- Want to make a version with caffeine? You can add a little cold brew coffee, instant coffee, or an espresso shot before blending. Taste the drink and add a little more sugar if you feel like it needs it.
- Want to make a skinny pistachio frappuccino? You can make this Starbucks frappe skinny by swapping the granulated sugar with a calorie free sweetener. I usually like to use Truvia at a 1:1 ratio to make my drinks keto
How to make pistachio frappuccino
This is how you can make your own Starbucks pistachio frappuccino at home Make sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the full detailed instructions!
- Place all the ingredients in the blender starting with the ice, milk, and then the rest.
- Blend until smooth and top with whipped cream and enjoy!
Tips for the Best Pistachio Frappuccino
- Drink right away, frappuccinos don’t store well since they’re frozen
- Use high-quality pistachio butter for the strongest flavor
- Start with less sugar and add more after blending
- Blend immediately before serving for best texture
- Use fresh ice to avoid freezer taste
Frequently Asked Questions
Unfortunately no. Frappuccinos are made with ice, so the second you blend it you should drink it or serve it. Otherwise, it will become a watery melty mess.
Yes, texture-wise, it’s very similar, but flavor-wise it’s better. Starbucks uses pistachio-flavored syrup, while this recipe uses real pistachio butter, giving it a deeper, more natural pistachio taste.
For the closest result, pistachio butter is best. If needed, you can use pistachio cream or unsweetened pistachio paste, but avoid pistachio-flavored syrups—they won’t give the same richness.
Xanthan gum replaces the Starbucks crème base. It thickens the drink and keeps the ice from separating, giving you that smooth, blended coffee shop texture.
You can, but the texture will be thinner and melt faster. If skipping it, drink immediately and expect a more milkshake-style consistency.
This recipe is similar to the pistachio crème version (no coffee). If you want caffeine, you can add espresso or cold brew before blending.
The best Starbucks Pistachio Frappuccino
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup ice
- 2 tbsp pistachio butter
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1/4 tsp xanthan gum
- 1/8 tsp sea salt
- whipped cream optional
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients in the blender starting with the ice, milk, pistachio butter, sugar, xanthan gum, and sea salt and blend
- Serve in a tall glass, top with whipped cream and sprinkle with chopped pistachios for a pretty drink or enjoy as is.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
