With pumpkin spice season drawing to a close and Christmas just around the corner, many of us coffee lovers look forward to switching out our fall favourites for seasonal specials.
Starbucks has unwrapped its festive menu for 2024! Whether you're craving cozy classics like the much-loved Peppermint Mocha or you’re excited to try brand-new drinks like the Cran-Merry Refreshers, Starbucks perfectly captures the season’s magic with its range of hot and cold brews.
And the festive fun doesn’t stop at Starbucks’ official menu; you can also make some jolly-good drinks from the ‘secret menu’ (pstttt, we’ll tell you how)! We share our favourite holiday hot chocolates, coffees, and cold drinks and show you how to order them.
Keep reading to discover the best Starbucks Christmas drinks, including our top picks from the official menu and off-menu creations. Grab your loyalty card and prepare to toast to a season of warmth, joy, and festive flavours as Ask Genie takes you on a tasty tour of the Starbucks festive menu!
Best Christmas Starbucks Drinks on the Menu for 2024
Dig out your favourite woolly jumper, pull on those mittens, and grab your snow boots; it’s time to sled on down to Starbucks and try out this year’s Christmas drinks. Here’s a sneak peak of the best Christmas Starbucks drinks on offer this season:
1. The Cran-Merry Collection
Brand new for 2024, this festive collection of Refreshers gives seasonal tastes a fresh and fruity twist.
Cran-Merry Orange Refresher: The new Cran-Merry Orange Refresher captures the season's essence with a blend of sweet orange, tart cranberry, and warm spices. Cardamom, cinnamon, and nutmeg notes make this ice-cold drink feel cozy and festive.
Cran-Merry Orange Lemonade Refresher: The Cran-Merry Orange Refresher gets a bubbly citrus makeover with lemonade. This vibrant take is excellent if you’re missing the summer vibes this holiday season.
Cran-Merry Drink: The Cran-Merry Drink combines the Cran-Merry Refresher with creamy coconut over ice to add a smooth, tropical twist to this holiday treat.
2. Caramel Brûlé Latte
The Caramel Brûlé Latte features rich espresso and steamed milk combined with caramel brûlé sauce. An indulgent caramel brûlé topping finishes this sweet, smooth drink. Available hot, iced, or as a frappuccino beverage, there’s a version to suit every seasonal style.
3. The Peppermint Mocha
The iconic Peppermint Mocha has been a Christmas staple at Starbucks for over 20 years, and it’s back for 2024! Sweet mocha sauce and refreshing peppermint syrup give this espresso-based drink its signature flavour. Topped with whipped cream and dark chocolate curls, coffee lovers with a sweet tooth will rejoice to see the return of this fun, festive treat!
Are you dreaming of a white Christmas? Meet the Peppermint Mocha’s even sweeter twin! The White Chocolate Peppermint Mocha swaps mocha sauce for white chocolate sauce for a snowy take on the beloved drink.
4. Chestnut Praline Latte
If you can’t wait to get roasting chestnuts on an open fire, Starbucks has the next best thing! The Chestnut Praline Latte features a sweet blend of espresso, steamed milk, caramelized chestnuts, and winter spices. Topped with whipped cream and spice praline crumbs, it’s a nutty treat bursting with Christmas crunch.
5. Iced Sugar Cookie Oat Latte
It might look like your average iced latte, but the Iced Sugar Cookie Oat Latte is so much more! This lighter winter drink mixes blonde espresso with sugar cookie syrup and oat milk for a sweet and creamy blend. Topped with festive red and green sprinkles, this beverage is perfect to enjoy iced or hot for a sweet holiday treat.
6. Iced Gingerbread Oat Chai
Chai had its big break just a few years ago, and it looks like the new kid on the block is here to stay! Starbucks released its Iced Gingerbread Oat Chai drink as a part of 2023’s
Christmas menu, and it’s coming back for 2024. With chai spices and a creamy oat beverage base, this drink is topped with gingerbread-flavoured cold foam and a spice topping. The best part? It’s completely dairy-free!
7. Holiday Cold Brews and Iced Lattes
Starbucks’ Christmas cold brews, frappuccinos and iced lattes are the perfect way to add a festive twist to cold brew or iced coffee drinks. New flavours join returning favourites this holiday season:
- Iced Gingerbread Latte: Deliciously spiced gingerbread flavours combine with Starbucks Blonde Espresso and milk before being topped with whipped cream and nutmeg spice blend - the perfect iced holiday treat.
- Salted Pecan Crunch Cold Brew: Inspired by sweet and salty candied pecans, this cold brew features vanilla syrup, pecan cold foam and crunchy pecan-flavoured sugar, creating a perfect balance of sweet and savoury.
- Peppermint Mocha Frappuccino Blended Beverage: Try this cold foam for a cool and chocolatey twist on your iced drink! It mixes peppermint syrup and mocha syrup with whipped cream and dark chocolate curls, perfect for those with a sweet tooth.
- Sugar Cookie Cream Oat Frappuccino Blended Beverage: A sugar-cookie-flavoured syrup with blended oat milk and frappuccino roast coffee, topped with whipped cream and festive red and green sprinkles.
- Iced Chestnut Praline Latte: Starbucks’ signature espresso roast mixed with flavours of caramelized chestnuts, spices, ice and milk, topped with whipped cream, and specially spiced praline crumbs.
- Iced Caramel Brûlé Latte: This winter special combines espresso, rich caramel brûlé sauce, and whipped cream to create a deliciously silky way of getting your caffeine fix.
The Best Secret Menu Christmas Starbucks Drinks
The Starbucks secret menu refers to drinks that aren’t on the official menu, but are instead created by customers and spread through social media and word of mouth.
Secret menu drinks add syrups, sauces, toppings, and flavoured cold foams to base drinks to make these unique creations. Be warned, these extras can soon add up; check out the Most Expensive Starbucks Drinks for extreme coffee combos!
1. Gingerbread White Hot Chocolate
A comforting and creamy take on hot chocolate, this drink combines holiday gingerbread spices with the sweet, smooth flavour of white chocolate. It’s the perfect drink for warming up while enjoying the festive lights.
How to order: Order a white hot chocolate and add gingerbread syrup (3 pumps for tall, 4 for grande, 5 for venti) for a sweet and spiced flavour. Then, add 1 or 2 pumps of cinnamon dolce syrup to make it as sweet as you’d like. Ask for whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon on top.
2. Christmas Spice Latte
For fans of holiday spices, this latte combines warming gingerbread, chestnut, and a hint of cinnamon for a rich, spiced drink with all the flavour of Christmas in a cup. It’s the ideal latte for chilly holiday mornings.
How to order: Ask for a hot latte and add equal amounts of gingerbread, chestnut praline, and cinnamon dolce syrups (1 pump of each for tall, 2 for grande, 3 for venti). Add whipped cream and a sprinkle of caramel crunch topping as finishing touches.
3. Sugar Cookie Iced Chai Frappucino
If winter warmers aren’t your style, try this icy spicy blend! This drink is like a festive sugar cookie dunked in chai, with a blend of spiced and sweet flavours and a creamy texture. It’s a refreshing, sugary treat with classic holiday vibes.
How to order: Order an Iced Gingerbread Oat Chai Frappuccino, but ask the barista to switch out the gingerbread cold foam for sugar cookie cold foam. It’s as simple as that!
4. Salted Pecan Iced White Chocolate Mocha
Sweet, salty, and nutty, this iced mocha combines rich white chocolate with the warm taste of pecans, perfect for when you want a holiday drink that’s both creamy and refreshing.
How to order: Ask for an Iced White Chocolate Mocha; add 1 pump of dark caramel sauce for tall drinks, 2 for grande, and 3 for venti; add salted pecan cream cold foam, and finish with a pecan crunch topping.
5. Candy Cane Cold Brew or Hot Latte
This festive blend is inspired by a favourite Christmas sweet: candy canes! It blends bold coffee with creamy vanilla and refreshing peppermint flavours. We’ve created a hot and iced version of this drink so hot coffee and cold brew lovers alike can enjoy a festive treat!
How to order: For a cold refresher, order a Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew and add peppermint syrup (2 pumps for tall, 3 for grande, 4 for venti). For the warm option, ask for a Blonde Vanilla Latte and add peppermint syrup (2 pumps for tall, 3 for grande, 4 for venti). Top either drink with red and green sprinkle topping.
6. Peppermint Hot Chocolate
This minty-fresh hot cocoa drink is the perfect way to warm up your winter night! It blends milky hot chocolate with peppermint syrup for a refreshing twist on a classic.
How to order: Order a hot chocolate with peppermint syrup (3 pumps for tall, 4 pumps for grande, and 5 for venti). Then, ask the barista to top your hot chocolate with whipped cream, chocolate curls, and a dusting of cocoa. Are you dreaming of that white Christmas? Ask your server to switch the mocha sauce for white chocolate sauce to make a White Peppermint Hot Chocolate instead!
7. The Matcha Who Stole Christmas
Matcha has taken the beverage world by storm this year, and Christmas drinks are no exception! This bright green drink pays tribute to the infamous Grinch. It’s a festive option for matcha fans who want a bit of a different holiday drink.
How to order: Ask for an Iced Matcha Latte with peppermint syrup (1 pump for tall, 2 for grande, 3 for venti). Add a pump of white chocolate mocha sauce and up to 3 scoops of vanilla sweet cream for sweetness. Finish with whipped cream and a final dusting of matcha powder.
8. Elf-Tastic Cold Brew
This cold brew Christmas treat is inspired by Santa’s little helpers. It has enough sugar to keep you moving as fast as one whilst you whizz through the holiday shopping!
How to order: Order a cold brew with Matcha Cold Foam. Add sugar cookie syrup (1 pump for tall, 2 for grande, 3 for venti) and peppermint syrup (1 pump for tall, 2 for grande, 3 for venti). If that’s not sweet enough, add a final pump of white chocolate mocha sauce and finish with a dollop of whipped cream!
9. Santa’s Snowball
If coffee-based drinks aren’t for you, fear not: we’ve concocted a caffeine-free blend fit for the big man himself! This fruity and creamy drink is a creamy, berry treat that almost tastes like strawberry cheesecake.
How to order: Ask for a Strawberry Crème Frappuccino and add equal pumps of hazelnut syrup and white chocolate mocha sauce (1 of each for tall, 2 for grande, and 3 for venti). Finally, top with whipped cream and a dash of red and green sprinkles.
10. Caramel Brûlée Comforter
Rich caramel flavours make this hot drink the perfect holiday comfort. Its warm flavours, nutty undertones, and hints of holiday spice make it feel like a sweet hug in a cup!
How to order: Ask for a Caramel Brûlé Latte, but switch out 1/2 of the pumps of Caramel Brûlé syrup for Chestnut Praline syrup. So a tall drink would feature 2 pumps of Caramel Brûlé syrup and 2 of Chestnut Praline, 3 of each for a venti, and 4 of each for a grande. Top with whipped cream, cinnamon crumble topping, and caramel drizzle.
Best Food on Starbucks Christmas Menu
Hungry for more? Starbucks also offers a limited edition Christmas food menu featuring both savoury and sweet treats. Here are our favourite picks:
1. Turkey Sage Danish
Starbucks’ Turkey Sage Danish is a flaky, savoury pastry reminiscent of the best parts of a Christmas dinner. It features turkey sausage smothered in a creamy bechamel sauce and bundled up in buttery pastry, finished with a sprinkling of festive herbs.
2. Penguin Cookie
This buttery shortbread cookie is cute as a button! Featuring a penguin wrapped up in his toasty earmuffs, this sweet treat might prove too cute to eat!
3. Snowman Cake Pop
Starbucks puts a festive twist on their much-loved cake pops with a limited edition snowman pop! It features vanilla cake mixed with buttercream and white chocolate icing, decorated with an adorable earmuff-wearing snowman.
4. Cranberry Bliss Bar
For something slightly less sweet, try Starbucks’ cranberry bliss bar. This blondie cake with dried cranberries is smothered with a layer of cream cheese icing and finished with a sprinkle of orange zest and dried cranberries.
5. Gingerbread Loaf
Gingerbread is the spice of the season, so why stop at drinks? This aromatic gingerbread cake is the perfect sweet and spicy balance. Topped with icing and a hint of orange, it’s sure to become your new holiday favourite!
Hungry for More?
Head on over to the Ask Genie Blog for more food-related content, including:
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- What Are the Most Expensive Restaurants in Vancouver, Canada?
- The 8 Best Restaurants in Ottawa Right Now
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