As soon as Starbucks released this year’s holiday drinks, I was craving peppermint mochas and caramel brulee lattes. It wasn’t long before I was in my kitchen whipping up a batch of my homemade peppermint syrup so I could make my own at home.
If you love holiday coffee drinks as much as I do, stay tuned for this year’s drink line-up as well as some links to copycat recipes that you can make at home. Also, I’m sharing some information on how many pumps are in some of those holiday drinks and how to order them or make them with less sugar, without sacrificing flavor. I know that I have personally been more aware of the sugar content in these drinks and looking for ways to adjust, so if you are too, this is information you’ll find useful.
In the meantime, grab your favorite Starbucks holiday tumbler and let’s get ready to look at some delicious drinks you can order next time you drive through Starbucks or recreate them at home exactly how you like them.
Holiday Starbucks Drinks:
1. Hot or Iced Peppermint Mocha:
I’m a huge fan of the peppermint mocha drink, hot or iced. Although, at home, I do make it iced and if I order it at Starbucks, I sometimes go for the hot one. Weird? Probably.
If you are ordering this one at Starbucks, know that a barista told me they use full servings of both syrups, which means 4 pumps of semi-sweet mocha sauce and 4 pumps of peppermint syrup in a grande. That’s 8 pumps in one drink. Now, to each their own, I’ll never judge you for getting your coffee and enjoying it, but I have found through making my own at home that I am fine with half of that, or even less than half. I tend to go with 1-2 tbsp chocolate sauce and 1 tbsp peppermint, especially if it’s my homemade version which I think is more concentrated in flavor. This small change doesn’t result in less flavor, and it reduces my sugar intake quite a bit. So, if you’d like to try a peppermint mocha with less sugar, ask for half of them normal syrups/sauces and see what you think.
To make your own peppermint mocha at home, check out this recipe where I show you how to make it at home.
2. Hot or Iced Caramel Brulee Latte:
One of my most popular posts on the blog and Instagram is the Caramel Brulee copycat. The rich, caramelly syrup is so delicious and definitely gives this drink a different vibe from a regular caramel latte. The recipe I shared on the blog is good and will give you that warm caramel flavor you’re looking for. I am looking into updating it this year, though, because I found a version that is easier to make and doesn’t seize up as much. I’m all about making life easier, so once I get that one finished, I’ll update this post, too.
The Caramel Brulee Latte at Starbucks uses espresso, steamed milk ,and rich caramel brulée sauce and is topped with whipped cream and caramel brulée topping. Delicious.
To make your own at home, check out my iced caramel brulee recipe which you can also make hot.
3. Hot or Iced Toasted White Chocolate Mocha:
A new twist on the classic has been released this year and lovers of the toasted vanilla shaken espresso will rejoice. Caramelized white chocolate mocha sauce meet espresso and steamed milk to create the Toasted White Chocolate Mocha, which is then finished with whipped cream and a topping of holiday sugar sparkles and crispy white pearls. I cannot wait to try this one and then get to creating my own version.
I’ve found a toasted vanilla syrup, but not white chocolate, so I’m wondering if I can combine the two to get a similar favor profile. Stay tuned.
Until then, recreate most of this with the white chocolate mocha recipe I love most here.
4. Hot or Iced Chestnut Praline Latte:
The Chestnut Praline Latte features espresso, steamed milk and the flavors of caramelized chestnuts and spices topped with whipped cream and spiced praline crumbs. I think this is a delicious flavor combo for lovers of chai and coffee. That’s what this sort of reminds me of.
5. Iced Sugar Cookie Almond milk Latte:
Back for a second season, the Iced Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte combines sugar cookie syrup, Starbucks Blonde Espresso, ice, creamy almond milk, and is topped with festive red and green sprinkles. People really love the sugar cookie syrup and it definitely has a distinct flavor that I think you’ll either really like or not. It’s a little too sweet for me, and I like sweet coffee drinks, so if you think it might be too sweet for you, half the syrups in this one, too.
6. The Irish Cream Cold Brew:
The Irish Cream Colds Brew takes notes from the The Kicker at Dutch Brother and unites bold, super smooth Starbucks Cold Brew with Irish Cream syrup, which is then topped with vanilla sweet cream foam and a strike of cocoa powder. If you like Irish cream flavoring, this is going to be a delightful holiday drink for you.
7. Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai:
I loved how they released a fun chai drink in this year’s fall lineup. Until recently, Dutch Bros has been the only coffeeshop that treated their chai drinks equally and I am loving this new addition for Starbucks. For the holiday drink season, they’re unveiling the Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai, which is like the spicy sweetness of a gingerbread with oatmilk and black tea. I love it.
Starbucks Holiday Secret Menu Drinks:
8. Hot or Iced Peppermint White Mocha:
If you love white mochas and peppermint, ask for that peppermint mocha to be made with white chocolate sauce instead! I have been whipping up peppermint white mochas at home a lot lately and shared a recipe on my Instagram recently. It’s so good, friends.
View this post on Instagram
9. Peppermint Hot Cocoa:
This is delicious for kids or just when you want a sweet treat without all the coffee. When we drive around to look at Christmas lights, we stop to get these on our way. Ask for half syrup and sauce to make it less sweet, or it might hurt your kiddos tummy. If this is for your kiddo, ask for “kids temperature” and they’ll heat the beverage to 130°F instead of the usual 160°F.
10. Peppermint White Cocoa:
Same idea, but white chocolate sauce instead of mocha sauce. Still no caffeine here and the peppermint and white chocolate pair together so well. We’ve been very into white chocolate this year, if you can’t tell ;). If this is for your kiddo, ask for “kids temperature” and they’ll heat the beverage to 130°F instead of the usual 160°F.
Holiday Starbucks Frappuccinos:
Most of the Starbucks holiday drinks can be created as frappuccinos as well! Here are some ideas to get you thinking.
11. Peppermint Mocha Frappuccino:
Get all those flavors blended up as a frappuccino. If you’re a fan of chocolate or mocha frappuccinos, they’ll mix it up with the peppermint sauce.
12. Peppermint Frappuccino:
Using a vanilla bean base and peppermint syrup, this delicious peppermint frappuccino will be caffeine free and like a dessert in a cup.
13. Caramel Brulee Frappuccino:
They’ll swap the coffee frappuccino base here and add the rest of the latte ingredients to whip up a caramel brulee frappuccino you’ll love. Get it with a creme frappuccino base to make it without caffeine.
14. Chestnut Praline Frappuccino:
Similar to the caramel brulee, this will be made with a coffee frap base and the other syrups and ingredients from the latte, but blended up. Yum.
15. Sugar Cookie Frappuccino:
Get that sugar cookie syrup added to a coffee frappuccino and top it with all the same festive toppings for a delicious, frothy drink.
16. Peppermint White Chocolate Frappuccino:
Using a coffee frap base, they’ll add th peppermint syrup and white mocha sauce with the other frap ingredients before blending. So good.
You can get most of these with a creme base to remove caffeine, too.
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Will you be trying any of these festive holiday drinks or copycat recipes? I hope you love them as much as I do!
Get roasted,
A
