Starbucks not only dictates when fall starts (on PSL day, of course), but now also when summer starts with its drink drops. The latest seasonal lineup, cleverly dubbed “A.S.A.P.” (As Summer As Possible), comprises mainly of repeat/returning items, but there’s one new beverage: the Strawberry Funnel Cake Frappuccino!
This signature blended beverage touts funnel-cake flavor syrup blended with coffee, milk, and ice with layers of strawberry puree, whipped cream, and powered sugar funnel cake pieces.
Visually, the first descriptor that came to mind was “stunning,” which may sound exaggerated. So, I’ll settle down and simply say it was a pretty drink! It brought back summer nostalgia as it fondly reminded me of strawberry ice cream sundae cups – the ones with the little wooden spoon. As a kid, I used to eat those daily during summer school.
This Frap was definitely a glow up from those frozen dessert cups. Consistent with all Starbucks’ fruit inclusions/flavoring, the strawberry puree had the nuanced sweet and tartness of real fruit. In contrast, though, the funnel cake-flavored syrup tasted a little bit artificial. It had a distinct vanilla-esque note that even coffee couldn’t hide.
To be fair, though, the drink overall was not very coffee-forward. I was about halfway through when I did a double take and asked aloud, “Is there even coffee in this?!” The nutrition facts in the handy app confirmed the caffeine presence of about 85 milligrams, which is a fraction of my usual nitro cold brew. Regardless, I’m going to say it was by design because it would be easy to overwhelm the fruit flavor with bold, acidic coffee.
I chose not to mix it to maintain the layered drinking experience. My favorite sips started with the whipped cream and strawberry puree part for a strawberries & cream-like flavor. Then it was followed by a slurp of the blended coffee as there were the fun bits of the funnel cake pieces. Said pieces had a graham cracker-like texture instead of fluffy funnel cake. This deviation was fine by me because I hate the idea of soggy pieces. Rinse and repeat (or more like sip and sip some more in this case)!
Is it a color-changing, Insta-worthy mermaid unicorn beverage? No.
Is it a classic that I could see returning summer after summer? Heckin’ yes!
Purchased Price: $5.25
Size: Grande (16 oz)
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (16 oz) 410 calories, 20 grams of fat, 12 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 60 milligrams of cholesterol, 220 milligrams of sodium, 53 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 51 grams of sugar, 4 grams of added sugar, 4 grams of protein, and 85 milligrams of caffeine.
I’m curious how the pieces of funnel cake are able to make it up the straw that I assume comes with it…
there are funnel cake crumbs in it, small enough to make it up the straw
Thanks, Spruce, for clearing that up! I envisioned whole chunks, which are clearly not conducive to making it up a straw…not even one of those big/wide ones provided with bubble-tea beverages (which I LOVE, incidentally).
I don’t know why they would put ANY coffee in it.
I found the combination of coffee and strawberries too weird.
I have to agree with both Holly May and AW. While I realize that Starbucks is, clearly, known for their coffee…I don’t honestly understand the reason for the inclusion of coffee, in this particular beverage. (Although, according to the review, the coffee was nearly undetectable, anyway.)
Why to add coffee? Because otherwise, the drink is just a strawberry puree, whipped cream, and funnel cake sugar bomb? 😉
Hmm…you’re argument doesn’t really work. The vast majority of their drinks are just that, sugar bombs; and they have plenty of other “Creme” drinks that don’t include coffee.
Yeah, but the coffee makes the drink more “adult”/complex, and with a bitter/sharp edge to it, rather than pure sweetness that so many Starbucks drinks can have, as you note (I almost think of it as a vanilla or chocolate shake with an espresso dropped in)–in the direction of an affogato (ice cream topped with espresso). The amount of sugar in so many Starbucks drinks simply can overwhelm.
Starbucks should had sold funnel cake sticks served warm from pastry section. Tossed in powdered sugar in the sleeve. Serve with a mocha dipping sauce.
Lots of complaints showing on Starbucks social media. I tried myself and thought it was okay not wow.
I got this as my free birthday drink and as I was ordering it in the drive through, the lady asked if I wanted any coffee in it! So it seems to me the coffee is optional. I really didn’t like this drink. I ate the whipped cream and topping portion, but like someone else mentioned, the coffee did not go with the strawberry taste. I drank 1/3 of it and put it in the frig where it deflated over night and I ended up taking one sip in the morning and it was awful. Just like cold corn syrup with shredded bits of dough. I poured it out. I am the type of person who likes coffee to taste like coffee and ice cream sundaes to taste like ice cream sundaes.