Hello, coffee lovers! Today, I’d like to let you in on a little secret: creating a copycat Starbucks caramel frappé at home is not only cheaper than purchasing one at Starbucks, but it’s also faster and more convenient. With rising restaurant and coffee shop prices, it’s getting more difficult to enjoy our favorite treats. But don’t worry; I’ve got your back.

I’m sure you’ve all had a Starbucks caramel frappé and know how wonderful and creamy it is. Let me assure you that making one at home is just as wonderful, if not better. What’s the greatest part? Most of the ingredients are likely already in your refrigerator. With only a few simple ingredients, you’ll be sipping on a homemade caramel frappe in no time.

Making your own caramel frappé is simple. You won’t have to stand in a long line to get your coffee fix. You can create it in your own kitchen, saving both time and money. You can also customize it to your taste—make it a little more sweeter, extra creamy, or extra strong—the choice is yours!

So, the next time you want a Starbucks caramel frappuccino, skip the drive-thru and make this copycat recipe at home. Trust me, you won’t be sorry. Both your taste buds and your pocketbook will be extremely thankful.

Happy sipping!

Also See These Recipes

• Homemade Nesquick Recipe
• Hot Chocolate on a Stick

Copycat Starbucks Caramel Frappé Recipe

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• Author: Liz
• Prep Time: 5-10 minutes
• Total Time: 0 hours
• Yield: 1 glass
• Category: Drink

Ingredients

• 2 shots of espresso or 4 oz. of strongly brewed coffee
• 2 cups of ice cubes
• 1 cup of milk
• 1/4 cup of caramel sauce or caramel syrup (to perfect the recipe, you can order Starbucks caramel syrup from Amazon!)
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• Whipped cream (see my easy homemade whipped cream recipe), small scoop of vanilla ice cream, or almond milk (optional)
• Caramel sauce for drizzle(optional)

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Instructions

1. Make 2 espresso shots or 4 oz of strong coffee. Let it cool completely.
2. Blend the espresso, ice, milk, 1/4 cup caramel sauce, and the vanilla extract in a blender on high until the ingredients are fully combined and the ice is crushed.

3. Drizzle caramel sauce around the inside of the glass.

4. Pour the frappé into a glass.
5. Top with whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce(optional).

Notes

• You can adjust the sweetness level by adding a little sugar or more caramel sauce.
• You can adjust the texture by adding more ice or using less ice.
• Experiment with different types of milk (e.g., almond, oat) to find the one that you like best.
• Use high-quality espresso or coffee for the best flavor.
• You can also make a caramel frappé with a mocha twist by adding a tablespoon of cocoa powder to the blender.

The post Copycat Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino (Save $5 Per Drink) appeared first on Penny Pinchin' Mom.

It may be cool right now, but the summer heat will be returning here soon!  What better way to cool off than with a refreshing summer drink — like this Watermelon, Pineapple, and Mint Infused Water.  It is summer, cool and fruity — all at the same time!

WATERMELON, PINEAPPLE & MINT INFUSED WATER

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• Author: Tracie
• Prep Time: 5 min
• Total Time: 5 min
• Yield: 8 oz
• Category: Beverages

Ingredients

• 1 8 oz. canning jar
• 3–4 small chunks of fresh watermelon
• 3–4 small chunks of fresh pineapple
• 1/8 fresh of fresh mint leaves

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Instructions

1. Add the pineapple chunks, watermelon chunks and fresh mint leaves to your 8 oz. canning jar.
2. Rip the leaves in half for more flavor
3. Next, use a spoon or a fork to gently mash the fruit down a little bit. This will let the juice out of the fruit to infuse your water.
4. Fill the jar with water, place the cover on, give it a good shake and refrigerate overnight for the best flavor.
5. **If you’d prefer to use a larger canning jar, simply double or triple the recipe ingredients and refrigerate overnight.

Notes

**If you’d prefer to use a larger canning jar, simply double or triple the recipe ingredients and refrigerate overnight.

The post Watermelon, Pineapple & Mint Infused Water appeared first on Penny Pinchin' Mom.

When you make this copycat Passion Tea Lemonade yourself at home, you are going to make your wallet VERY happy! It doesn’t matter what the weather is like outside, this is delicious any time of the year!

If you have yet to try Starbucks Passion Tea Lemonade, you need to try it the next time you stop in.  One sip and I was hooked!! Fortunately, I was able to replicate this recipe to make it at home — for just $0.25 a serving!  You can find it at your regular Starbucks location as well as the small shops you see in your local Target or grocery store.

This awesome copycat Starbucks passion tea lemonade recipe tastes just like what you get at the restaurant.  Best of all, it costs much less so you can indulge whenever you want! Just grab a few ingredients the next time you are at the store and you’ll be sipping passion tea lemonade whenever you want!

Other copycat recipes you can try:

• Copycat Chick-fil-A Chicken Salad Sandwich
• Copycat Olive Garden Toasted Ravioli
• Copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte

Copycat Starbucks Passion Tea Lemonade

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• Author: Tracie

Ingredients

• 1 Tazo Passion Tea Bag
• 1 1/2 cups Water
• 1/2 cup Lemonade
• 1 TBSP sugar or 1/2 oz Starbucks Classic Syrup
• 1/8 tsp Vanilla

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Instructions

1. Boil water and steep a bag of Tazo Passion Tea into a large mug. Steep for approximately 15 minutes.
2. Remove tea bags. Add sugar and vanilla.
3. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours.
4. Add lemonade to mixture and serve!

Notes

***You will want 1 tea bag per 2 cups of water.

The post Starbucks Passion Tea Lemonade Recipe appeared first on Penny Pinchin' Mom.

The end of summer and beginning of fall can be an odd spot. You have those chilly mornings and nights, but the afternoons are still blazing hot! That’s the perfect time of year for these Caramel Apple Floats!

Caramel Apple Floats are amazing. Think of a root beer float, which is great for summer, but all creamy and delicious like an apple pie in a cup, and that’s what this is! They’re so simple to make, and perfect for the fall. They would even make a great treat for Thanksgiving Day too!

Caramel Apples are an awesome fall treat, but they can be hard to eat. Caramel Apple Floats are a great way to get all the flavor of a caramel apple, but easy to eat with a spoon. Plus, ice cream just makes everything better in my book!

Other delicious apple inspired treats:

• Homemade Apple Butter
• 25 Delicious Apple Recipes

Caramel Apple Floats

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• Author: Sammie
• Prep Time: 5 mins
• Total Time: 5 mins
• Yield: 1
• Category: Dessert

Ingredients

• 12 oz apple cider
• 1 scoop of ice cream
• Caramel Syrup
• Cinnamon

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Instructions

1. Chill your apple cider until it’s very cold.
2. Fill your 16 oz glass with about 12 oz of apple cider. Don’t fill it all the way to the top, or your ice cream will not fit.
3. Use an ice cream scoop and scoop out a large scoop of ice cream.
4. Scoop the ice cream right on top of the cup filled with apple cider. Make sure to press it down into the cup a bit, so the flavor can start to meld.
5. Sprinkle cinnamon on top of the ice cream, to give your float a nice hint of fall spice.
6. Drizzle the caramel syrup over the top of the ice cream.
7. Serve immediately with a spoon.
8. Other variations of the recipe may include adding nute like pecans, chocolate chips. coating the rim of the glass in chocolate and nuts, apple pie spice and more. Think outside the box and have fun with it!

The post Caramel Apple Floats appeared first on Penny Pinchin' Mom.

Limeade is one of my favorite drinks when summer rolls around. There is nothing better than sitting outside on a warm summer night with a refreshing glass in your hand. I use to buy it from the store. That is until I figured out how to make limeade at home!!

When hot temperatures roll in, there’s nothing better to quench your thirst than a cold glass of lemonade or limeade! Sure, you can always buy it at the store, but nothing beats making it yourself. This easy homemade limeade recipe will have you sipping cold limeade in no time, and it’s SO good!

You only need three ingredients for this limeade recipe, and it doesn’t take very long to make at all. Yep. Just three simple ingredients.

You can add some additional flavor with some cherry syrup to make your cherry limeade. You might also try mango or even strawberry!!! While I usually stick to my basic limeade recipe, it can be fun to spice it up a bit.

Other refreshing recipes you will want to try:

• Strawberry Lemonade
• Strawberry Pineapple Sorbet Smoothie
• Copycat Starbucks® Passion Tea Lemonade

Homemade Limeade Recipe

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Nothing says summer like limeade!  Follow this simple recipe to learn how to make limeade at home this year!

• Author: Sammie
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 5 mins
• Total Time: 20 mins
• Cuisine: Beverage

Ingredients

• 1 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1 cup + 5 cups of water
• 1 cup sugar

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Instructions

1. In a small sauce pan, combine one cup of warm water and sugar.
2. Stir while heating until the sugar has completely dissolved.
3. Remove the pan from the heat and let it cool.
4. Squeeze the juice from your limes (you will need about 12 limes total, depending on their size) into a one cup measuring cup. TIP: roll your limes firmly on a hard surface before juicing them, if juicing by hand, to get the most juice out of each lime.
5. Combine the cup of lime juice with the sugar mixture into a pitcher.
6. Add 5 cups of cold water, and mix well.
7. Add 1-2 cups of ice and let cool in the refrigerator.
8. For best results, allow it to chill in the fridge for 2 hours before serving.

The post Easy Homemade Limeade Recipe appeared first on Penny Pinchin' Mom.

There is nothing like a refreshing glass of lemonade on a summer’s night.  But, you can take it up a notch by adding more flavor to it.  One of my favorite drinks is strawberry lemonade.  This is a simple recipe you can make in just a few minutes at home.

I have purchased bottles of strawberry lemonade at the store in the past.  But, now I make it at home because it’s easy and honestly, it tasted better than what you will buy.  It’s one of our favorite drinks for our Memorial Day and July 4th parties, as well as our other many summertime get-togethers.

What makes this recipe even better is that you can easily swap out the strawberries for any other fruit, such as blueberries, raspberries or even blackberries.  This strawberry lemonade recipe is the perfect balance between sweet and sour, and even kids love it!

Make sure you check out these other amazing drink recipes:

• Strawberry Pineapple Sorbet Smoothie
• Copycat Starbucks Passion Tea Lemonade
• Watermelon, Mint & Pineapple Infused Water

Strawberry Lemonade Recipe

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This easy strawberry lemonade recipe takes only a few minutes to make and is packed full of flavor.

• Author: Sammie
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 5 mins
• Total Time: 15 mins
• Category: Drinks

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled
• 1 1/2 cups lemon juice
• 6 cups very cold water

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Instructions

1. In a small pot, combine the sugar, and a cup of water. Stir often, and bring it to a boil.
2. Once boiling, remove it from the heat and let it cool while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
3. Puree hulled strawberries in a food processor.
4. Add the pureed strawberries to the sugar water mixture. Then, add the lemon juice. Mix well.
5. In a large pitcher, combine the mixture and cold water. Stir until well mixed.
6. Add ice and store in the fridge. Let cool for one hour before serving.

The post Strawberry Lemonade Recipe appeared first on Penny Pinchin' Mom.

Want to make your own copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte? You can!

Most of us believe Starbucks® is amazing! They have so many fall drinks, but one of their most popular ones is the pumpkin spice latte.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t like having to spend $5 (or more) for just one drink!  I have this awesome copycat Starbucks® Pumpkin Spice Latte that anyone can make.  Best of all, it costs just $0.50 a cup!  Big savings that make your wallet happy while making your taste buds dance. (Want more budget-friendly recipes for cold-weather favorites? See How to Do Christmas on a Budget.)

If you love pumpkin, then these are other recipes you need to try:

• Pumpkin Muffins
• Pumpkin Cheesecake Layered Dessert
• Pumpkin Pie Dip
• Pumpkin Roll
• Caramel Vanilla Latte
• Starbucks Passion Tea Lemonade Recipe

Copycat Starbucks® Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe

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1-2 shots of espresso (or 3-4 oz dark roast coffee) 6 oz hot milk of your choice (skim, 2%, Almond Milk, Soy Milk, Coconut Milk – they will all work!) 1 Tablespoon of brown sugar ½ Tablespoon of pumpkin puree ½ teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice 1 teaspoon of vanilla syrup Top with whipped cream – optional Cinnamon to garnish

• Author: Tracie
• Cuisine: Beverage

Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp. brown sugar
• ½ Tbsp. pumpkin puree
• ½ tsp. pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tsp. vanilla syrup
• 1–2 shots of espresso (or 3–4 oz dark roast coffee)
• 6 oz hot milk of your choice (skim, 2%, Almond Milk, Soy Milk, Coconut Milk – they will all work!)
• Whipped Cream (optional)
• Cinnamon (optional)

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Instructions

1. Mix brow sugar, pumpkin puree, pumpkin spice and vanilla together until well blended (make sure you whip out any clumps).
2. Add coffee and milk and stir until blended.
3. Top with whipped cream and cinnamon.
4. Enjoy!

The post Copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe appeared first on Penny Pinchin' Mom.

Today you can buy a box mix for just about anything you may want to make.  The issue is that these mixes often contain things you may not want.  Not only that, sometimes, it is just fun to make your own products!

I’ve rounded up some of the best mixes you can find online, and put them here in just one place so you can find what you need when you are ready to mix it up!   To find the details and the recipe, just click on the link or the photo and we’ll get you the details you need to make it.

1. Homemade Bisquick from Kitchen Nostalgia.

2. Homemade Brownie Mix by Today’s Creative Life.

3. Homemade Yellow and Chocolate Cake Mixes created by A Few Short Cuts.

4. Homemade Cornbread Mix by Wicked Good Kitchen.

5. Homemade Pancake Mix courtesy of Cooking Classy.

6. Homemade Onion Soup Mix from Culinary Hill.

7. Homemade Taco Seasoning from The Country Cook.

8. Homemade Greek Seasoning by The Hill Hangout.

9. Homemade Ranch Seasoning Mix courtesy of Add a Pinch.

10. Homemade Sloppy Joe Seasoning Mix from Not Quite Susie.

11. Homemade Burger Seasoning from It’s a Keeper.

12. Homemade Chocolate Pudding Mix from Country Cleaver.

13.  Homemade Nesquick Mix by Penny Pinchin’ Mom.

14.  Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice by Ten at the Table.

15. Homemade Chai Spice Mix from Graceful Little Honey Bee.

The post Homemade Mixes (Bisquick, Nesquick, Cakes and More)! appeared first on Penny Pinchin' Mom.

This is the perfectly refreshing pairing! Create your own apple blueberry smoothie right at home!

Smoothies are an easy, healthy breakfast you can drink on the go.  They are usually made with yogurt, juice or almond milk.  What makes each one unique is the fruit you add to make the perfect blend.

One of my favorites is an apple smoothie.  But, that gets boring after a while, so adding other fruits such as strawberries or blueberries gives it a new and refreshing taste.

The recipe below can be changed up and you can change out any fruit for others you love.  You can make a peach blueberry smoothie, combine raspberries and blueberries – just about anything you would ever want.  Just stick to the base and swap out the fruits to suit your taste buds.

Other amazing fruit recipes:

• Strawberry Jam Cupcakes
• Grilled Peaches and Cream
• Fresh Blueberry Puffs

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Blueberry Apple Smoothie Recipe

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• Author: Tracie
• Category: Beverage

Ingredients

• 1 cup blueberries
• 1 cup diced apples
• 3/4 cup almond milk

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Instructions

1. Place all items into a blender and mix well.

Notes

Thinner Smoothie: Use 1 cup almond milk
Thicker Smoothie: Use 1/2 cup almond milk

The post Blueberry Apple Smoothie Recipe appeared first on Penny Pinchin' Mom.

Cool fall nights and crisp autumn mornings make you want to get something warm to fill your belly.  That is where this decadent caramel vanilla latte steps in!  Made with simple ingredients you probably have in home, it is super easy to whip up.

What is best is that this tastes like something you’d get at the coffee shop – but costs a whole lot less!  That may not make your local barista very happy – but that is just how life goes, isn’t it?!

 (Want to try some more budget-friendly recipes for the cold weather? See How to Do Christmas on a Budget.)

Other recipes that are perfect for fall:

• Pumpkin Muffins
• Pumpkin Spice Cheerios
• Saucy White Chili

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Caramel Vanilla Latte

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• Author: Tracie
• Category: Beverage

Ingredients

• 6 oz of your favorite coffee (vanilla can bring more flavor
• 1 Tbs caramel sauce (Ghirardelli recommended)
• 1 Tbs Torani salted caramel syrup
• 3 Tbs French Vanilla Liquid Coffee Creamer
• 1/2 cup milk
• Whipped Cream (optional)

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Instructions

1. Pour 6 oz coffee into an 8oz+ size mug.
2. Add caramel sauce and stir until melted.
3. Add caramel syrup and stir until blended.
4. Add coffee creamer and stir until blended.
5. In small pan, heat milk, whisking vigorously until it creates a foam.
6. One milk is hot, remove from heat. Use a spoon and hold back the foam, while pouring the milk into your coffee.
7. Add foam to the top.
8. Top with whipped cream and additional caramel sauce (optional)

The post Caramel Vanilla Latte appeared first on Penny Pinchin' Mom.

There is something about kids and chocolate milk that go together.  They need to drink milk to get the calcium and other nutrients necessary for growth and development.  Your kids may drink more milk if you add a bit of this homemade Nesquick to your next glass.

You are going to laugh when you realize how simple it is to make your very own Nesquick!!  This homemade recipe requires three ingredients, all of which you might have sitting in your pantry.  Blend and keep in an airtight container and you are done!  That’s all it takes to make your own homemade Nesquick powder.

Check out these recipes too!

• Copycat Lawry’s Seasoning Mix
• Copycat Olive Garden Toasted Ravioli
• Copycat Chick-fil-A Chicken Salad Sandwich
• Hot Chocolate on a Stick

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Copycat Nesquik Powder Recipe

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• Author: Tracie
• Category: Beverage

Ingredients

• 1 1/3 cup Sugar
• 2/3 cup Cocoa
• Pinch of salt

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Instructions

1. Simply combine all three ingredients together in an air tight container and store in your cabinet for up to 3 months.
2. Make the perfect cup of milk: Mix 2 TBSP of the Nesquik Copycat mix with 1 cup of milk and enjoy!

Notes

If you see clumps, use blender or shaker.

**Add 3-4 scoops of vanilla protein powder and turn your Nesquik mix into a Copycat Carnation Instant Breakfast!

The post Homemade Nesquick Recipe appeared first on Penny Pinchin' Mom.

This peach lemonade slush is ridiculously refreshing, delicious and easy to make! With just 3 ingredients, a blender and 3 minutes, you too can indulge in this amazing cold slushy drink!

What I love most about this easy recipe is that you get all of the flavor and satisfaction of a summertime treat … with no guilt. You’ve got fresh fruit, but you can’t really tell that’s what you are drinking. (So that means your kids will drink it, too … and not know!)

Other scrumptious drink recipes you need to try:

• Caramel Vanilla Latte
• Strawberry Lemonade
• Blueberry Apple Smoothie
• Copycat Chick-fil-A Frosted Lemonade

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Peach Lemonade Slush Recipe

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• Author: Tracie
• Yield: 4 Servings
• Category: Beverages

Ingredients

• 2 fresh peaches, pitted
• 1 can of frozen concentrated lemonade
• 2 cups ice

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Instructions

1. Blend all ingredients together in a blender until smooth and creamy.

The post Peach Lemonade Slush Recipe appeared first on Penny Pinchin' Mom.

Have you tried the Chick-fil-A frosted lemonade yet? If not DON’T! It’s totally amazingly addicting! However, rather than paying $3 (or more) for it at your local store, you can make it at home!

This easy frosted lemonade recipe tastes exactly like what you buy at the restaurant.  Not kidding!  But, this one costs around $0.75 a serving, which saves you big money.  And, you don’t have to drive to get it.

I know this recipe sounds so simple, and yes it is that easy! But I can promise you this you are going to LOVE the results!

Check out some of our other refreshing recipes:

• Starbucks Copycat Passion Tea Lemonade
• Strawberry Pineapple Sorbet Smoothie
• Easy Homemade Limeade

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CopyCat Chick-Fil-A Frosted Lemonade

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• Author: Tracie
• Category: Beverages

Ingredients

• 4 lemons
• 2 1/2 cups ice cold water
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 cups vanilla ice cream

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Instructions

1. To start, you will need to make a pitcher of fresh lemonade (or you could buy Simply Lemonade from the store).
2. To make homemade lemonade simply mix the juice of 4 lemons, 2 1/2 cups water and the 1/4 cup sugar in a pitcher. Stir well.
3. Next, scoop up about 2 cups of vanilla ice cream and put it in a blender.
4. Pour in 1 cup of your freshly made lemonade and blend.

The post CopyCat Chick-fil-A Frosted Lemonade appeared first on Penny Pinchin' Mom.

Spring is here and Summer’s just around the corner. It’s time to get ready for some tasty refreshing drinks. Even more so, why not make that drink as low sugar, low calorie and as healthy as possible?!?! That’s why I love this strawberry pineapple sorbet smoothie recipe.

This strawberry pineapple smoothie has no dairy, no added sugar and is totally utterly refreshingly delicious!  It is the perfect way to start your morning or enjoy a cool refreshing drink on a hot summer afternoon.

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Strawberry Pineapple Sorbet Smoothie

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• Author: Tracie
• Category: Beverage

Ingredients

• 1 cup frozen strawberries
• 1 cup frozen pineapple
• 1/2 cup pineapple juice
• 1/4 cup ice cubes

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Instructions

1. Simply take all of your ingredients and put them in your blender.
2. Blend on high until smooth.
3. Pour into a chilled glass and top with a fresh strawberry (optional).
4. Find a nice shaded place to sit outside and relax while you enjoy this tasty refreshing drink!

The post Strawberry Pineapple Sorbet Smoothie appeared first on Penny Pinchin' Mom.