I Tried Sabrina Carpenter’s New Dunkin’ Refresher

Just in time for hot summer days and following her new album announcement, pop star Sabrina Carpenter launched yet another drink with Dunkin’. But this time, it doesn’t feature “that me espresso.” It’s sweet, refreshing and—dare I say it—a dupe of one of Starbucks’ most popular drinks.

Meet Sabrina’s Strawberry Daydream Refresher, a creamy, dreamy iced refresher highlighted in the breakfast chain’s new summer lineup. The strawberry refresher is mixed with oat milk and topped with cold foam to create the flavor profile of strawberries and cream.

Living in the Philly area, it’s not hard to find a Dunkin’ within a five-minute radius, so I tried this refresher as soon as I possibly could. Today, I finally gave it a sip, so I’m here to share my authentic, honest review on the drink, from its *taste* to its nutritional value.

First, let’s talk about the flavor. Dunkin’ notes that this drink “delivers the nostalgic taste of strawberries and cream,” and I would say that description is accurate. This refresher teeters the line of “too sweet” and “just sweet enough,” but the oat milk definitely helped neutralize the cloying sweetener. I ordered a small (to keep it Short n’ Sweet) and felt that it was the perfect size for a midday refreshment. Starbucks Pink Drink lovers should definitely give it a try, as it offers near-identical flavor, but topped with cold foam. It’s no doubt a delicious sip that’s worth the treat. 

As for the nutritional breakdown, here’s what a small Sabrina’s Strawberry Daydream Refresher contains:

• Calories: 210
• Carbohydrates: 40 g
• Dietary fiber: 1 g
• Total sugars: 31 g
• Added sugar: 29 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Total fat: 4.5 g
• Saturated fat: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 10 mg
• Sodium: 80 mg

It’s lower in calories than the brand’s pumpkin spice latte, but to me, it’s no surprise that this drink has 29 grams of added sugar after tasting it. This makes the refresher OK for an occasional sip, but maybe not for your everyday Dunkin’ run. The American Heart Association recommends that your daily added sugar intake should be no more than 36 grams per day, and this drink is over 80% of this recommended limit.

Let’s be clear: at EatingWell, we are adamant in the fact that all foods and drinks can be included in a healthy eating pattern. But moderation is key, so while having this beverage every morning may not be a healthy choice, enjoying it a few times this season is totally fine (and encouraged!).

Overall, I recommend this creamy refresher as an occasional summer treat. But if you’re looking for a lower-sugar version, our copycat Pink Drink recipe only has 10 grams of sugar and can be customized to replicate Carpenter’s velvety drink.