Quick Answer
A pink drink with heavy cream can range anywhere from 200 to 500 calories or more depending on the size and exact ingredients. A standard Starbucks’ Pink Drink is around 120 calories for a Grande (16 oz) size. Adding 2 oz of heavy cream adds roughly 110 calories. So a Grande Pink Drink with heavy cream would be around 230 calories. However, sizes, quantities of ingredients, and different recipes can vary the calorie count significantly.
Calculating the Calories in a Pink Drink with Heavy Cream
The calories in a pink drink with heavy cream will depend on:
Size of the Drink
Starbucks offers Pink Drinks in Short (12 oz), Tall (16 oz), Grande (16 oz), and Venti (24 oz) sizes. The more liquid there is, the more calories it will contain. For example:
| Size | Calories (Plain) | Calories (with Heavy Cream) |
|---|---|---|
| Short | 90 | 180 |
| Tall | 100 | 190 |
| Grande | 120 | 230 |
| Venti | 140 | 270 |
As you can see, the larger sizes contain more calories. A Venti is over double the calories of a Short.
Amount of Heavy Cream
Heavy cream is high in fat and calories. The more you add, the greater the calorie count. For example:
| Heavy Cream | Calories |
|---|---|
| 1 oz | 50 |
| 2 oz | 110 |
| 3 oz | 170 |
| 4 oz | 220 |
Just adding an extra ounce of cream can add 50+ calories.
Other Ingredients
The Pink Drink’s base is strawberry acai juice, coconut milk, and ice. Any other sugary ingredients like syrups or purees will add to the calorie total. Whipped cream topping will also boost calories.
Typical Nutrition for a Pink Drink with Heavy Cream
Here are the nutrition facts for a typical Grande (16 oz) Pink Drink with 2 oz heavy cream from Starbucks:
| Calories | Fat | Carbs | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|
| 230 | 19g | 29g | 2g |
As you can see, the heavy cream adds a significant amount of fat and nearly doubles the calories compared to a regular Pink Drink.
Low Calorie Options
To make a pink drink lower in calories, you can:
Size Down
Stick to a Short or Tall size, which run between 90-100 calories for the plain drink.
Use Nonfat Milk
Substitute nonfat milk for the heavy cream. This removes nearly all the fat and cuts calories in about half.
Easy On the Cream
Limit the heavy cream to 1 ounce or less. Also skip the whipped cream topping.
Sugar-Free Syrup
Opt for sugar-free vanilla or other syrups to add flavor without excess calories.
Water It Down
Ask for extra ice or a splash of water to dilute the drink slightly.
The Bottom Line
A pink drink with heavy cream can range from 200-500+ calories depending on the size and exact recipe. To keep calories down, opt for smaller sizes, go easy on high-fat ingredients like heavy cream, and customize it to your dietary needs. Tracking calories and nutrients can help keep pink drinks an occasional treat in a balanced diet.