Now that the holidays are approaching, we’ve welcomed the festivities with our go-to Starbucks drinks. Whether you’re looking for a morning pick-me-up or a refreshing afternoon drink, here are our top five Starbucks holiday drinks for you to enjoy.
#5: Peppermint Mocha
This peppermint mocha is a delicious drink for those who adore a wintery mix of peppermint, coffee and hot chocolate. It provides a nice boost of energy while still having a sharp taste of peppermint satisfaction. Although we enjoyed this holiday drink, the peppermint flavor was overpowering enough to place it at the bottom of our ranking. However, if you appreciate a strong blast of peppermint, this drink is perfect for you. A grande contains 175 mg of caffeine and stands at a price of $6.25. The Peppermint Mocha is available hot, iced or as a Frappuccino blended beverage.
#4: Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte
With its strong coffee flavor and slight sweetness from the sugar cookie syrup, this drink is a perfect option for a coffee lover. This latte is exactly what you think of for a holiday drink, from its name to the beautiful presentation of sprinkles topping the drink. The sugar cookie flavor leaves a more prominent aftertaste while the coffee overpowers most of your first sip. This drink is a great non-dairy option and is available hot or iced. A grande has 170 mg of caffeine and is priced at $6.45, making it the most expensive drink on the list.
#3: Cran-Merry Orange Refresher
This seasonal drink has the perfect touch of summer and falls right in the middle of our list. With its sweet orange and cranberry flavors and warm spice, this drink is perfect for anyone looking to stay festive while sticking to the vibe of a refresher. The Cran-Merry Orange Refresher is available with a water, lemonade or coconut milk base. The water brings out the unique flavors, the lemonade gives a tart touch and the coconut milk is creamy and smooth, toning down the drink. A grande of this refresher has 55 mg of caffeine and costs $5.75, making it the cheapest option on this list.
#2: Caramel Brulée Latte
Coming in as a close runner-up is a rich, flavorful combination of coffee and sweet caramel. The perfect balance between flavors creates a wonderful festive blend, making it a popular holiday drink for all Starbucks fans. The latte is also topped with whipped cream and caramel brulée topping for a pop of ambiance. The Caramel Brulée Latte is available iced, hot or as a Frappuccino blended beverage. Additionally, a grande contains 150 mg of caffeine and is sold at $6.25.
#1: Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai
You can never go wrong with a classic chai during the holiday season. Out of the eight basic holiday Starbucks drinks, the Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai ended up on top with its delightful and popular seasonal twist. The sweet and fulfilling gingerbread flavor is prominent but not overpowering, and with the delicious gingerbread cold foam and spice on top, it is pulled together to create the perfect holiday drink. The cold foam and spice topping highlight notes of warm chai spices and creamy oat milk, creating a unique, festive flavor. This is perfect for when you are in the mood for a smooth and refreshing iced beverage. The best way to describe this drink is like being wrapped in the holiday spirit, and it automatically puts you in a good mood. The chai contains 95 mg of caffeine and is priced at $6.25.
Honorable Mentions:
Holiday Cold Foams and White Peppermint Hot Chocolate Cold Foams:
Cold foam is currently one of the most popular drink add-ons at Starbucks, especially with their limited edition holiday flavors. It is a perfect, flavorful, foamy and fun addition to any drink. In addition to their regular options, Starbucks carries Peppermint Chocolate, Sugar Cookie, Chestnut Praline, Caramel Brulée, Gingerbread and Salted Pecan cold foams during this holiday season. Our favorite was the Gingerbread Cold Foam due to its sweet and flavorful taste, which paired nicely with the Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai. At an additional $1.25, each cold foam makes a perfect topper for any drink, especially a holiday one.
White Peppermint Hot Chocolate:
With two mg of caffeine at a price of $4.45, this drink is on the cheaper side and is great for warming up. It has the perfect amount of peppermint flavoring and can be topped with whipped cream and dark chocolate bits. The white chocolate mocha sauce brings an amazing holiday vibe, and it is also offered in a dark chocolate flavor. Though it did not end up in our top five, it was a top contender.
