Even though Starbucks essentially started as a coffee shop, today’s flavors go beyond the bold taste of the bean.
Starbucks now offers various drink options that will satisfy even the pickiest of kids. And remember that all coffee drinks can be made for kids by simply asking the barista to omit the coffee.
The best Starbucks drinks for kids include classics like hot chocolate, chocolate milk, and caramel apple cider. Fruit smoothies or fruit inclusions with milk or water are healthier options. Excellent treat choices are vanilla bean Frappuccino, iced brown sugar oatmilk, and strawberry Frappuccino.
From classic hot chocolate to fruity drinks to teas, there’s something for everyone to enjoy at Starbucks besides coffee.
This article will list the best Starbucks drinks for kids, including caffeine-free options.
1. Hot chocolate
Kids have always loved traditional hot chocolate, and it’s typically a drink option in most coffee shops and restaurants nationwide.
Starbucks’ delicious and inviting hot chocolate is made with steamed milk and melted chocolate.
You can use non-dairy options like almond milk or oat milk to limit the sugar and fat content. The drink is also topped with whipped cream and marshmallows.
If desired, kids can add any extra flavors to the drink, like caramel.
Aside from traditional hot chocolate, your kids can enjoy a warm white hot chocolate with its delicious, rich flavor.
Just be mindful when ordering white hot chocolate, as it contains more sugar than the traditional version.
Traditional hot chocolate contains about 18 g (0.63 oz) of sugar, while white hot chocolate contains about 28 g (0.99 oz).
2. Chocolate milk
Another traditional drink that’s popular with kids is chocolate milk. Starbucks offers prepackaged chocolate milk made by Horizon, or the barista can make it for you.
Starbucks creates creamy and delicious chocolate milk made with your choice of milk, cocoa powder, and a hint of sweetness.
3. Caramel apple spice
It is a sweet apple-flavored drink with a caramel flavor and spice hint.
It’s made of fresh apple juice, cinnamon syrup, and caramel, complemented with a sweet caramel drizzle and whipped topping.
Of course, you can always omit the caramel drizzle and whipped cream to lessen the sugar content.
There is about 36 g (1.27 oz) of sugar with the ingredients listed above for a kid or short size.
4. Fruit smoothies
Starbucks added healthy smoothies to the menu to keep up with the health hype.
The freshly squeezed fruit smoothies are made with organic fruit like strawberries, mango, and pineapple from around the world and contain no added sugar.
These are some of the best Starbucks drinks for kids, as they’re packed with nutrients and vitamins.
It’s just another step in Starbucks’ commitment to offering more high-quality, low-sugar beverages for its customers and their kids.
The popular fruit smoothies are pineapple coconut green smoothie, orange mango, and strawberry banana.
Pineapple coconut green smoothie
This is truly a tropical treat for kids to enjoy, being it’s made with juicy pineapples and toasted coconut.
It also includes greens like kale and spinach. The ingredients are blended with ice and coconut milk to create a taste perfect for spring and summer.
Orange mango smoothie
This is an excellent smoothie to grab for your kid before you hit the pool or beach. It contains unsweetened orange mango puree, one banana, and a milk of your choice.
To add to the tropical vibes, choose to blend coconut milk with these healthy ingredients.
Strawberry banana smoothie
While considered a classic, this smoothie is packed with nutrients and flavor.
It’s made with a classic combination of banana, strawberries, whey, fiber, and protein powder.
You can omit the extras by asking the barista to make a smoothie with only the fruit.
5. Evolution juices
Starbucks launched a line of non-caffeinated, kid-friendly drinks called Evolution Juice.
They’re nutritious cold-pressed drinks made with vegetables and fruits and come in the following flavors:
- Super fruit greens
- Pure orange
- Defense up
- Mighty melon
- Vital berry
These drinks include healthy ingredients such as vitamins C and A and extracts of blueberry, strawberry, and apple, with many other flavors.
And they are a prepackaged healthier option than Starbucks’ many sugary delights.
6. Fruit inclusions with water or milk
Like the Pink Drink, the fruit inclusions are typically added to Starbucks Refreshers. However, you can request milk or water as the base instead of caffeinated tea.
One to two scoops of freeze-dried fruit of your choice can be added so your kid can enjoy the fruity flavor.
With water or milk used as the base, there is no caffeine, and it has a low sugar content from the fruits added, making it one of the best Starbucks drinks for kids.
7. Iced brown sugar oatmilk
While the leaded version includes espresso and is loved by many, ask for this non-caffeinated version that’s more suitable for kids.
This drink is crafted with oat milk, brown sugar, and cinnamon and topped with fluffy whipped cream.
And while its name may sound super sweet, it’s actually lower in sugar (20g) than most of their menu options, making it an excellent choice for kids.
As previously mentioned, this drink has a leaded version, so you can enjoy your caffeine fix as your kid enjoys their drink caffeine-free.
Both versions are super simple to make at home by following the recipe in my article, “Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso: Delicious Recipe.”
All you need to do to make this delicious treat for your kiddo is to omit the espresso.
8. Lemonade
Another classic drink that’s suitable for kids is Starbucks lemonade.
The lemonade ingredients consist of ice and lemonade concentrate that is made of water, lemon juice, and sugar.
Kids can enjoy the refreshing tang of simple lemonade or kick up the flavor.
These lemonades are some of the best Starbucks drinks for kids because you can tweak the traditional flavor by including other fruity syrups available to delight their taste buds.
9. Blended strawberry lemonade
The blended strawberry lemonade is a popular drink that combines the sweetness of strawberries with the tartness of lemonade to create an inviting flavor combination.
This sweet and tart lemonade is made with Starbucks’ own lemonade, crème Frappuccino syrup, and strawberry puree sauce blended with ice to create a smoothie texture.
The drink also contains no artificial sweeteners or preservatives, making it a healthier kid option.
And the bright pink hue of the drink makes it an eye-catching choice, and it is sure to be a hit with kids of all ages.
10. Iced passion tango tea
Iced passion tango is a refreshing herbal blend of hibiscus and lemongrass. It’s refreshing and lightly sweetened with Starbucks’ own lemonade concentrate.
This refreshing tea is perfect for those hot days as it is chilled and has light hibiscus, lemongrass, and apple flavors.
It also includes an infusion of cinnamon, licorice root, and fruit juice extract, creating a whirlwind of herbal and fruity flavors.
These ingredients are shaken with ice and severed in a tall size or larger, or you can order a grande and ask for an extra cup to split it with your kid.
11. Iced passion tango tea lemonade
Starbucks added a twist to the above-mentioned iced passion tango tea with a version that includes lemonade in the mix!
The iced passion tango tea lemonade includes all of the original delicious flavors of the iced passion tango tea while adding the tartness of Starbucks’ lemonade.
As previously mentioned, Starbucks lemonade is made by adding water to its own concentrate of lemon juice, sugar, and lemon oil.
So, there is a small amount of sugar, but it’s still less than most of the drinks they offer.
12. Steamers
Starbucks steamers are made with a milk of your choice and a shot of your favorite flavor.
These steamers are an excellent option for kids being caffeine-free, and there are plenty of flavor options to choose from, such as the following that are fan favorites:
- Vanilla
- Toasted vanilla
- Brown sugar
- Toffee nut
- Cinnamon dolce
- Dark caramel
- Raspberry
- Pumpkin spice (seasonal)
- Peppermint (seasonal)
- Sugar Cookie (seasonal)
These steamers are also topped with whipped cream, spices, or other treat bits if you prefer.
13. Steamed apple juice
Starbucks steamed apple juice is a popular kid-friendly drink available at Starbucks. It is made with freshly pressed apple juice (not concentrate) that is steamed.
The drink has no added sugar and is a great way to get your kids to enjoy the natural sweetness of apples.
For parents looking for a healthier alternative to the typical sugary drinks, this is one of the best Starbucks drinks for kids.
14. Iced strawberry milk
The iced strawberry milk is a refreshing flavor combination and one of the best Starbucks drinks for kids during the summer.
The drink consists of ice, milk, and strawberry puree. And as with other Starbucks drinks, you can customize it using a non-dairy milk option instead.
Swapping regular milk for non-dairy alternatives like coconut milk or oat milk can reduce the sugar and fat content of the drink.
15. Herbal teas
Think outside the box and ask your child if they want to try one of the warm and inviting herbal teas on the menu.
Starbucks herbal teas are sugar-free and packed with vitamins and nutrition, making them some of the best Starbucks drinks for kids.
If your child prefers cold tea, ask the barista for a cup of ice.
Once the tea has steeped and cooled after a few minutes, they (or you) can pour the tea into the cup of ice for a chilled and more refreshing version.
Starbucks offers two caffeine-free herbal teas, mint majesty and peach tranquility.
Mint majesty
This tea blend includes the herbal flavors of mint with a hint of lemon verbena. Mint is naturally refreshing and is commonly used in teas and smoothies.
This warm blend of herbs is excellent during cold days, like those during fall and winter.
Peach tranquillity
If your kid loves peaches, this may be the tea they can try on your next Starbucks visit.
Included are the delicious fruit flavors of peach and candied pineapple that are blended with herbs of chamomile blossoms, lemon verbena, and rose hips.
16. Strawberry crème Frappuccino
The strawberry crème Frappuccino is a beloved treat your kids will surely enjoy if they love strawberry-flavored drinks.
This is part of Starbucks’ Frappuccino blended beverage line, and it’s made iced with a milk of your choice and layered strawberry puree.
It’s topped with more strawberry puree and vanilla whipped cream. There’s about 32 g (1.13 oz) of sugar contained in a tall.
17. Peppermint mocha
This seasonal drink is typically a coffee-based drink that’s highly popular during the holiday season.
It can be made kid-friendly by asking your barista to omit the espresso.
The peppermint mocha includes peppermint and chocolate-flavored syrup, with your steamed milk of choice, whipped cream, and dark chocolate toppings.
While the peppermint mocha has less sugar than most chocolate drinks, it still contains a good bit.
But the amount of sugar in the drink is much lower than in most similar-tasting drinks, at about 28g of sugar for a short-size peppermint mocha.
18. Vanilla bean Frappuccino
Vanilla bean Frappuccino is one of the best drinks for kids to celebrate that special occasion, as it’s more of a milkshake type of drink.
This is a frozen drink that is sweet and creamy. It is a vanilla-flavored base, topped with whipped cream and an optional caramel drizzle.
Note: This drink has more sugar (about 50g+ for a grande) and calories than many other drink options due to its ingredients.
However, ordering it with almond milk or oat milk and omitting the whipped topping will reduce the sugar intake.
You can also ask your barista for an extra cup and split it with your young one!
More great Starbucks drinks
Ready to learn more about what kind of drinks Starbucks has?
Great!
Below you will find all the lists I’ve created so far:
- Best Starbucks Caramel Drinks
- Best Starbucks Cold Brew Drinks
- Best Starbucks Decaf Drinks
- Best Starbucks Espresso Drinks
- Best Starbucks Frappuccino Drinks
- Best Starbucks Holiday Drinks
- Best Starbucks Hot Drinks
- Best Starbucks Iced Coffee Drinks
- Best Starbucks Latte Flavors
- Best Starbucks Oat Milk Drinks
- Best Starbucks Protein Drinks
- Best Starbucks Secret Menu Drinks
- Best Starbucks Vanilla Drinks
And for even more information about Starbucks, check out the Starbucks hub here!
Conclusion
Starbucks is a great option when you are looking for drinks for kids that will be both delicious and interesting.
Although there may be many coffee-based beverage choices, kids don’t actually drink coffee, and Starbucks understands this.
There are plenty of options when ordering drinks for children, ranging from delicious Frappuccinos to refreshing smoothies.
With these various flavors in mind, you can find something on the menu that will fit any kid’s tastes.
