Starbucks is well known for its festive holiday drinks that are available for a limited time each year. These specialty beverages have become a beloved tradition for many Starbucks customers during the holiday season. But what exactly makes a drink a Starbucks holiday beverage? Let’s take a closer look at what qualifies a drink to be part of Starbucks’ holiday menu.
History of Starbucks Holiday Drinks
Starbucks first began offering holiday drinks in the late 1990s with beverages like Eggnog Latte and Peppermint Mocha. Over the years, they continued adding more festive flavors like Gingerbread Latte, Caramel Brulee Latte, and Chestnut Praline Latte. The recipes and availability of these drinks have evolved over time. Some customer favorites became permanent menu options, while others were cycled out for new holiday creations. But Starbucks has consistently used the holiday season as an opportunity to offer specialty flavored drinks for a limited time each year.
Availability of Holiday Drinks
Starbucks usually begins offering their holiday drinks in early November, around the same time as their red holiday cups debut. The availability of holiday beverages varies by location but they are typically available from early November through the end of December or early January before being discontinued for the year. Popular choices often sell out quickly during the busy holiday season. Starbucks baristas can provide details on exact availability dates in a given location.
Defining Features of Starbucks Holiday Drinks
So what makes a Starbucks drink considered a holiday or seasonal beverage? There are a few key defining features:
- Limited time availability – They are only available for a few months in winter.
- Festive flavors – They incorporate flavors associated with the holidays and winter like peppermint, eggnog, gingerbread, chestnut, caramel, and toffee.
- Unique ingredients – They include ingredients not typically used year-round like flavored syrups, sprinkles, drizzles, and whipped creams.
- Seasonal packaging – Holiday drinks usually come in special red cups and festive packaging during November and December.
Drinks that contain these holiday-themed attributes qualify for Starbucks’ seasonal menu. Now let’s take a look at some examples of current Starbucks holiday beverages and their ingredients.
Current Starbucks Holiday Drinks
Here is an overview of drinks that are classified as Starbucks holiday beverages on their 2022/2023 seasonal menu:
Peppermint Mocha
The Peppermint Mocha is a long-standing Starbucks holiday tradition. It features a combination of mocha sauce and peppermint flavored syrup topped with steamed milk, sweet whipped cream, and dark chocolate curls.
Toasted White Chocolate Mocha
New for 2022, this drink combines espresso, steamed milk, white chocolate mocha sauce, toasted white chocolate flavored syrup, topped with whipped cream and caramel drizzle.
Caramel Brulee Latte
This latte combines espresso, steamed milk and rich caramel brulee sauce, topped with whipped cream and caramel sugar brulee topping.
Chestnut Praline Latte
Introduced in 2014, this holiday drink features flavors of caramelized chestnuts with espresso and steamed milk, topped with whipped cream and spiced praline crumbs.
Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte
New for 2022, this non-dairy latte is made with espresso, sugar cookie flavored syrup and almondmilk, topped with red and green sprinkles.
Irish Cream Cold Brew
This cold coffee drink combines Starbucks Cold Brew coffee with Irish cream flavored syrup, then topped with vanilla sweet cream foam and cocoa powder.
Hot Cocoa
Starbucks’ Hot Cocoa is a seasonal holiday staple made with steamed milk and mocha sauce topped with sweetened whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles.
Previous Starbucks Holiday Drinks No Longer Available
While those drinks are all part of the current 2022 menu, here are some examples of popular holiday beverages from past Starbucks seasonal menus that are no longer available:
- Gingerbread Latte
- Eggnog Latte
- Cranberry Bliss Bar Frappuccino
- Juniper Latte
- Caramel Waffle Cone Frappuccino
- Snowman Cookie Frappuccino
- Snickerdoodle Hot Chocolate
Starbucks frequently changes up their holiday lineup by bringing back customer favorites, tweaking recipes, and introducing new options. Discontinued drinks from previous years could always make a comeback in future seasons.
Nutritional Information for Starbucks Holiday Drinks
Like all menu items at Starbucks, nutritional details for holiday beverages are available on request or on the Starbucks app. Holiday drinks tend to be higher in calories, saturated fat, sugar, and carbohydrates compared to standard espresso beverages due to the flavored syrups and toppings used.
For example, here are the nutrition facts for a grande Peppermint Mocha and Toasted White Chocolate Mocha:
| Beverage | Calories | Total Fat (g) | Saturated Fat (g) | Total Carbs (g) | Sugar (g) | Protein (g) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peppermint Mocha | 420 | 18 | 11 | 53 | 50 | 9 |
| Toasted White Chocolate Mocha | 470 | 22 | 14 | 59 | 51 | 9 |
As shown, these drinks provide nearly a full day’s worth of sugar intake along with significant amounts of fat and calories. Those watching their intake of added sugar or following a specific diet plan should take the nutrition facts into account when choosing holiday beverages.
Customizing Your Holiday Drink Order
One great option for reducing calories, sugar, and fat in Starbucks holiday drinks is to customize your order. Some ways to create a lighter seasonal beverage include:
- Ask for less pumps of syrup
- Select a smaller size like tall or grande
- Choose nonfat or low-fat milk
- Ask for light or no whipped cream
- Try a lower calorie substitute like stevia or sugar-free syrup
- Order it as an americano or with extra shots of espresso
Small tweaks like these can make a meaningful difference in the nutritionals. Starbucks baristas are always happy to accommodate requests to customize holiday beverages to your preferences and dietary needs.
Trying New Holiday Drinks Each Season
Part of the excitement for many holiday drink enthusiasts is trying the new offerings Starbucks dreams up each year. Some tips for sampling new drinks each holiday season include:
- Follow Starbucks on social media for the earliest alerts on new drinks
- Ask the baristas for any off-menu holiday beverages that aren’t posted
- Try a tall size to taste new drinks for fewer calories and cost
- Split a grande or venti size with a friend to sample more options
- Take advantage of Starbucks Happy Hour discounts for less expensive sampling
With so many flavors rotating in and out each year, tasting new holiday drinks can become a yearly tradition all on its own for Starbucks fans.
Saving Money on Holiday Beverages
In addition to their festive flavors, one common concern about Starbucks holiday drinks is their high price. Here are some tips for saving money on seasonal Starbucks beverages:
- Order the smallest size you can enjoy – tall is often sufficient
- Take advantage of Happy Hour discounts in the Starbucks app
- Use Stars bonuses and rewards in the app for free drinks
- Split a larger size with a friend
- Ask for light or no whipped cream to reduce cost
- Order less customizations and syrups
- Make it at home with Starbucks holiday drink recipes
- Look for Starbucks coupons online and in weekly ads
- Only purchase 1-2 times per season as a special treat
With smart ordering, rewards redemptions, and occasional treats, you can enjoy Starbucks seasonal drinks on a budget.
Holiday Drink Alternatives Besides Starbucks
The popularity of Starbucks holiday drinks inspires many other coffee shops and beverage companies to release their own unique seasonal offerings each winter. Here are some places to check out festive drink options in addition to or instead of Starbucks:
- Dunkin’ – Features flavors like peppermint mocha and gingerbread latte
- Peet’s Coffee – Offers holiday tea lattes and maple spices cold brew
- Panera – Has a selection of holiday cream cheese coffees and cinnamon cappuccinos
- McDonald’s – Serves peppermint and white chocolate mochas during the holidays
- The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf – Releases winter dream and candy cane flavors
- Tim Hortons – Carries gingerbread and white hot chocolate seasonal beverages
- Dairy Queen – Blends candy cane or winter candy blizzards
- Small local coffee shops – Often have unique holiday drink recipes not found in chains
Trying festive seasonal beverages from different places can provide more variety over the holidays at different price points.
Making Your Own Copycat Holiday Drinks at Home
Recreating favorite Starbucks holiday beverages at home is an easy way to enjoy seasonal flavors while saving money. Simple ingredients like steamed milk, coffee, cocoa powder, flavored syrups, whipped topping and spices can mimic these specialty drinks. Here are some copycat recipes to try:
Homemade Peppermint Mocha
- Brewed coffee
- 1-2 tablespoons chocolate or cocoa powder
- 1-2 pumps chocolate or peppermint syrup
- Steamed or heated milk of choice
- Whipped cream
- Chocolate shavings
Toasted White Chocolate Mocha
- Brewed espresso or strong coffee
- 1-2 pumps white chocolate syrup
- 1 pump caramel or vanilla syrup (optional)
- Steamed milk
- Whipped cream
- Caramel drizzle
Iced Peppermint or Toasted White Chocolate Mocha
- Coffee chilled over ice or cold brew coffee
- Syrups of choice
- Milk over ice
- Sweetened whipped cream
- Flavor sprinkles
The simplicity of at-home holiday drinks means you can customize flavors to your taste and dietary needs. Add a festive mug and some Christmas music for the full holiday drink experience.
Conclusion
Starbucks holiday drinks have become a beloved tradition for many regulars during the winter season. These specialty beverages feature festive flavors, unique ingredients and seasonal packaging for a limited time from November through January. Classic drinks like Peppermint Mocha and Caramel Brulee Latte return annually on the holiday menu, while new options are rotated in and out each year. Customizing your drink order, budgeting for an occasional splurge, and finding holiday drink alternatives can make seasonal sips more affordable and enjoyable. Recreating recipes at home also allows you to control ingredients and costs. However you choose to enjoy them, Starbucks holiday beverages offer a tasty and nostalgic way to usher in the holiday spirit.