One of my favorite things about the holiday season is treating myself to one of Starbucks’ mouth-watering festive drinks.
These limited-edition beverages are hotly anticipated; you can expect queues out the door when they’re finally released.
Starbucks will release its holiday drinks menu on November 3th, 2022. You can expect classic favorites, such as the peppermint mocha, caramel brulée latte, and chestnut praline latte.
Excited to know more about what the lineup might be? The rest of this article will dip into the details about when the Starbucks holiday drinks are being released and what the craze is all about.
I’ll also go over the 2022 drinks you can expect on the menu, so read on!
What are the Starbucks holiday drinks this year?
The full list of Starbucks holiday drinks for 2022 has just been announced! You can get your hands on the following delicious options starting from November 3th at your local Starbucks:
- Peppermint mocha
- Caramel brulée latte
- Chestnut praline latte
- Toasted white chocolate mocha
- Irish cream cold brew
- Iced sugar cookie almondmilk latte
Most notable is the iced sugar cookie almondmilk latte, which was a big hit last year and makes a return this season.
When are Starbucks holiday drinks released?
You can expect the holiday drinks menu to go live in early November in any given year. 2021’s menu was launched on November 4th.
This year, the date has been set for November 3nd, 2022, and you can expect them to run until roughly the second week of January.
That gives you just over two whole months to try out all the holiday drinks range and sneak in a few extra cups of your favorite recipe.
Why are Starbucks holiday drinks so popular?
Starbucks is a coveted brand enjoyed all over. From humble beginnings in the 70s, the coffee chain rapidly expanded to take over the market and establish itself as the world’s largest coffee chain.
Tip: Check out this article to learn more about the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd coffee waves and how Starbucks had one of the biggest roles in the second coffee wave.
Starbucks’ success is due to its strategic marketing, and its holiday drinks menu is no exception. Released in time for Thanksgiving, the hype leading up to their release quickly reaches a fever pitch.
Hints and teasers dropped on social media result in fans scrambling to be the first through the door to discover the range.
Each year you can expect classic staples like the peppermint mocha and one or two new concoctions guaranteed to delight the taste buds.
Let’s not forget the iconic reusable red cup, either. A new design is released annually and ensures anyone wanting to stay on trend will grab theirs as soon as possible.
What Starbucks holiday drinks can we expect for 2022?
I’m as desperate as you are to know what the 2022 Starbucks holiday drinks menu will be. However, what exactly will be on the menu is a closely guarded secret that no one will know until November 2nd.
I know, it’s super frustrating. Believe me, the prospect of waiting even a few weeks to know is killing me.
To compensate, l can take an educated guess on which classics are likely to be on the menu. The new recipes, however, will be anyone’s guess.
Peppermint mocha
The big favorite (and old familiar) peppermint mocha has been a holiday menu staple since it debuted in 2002.
The grande size of the drink is made with:
- Two shots of espresso
- Four pumps of sweet mocha sauce
- Steamed milk
- Four pumps of peppermint syrup
- Whipped cream
- Dark chocolate flakes
The chocolate, mint, and coffee combo gives you the sweet yet tangy taste of candy canes and Christmas in one cup.
Caramel brulee latte
Decadent to the last sip, this sweet and indulgent drink has been a popular holiday menu item since 2009.
A grande size will get you:
- Two shots of signature espresso roast
- Steamed milk
- Four pumps of caramel brulee sauce
- A generous helping of whipped cream
- Caramel brulee crumbs
This particular drink is a fan favorite that secures its return yearly. As tasty as a dessert, this makes braving the weather to take a trip to Starbucks worthwhile.
Chestnut praline latte
Chestnuts have a sweet but distinctive flavor which could have easily been a flop in a coffee drink.
However, when it comes to flavor, Starbucks knows what it’s doing and has managed to weave in the chestnut flavor perfectly.
On the menu since 2014, a grande will get you:
- Two shots of signature espresso roast
- Steamed milk
- Chestnut praline syrup (four pumps)
- Whipped cream
- Crumbs of delicious praline
I love to get this drink, sit in a cozy chair in my local Starbucks, and watch the hustle and bustle of the holiday season go by.
Toasted white chocolate mocha
One of the newer kids on the block – first released in 2017 – but already a firm favorite, the toasted white chocolate mocha is a velvety rich taste sensation. Perfect if you’re looking for something extra rich to drink.
This beverage is quite versatile since you can request it in any form, whether it be hot, blended (Frappuccino), or iced. It comes with the following ingredients:
- Two shots of signature espresso roast
- Steamed milk
- Milk foam
- Four pumps of caramelized white chocolate mocha sauce
- Whipped cream
- Sugar sparkles
- White sugar pearls
The demand for this holiday drink is high, which is why we see it back on the menu each year.
Irish cream cold brew
This is the “healthy” Starbucks holiday drink. At only 200 calories per grande cup, you can afford to go to town with this beverage.
Debuting in 2019, this is the newest drink to make it onto the classic menu. People love it for its flavor and simplicity.
This delicious drink is made by taking cold brew coffee, mixing it with four pumps of Irish cream syrup, and pouring it over ice. It’s then topped with a hint of cocoa and finished with vanilla cream cold foam.
This holiday drink is perfect as a festive daily cup rather than the occasional indulgence.
Eggnog Latte
Starbucks tried removing this beverage from the menu in the past, but due to intense backlash, it was swiftly added back. While it didn’t appear last year, it could likely be back again for the 2022 release.
This drink contains:
- Two shots of espresso
- Steamed eggnog
- A smattering of nutmeg
This drink is a must for anyone who loves this classic Christmas drink.
However, I must say this isn’t for everyone. The eggnog taste isn’t subtle, so you’ll have to really like the taste of eggnog to enjoy this fully.
Gingerbread Latte
Cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger are all infused into gingerbread, and the taste is simply heavenly.
There’s no surprise that this is a firm favorite holiday drink. However, disappointingly, it hasn’t been seen on the menu since 2019.
Two espresso shots, four pumps of gingerbread syrup, and steamed milk topped with cream and nutmeg make up a warming treat for cold winter days.
I live in the hope that this holiday drink will make a comeback. Who knows, maybe 2022 will be the year.
If this is not the case, you can also make your own gingerbread latte from the comfort of your home with this easy-to-follow recipe.
What were the favorite Starbucks holiday drinks in 2021?
Last year, Starbucks released a range of classic staples, which consisted of the following:
- Peppermint mocha
- Toasted white chocolate mocha
- Caramel brulee latte
- Chestnut praline latte
- Irish cream cold brew
The 2021 holiday season also saw the debut of a brand new drink called the iced sugar cookie almond milk latte.
This was a 100% plant-based beverage that was well received by Starbucks fans.
It remains to be seen if the iced sugar cookie almond milk latte will see a return in 2022 or if Starbucks will swap it for something else equally enticing.
What I do know is that you can expect to see at least one new recipe making its debut in 2022.
If you don’t already, follow Starbucks on social media so you can be in the know when they start kicking off the hype for their holiday menu.
You may also find that you net yourself some promotional offers.
Starbucks style drinks: DIY hacks
If you want to get stuck into the holiday drinks craze early, I’ve got some fabulous recipes for you.
First up are my sauce recipes. I have the following sauce recipes to add to your daily coffee:
These recipes give an extra dimension of richness to your coffee, and with a twist of nutmeg or cinnamon powder, you’ll have a festive beverage ready to go.
I have also perfected my cinnamon brown sugar syrup which is so delicious when added to a latte.
Or, you can try my gingerbread syrup. If that doesn’t taste like Christmas, I don’t know what does!
Try mixing and matching the syrups and sauces to create your own ultimate holiday beverage. Have fun and go to town – I’d love to know what you come up with!
Final thoughts
Whether you’re a diehard fan or a casual coffee sipper, it’s hard to ignore the hotly anticipated Starbucks holiday drinks menu.
You can be sure that when the day comes, Starbucks will be full of excited people dying to discover the new menu.
If you want to get in on the action, put some time aside in your calendar to get to Starbucks on November 2nd and see what enticing new drinks they may have added.
However, be prepared for a long line of Starbucks-loving people when you get there.
