The nights are drawing in, the Christmas lights are strung twinkling around the town, and across the country, the familiar Starbucks sign is lit up, with the promise of delicious Christmas drinks again!
With the holiday season in full swing, Starbucks’ Christmas menu is back on – and combining our daily coffee with our favorite festive flavors, these holiday drinks are sure to bring the cheer.
Here at Drink Filtered, we’ve rounded up the best Christmas drinks from Starbucks that you have to try this year – as well as the best holiday food pairings from Starbucks to go with them. So get a festive sweater on, head on down to Starbucks, and savor one of these steaming treats! Do note that unless otherwise stated, all nutritional information for the drinks is for the grande (16 fl. oz.) versions.
Peppermint Mocha
It doesn’t get more classic than this. The Peppermint Mocha is making its 18th appearance on the yearly Starbucks Christmas menu, reigning supreme over the other festive drinks once again.
What This Drink Is All About
Made with Starbucks espresso, the Peppermint Mocha combines coffee, steamed milk, four pumps of peppermint syrup, and sweet mocha sauce. Topped with whipped cream and chocolate curls, this drink is quite simply Christmas in a cup. Try ordering these with one of Starbucks’ Cranberry Bliss Bars or a Snowman Cake Pop, and relax into full-on Christmas cheer.
Now For The Nutrition
At 440 calories per drink, this drink contains:
- 10g saturated fat (15g fat in total),
- 54g sugar,
- and 13g protein.
Quick Tip: Make it less terrible by not asking for whipped cream or chocolate curls. You can also try swapping the milk for a plant-based milk alternative or nonfat milk or asking for less syrup or sugar-free mocha sauce.
Make It Even Healthier
If you order the drink with two pumps of peppermint syrup, sugar-free mocha sauce, no whipped cream, and nonfat milk, your mocha will weigh in at a healthier 177 calories, with just 20g sugar and 0.2g saturated fat (0.4g fat total), and 12g protein. Asking for no chocolate curls will also save calories.
Toasted White Chocolate Mocha
A new contender for one of our favorite holiday drinks from Starbucks, this choice is a runner-up. The Toasted White Chocolate Mocha is a cup built purely for the holiday season.
What This Drink Is All About
The Toasted White Chocolate Mocha combines the sumptuous flavors of four caramelized white chocolate mocha sauce pumps with Starbucks’ signature espresso and steamed milk. This drink is topped with whipped cream, holiday sugar sprinkles, and crispy white marshmallow pearls. If that doesn’t scream Christmas, we don’t know what does! If looking for a colder drink, this coffee can also be ordered as a frappuccino.
Try this one out with one of Starbucks’ Cranberry Orange Scones or a Snowman Cookie. Sit back, sip, and be the star of a personal Hallmark movie.
Now For The Nutrition
This mocha contains 420 calories per serving – and it includes
- 9g saturated fat (15g fat in total),
- 56g sugar,
- and 15g protein.
Quick Tip: Ask for less syrup or hold the whipped cream and sprinkles to make it healthier.
Make It Even Healthier
Ask for two pumps of the mocha sauce instead of four, and no whipped cream. Choose nonfat milk and the calories would be essentially halved! At 244 calories per serving, with 44g sugar, 0.2g saturated fat (0.4g fat total), and 12g protein this is a much healthier option. Additionally, asking for no sugar sprinkles will bring the sugar and calories down further.
Chestnut Praline Latte
While it’s not the most-ordered on their menu, we’re firm believers that the Chestnut Praline Latte is an excellent choice for a festive drink. This latte positively oozes Christmas and offers a uniquely nutty spin on the holiday beverage.
What This Drink Is All About
Combining Starbucks espresso and steamed milk, this latte is loaded with four pumps of chestnut praline sauce and spice. It is topped with whipped cream and a generous sprinkling of chestnut praline crumb topping to finish.
The Chestnut Praline Latte can also be ordered as a frappuccino, and the drink pairs perfectly with one of their Snowman Cake Pops – or, for a more savory accompaniment, try a Sugar Plum Cheese Danish.
Now For The Nutrition
This latte contains 330 calories.
- 8g saturated fat (13g fat total),
- 39g sugar,
- 12g protein.
Quick Tip: Try swapping the milk for oat, soy, or nonfat milk to make it healthier, or hold the whipped cream and crumb topping.
Make It Even Healthier
Ask for two pumps of syrup instead of four. Additionally, no whipped cream and nonfat milk will make this drink around 147 calories, with 27g sugar, 0.2g saturated fat (0.4g fat total), and 11g protein. Holding the crumb topping will shave off a few calories and grams of sugar.
Irish Cream Cold Brew
The Irish Cream Cold Brew was a new addition to the holiday menu – and it seems like it made quite a splash, so it is back this year too. As the only chilled drink on the specific holiday menu, this option is an excellent chance for something less steamy but still festive.
What This Drink Is All About
Made with Starbucks’ signature cold brew, this coffee is mixed with two pumps of Irish Cream syrup. It’s then poured over ice, with dollops of vanilla sweet cream cold foam on top, and then finished off with a dusting of cocoa powder. It may not be the tastiest thing on the menu, but it’ll give the kick needed to hit the shops after a break!
We think the Irish Cream Cold Brew pairs nicely with a warmed-up Sugar Plum Cheese Danish to balance out the coldness with a bit of warmth.
Now For The Nutrition
This drink has 200 calories per serving
- 8g saturated fat (12g fat total),
- 19g sugar,
- 2g protein.
Quick Tip: It can be made leaner by asking for half or no sweet cream foam or less syrup.
Make It Even Healthier
Ask for just one pump of syrup instead of two and half of the sweet cream foam and your drink will now be just 90 calories, with 9.5g sugar, 4g saturated fat (6g fat total), and 1g protein! If you skip the sweet cream foam, it will make the coffee just 20 calories, with 5g sugar, 0g fat, and 0g protein.
Caramel Brulee Latte
A delightful treat, this coffee mixes the deep tastes of caramel with the edge of coffee and a slightly burnt, deep flavor from the brulee element. As such, it’s a great choice for someone looking for something a little different but still with those comforting holiday flavors.
What This Drink Is All About
The barista combines espresso with some silky steamed milk and four pumps of a velvety caramel brulee sauce to make the coffee. It’s then topped with whipped cream, caramel brulee topping and served in one of Starbucks’ signature cups.
Give this drink a go with a Snowman Cake Pop or Cranberry Bliss Bar or one of the coffee chain’s sandwiches or paninis for lunch on the go.
Now For The Nutrition
This latte has 410 calories per serving,
- 8g saturated fat (13g fat total),
- 49g sugar,
- 12g protein.
Quick Tip: Try swapping the milk for oat, soy, or nonfat milk for a healthier choice. Or, ask for less or no whipped cream or less syrup.
Make It Even Healthier
Ask for two pumps of syrup, nonfat milk, and no whipped cream, and the drink would be around 227 calories, with 37g sugar, 0.2g saturated fat (0.4g fat total), and 11g protein. Holding off on the caramel brulee topping will also save you sugar and calories.
The Bottom Line
Starbucks goes all-out with their Christmas menu – and as it’s only on for a limited time, get down to the local branch to make the most of these delightful festive beverages and flavors – as well as to try some of their delicious food offerings.
As we’ve shown here, there’s something for everyone with these holiday drinks – so take a detour while finishing off that last-minute shopping, slip into an armchair, give some of our suggestions a go, and fully embrace that Christmas cheer!
