Does Starbucks have strawberry banana smoothies?

Quick Answer

Yes, Starbucks does offer strawberry banana smoothies on their menu depending on location and season. The Strawberries & Crème Frappuccino Blended Beverage is a creamy strawberry and banana smoothie made with strawberry puree, banana, milk, and ice. It’s blended to create a thick, icy texture like a traditional smoothie. The Strawberry Banana Smoothie was also previously offered as a limited time option.

Strawberries & Crème Frappuccino

The Strawberries & Crème Frappuccino is Starbucks’ take on a strawberry banana smoothie. This indulgent blended beverage contains real strawberries blended with milk and ice. Here are the key ingredients that give it the strawberry banana flavor profile:

  • Strawberry puree – Made from real strawberries, this provides the dominant strawberry flavor.
  • Banana – Slices of real banana blend into the drink.
  • Milk – The milk provides creaminess and a nutritional boost.
  • Ice – Shaved ice is blended throughout to give an icy, smoothie-like texture.
  • Whipped cream – Sweetened whipped cream tops off the Frappuccino for a frothy finish.

The Strawberries & Crème Frappuccino can be customized with different types of milk, whipped cream, and toppings to suit your preferences. The standard recipe contains no coffee, unlike most Frappuccinos. The focus is on the strawberry and banana fruits, making it more like a fruit smoothie.

Availability

The Strawberries & Crème Frappuccino is a seasonal drink that Starbucks brings back for a limited time each spring and summer. Here is more information on when you can expect to find it on menus:

  • First introduced in 2010 as a limited edition Frappuccino.
  • Typically returns around April or May for a summer promotion.
  • Available for a few months while strawberries are in peak season.
  • Removed from menus in late summer, around August.
  • Offered at participating Starbucks locations in the United States and Canada.
  • Not offered year-round or permanently on the menu.

Since it’s a seasonal item, the Strawberries & Crème Frappuccino is subject to availability. Check with your local Starbucks to see if they currently have it in stock during the spring and summer months. You may see it advertised on in-store signage and promotions when it’s back for the season.

Nutrition Facts

One 12 fluid ounce serving of the Strawberries & Crème Frappuccino contains:

  • Calories: 380
  • Total Fat: 11g
  • Saturated Fat: 7g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Cholesterol: 25mg
  • Sodium: 180mg
  • Total Carbohydrates: 64g
  • Dietary Fiber: 1g
  • Sugars: 60g
  • Protein: 5g

The Strawberries & Crème Frappuccino is considered a high calorie drink due to its high sugar content from the strawberry puree and whipped cream. It provides some nutrition from the banana, milk, and strawberries. But the majority of calories come from added sugars.

Strawberry Banana Smoothie

In addition to the Frappuccino version, Starbucks has also sold a non-blended Strawberry Banana Smoothie at select locations:

  • Offered in 2016 for a limited time only.
  • Made with strawberry purée, banana, nonfat yogurt, and apple juice.
  • Hand-shaken to create a smoothie consistency without blending.
  • Topped with whipped cream and popping boba pearls.
  • 12 fluid ounces, about 400 calories per serving.

This fruit-focused smoothie mimicked trendy smoothie shops with ingredients like yogurt, apple juice, and boba. It provided a lighter smoothie option compared to the higher calorie blended Frappuccino version.

The non-blended Strawberry Banana Smoothie is no longer available on Starbucks menus. It was a temporary limited offering for one summer. Customer response and sales during its short run were likely not strong enough for Starbucks to add it to the permanent menu.

How to Order a Strawberry Banana Drink at Starbucks

While the Strawberries & Crème Frappuccino is only available seasonally, you can still customize drinks at Starbucks to create your own strawberry banana beverage. Here are some options for ordering a similar smoothie-style drink any time of year:

Strawberry Refresher

Start with a Strawberry Acai Refresher then ask for the following modifications:

  • Add banana – Fresh banana blended in provides the banana flavor.
  • No berries – Hold the blackberries and acai to allow the strawberry and banana to shine.
  • Extra strawberry – Get an extra dose of strawberry flavor from added puree.
  • Blended – Blending gives a thicker, frothy smoothie-like consistency.
  • Add yogurt – Nonfat yogurt adds creaminess while boosting protein.

Strawberry Banana Frappuccino

Customize a Caramel or Coffee Frappuccino with these ingredient swaps:

  • Sub banana for the caramel or mocha sauce.
  • Add strawberry puree.
  • Use nonfat milk or yogurt instead of whole milk for lower fat content.
  • Top with whipped cream.

Smoothie with Juice and Yogurt

Order an unsweetened strawberry banana smoothie with:

  • Strawberry juice or apple juice as the base.
  • Whole or nonfat yogurt for creaminess.
  • Sliced banana and strawberry puree for fruit flavor.
  • No added syrups or sweeteners to control sugar and calories.
  • Add ice and blend for a thick consistency.

Do All Starbucks Locations Have Smoothies?

Smoothies and Frappuccinos made with real fruit like the Strawberries & Crème are only available at select Starbucks locations. Many Starbucks inside grocery stores or airports will not have blenders to prepare blended beverages.

Here are some tips on finding Starbucks locations that serve smoothies:

  • Check standalone Starbucks shop rather than ones inside stores.
  • Look for a store with a bar area that has blenders on display.
  • Call ahead to ask if that location serves blended drinks.
  • Order online for pickup and look for Frappuccino or smoothie options.
  • The Starbucks mobile app shows each store’s amenities, including blenders.

The Frappuccino blended beverages are a signature item for Starbucks. So the majority of their coffee shop locations are equipped with blenders and trained baristas that can whip up any Frappuccino flavor combination or fruit smoothie. Just be aware that smaller kiosk-style locations may not offer blended drinks. Checking ahead of time for blender availability ensures you can enjoy smoothie-style drinks from Starbucks.

Smoothies at Non-Starbucks Cafes

Beyond Starbucks, many other coffee shops and cafes serve smoothies and blended fruit drinks on their menus. Here are some alternative places to order strawberry banana smoothies:

Jamba Juice

Jamba Juice is a popular smoothie chain with over 700 U.S. locations. Their menu features classic fruit smoothies, including strawberry banana options:

  • Strawberries Wild Smoothie – Strawberry and banana blended with tangy yogurt.
  • Banana Berry Smoothie – Strawberry and banana with raspberry sherbet.
  • Tropi-Kale Smoothie – Banana, strawberry, mango with kale and apple juice.

Tropical Smoothie Cafe

This smoothie franchise has 500+ cafes throughout the southern and midwestern United States. Some strawberry banana options include:

  • Strawberry Banana Smoothie – Blended with fat free yogurt and 100% apple juice.
  • Wildside Blast – Strawberry, banana, kiwi, orange, and apple juice.
  • Shake Me Up Smoothie – Strawberry, banana, vanilla yogurt, and apple juice.

Planet Smoothie

Planet Smoothie shops offer real fruit smoothies and healthy snacks. Strawberry banana smoothie choices include:

  • Strawberry Sunshine – Strawberry, banana, and orange sherbet.
  • Pure Releaf – Strawberry, banana, pineapple, and leafy greens.
  • Planet Lite – Strawberry, banana, vanilla yogurt, and V8 juice.

Local Smoothie Cafes

Many local cafes and health food stores also serve fresh fruit smoothies. These small businesses can craft customized smoothies with unique ingredients and nutrition boosts like protein powder, chia seeds, oats, or nut butters. The strawberry banana combination is a simple smoothie flavor that makes it easy to order at any location.

Smoothies at Home

In addition to buying pre-made smoothies, it’s easy and affordable to make healthy strawberry banana smoothies at home. Here’s a simple smoothie bowl recipe:

Strawberry Banana Smoothie Bowl Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 1 frozen banana, peeled and sliced
  • 1 cup frozen strawberries
  • 1⁄2 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
  • 1⁄2 cup milk of choice, like skim milk or almond milk
  • Toppings like granola, chia seeds, sliced banana or strawberries

Instructions:

  1. Add the sliced banana, frozen strawberries, yogurt, and milk to a blender.
  2. Blend until smooth and creamy, about 30 seconds to 1 minute.
  3. Pour into a bowl and add desired toppings.

Making your own strawberry banana smoothie is simple with just 5 main ingredients. It provides more flexibility to use Greek yogurt, milk alternatives like almond milk, and natural sweeteners compared to pre-made versions. Blend up this single serving then duplicate the recipe to make smoothies for the whole family. Getting your fruit smoothie fix at home is tasty, easy, and economical.

Conclusion

Starbucks offers strawberry banana smoothies on a limited basis with seasonal items like the Strawberries & Crème Frappuccino. While not available year-round, you can still customize similar smoothie-inspired drinks by adding strawberry and banana to their cold beverages. Checking if a Starbucks location has blenders before visiting ensures you’ll be able to order blended fruit smoothies. Beyond Starbucks, Jamba Juice, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Planet Smoothie, local cafes, and home DIY versions are all great options for satisfying strawberry banana smoothie cravings any time of the year.

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