9 Best Starbucks Holiday Drinks to Try This Season

Every November, Starbucks generates over $1 billion in seasonal revenue — and a significant chunk of that comes from that customers wait all year to order. The red cups return, the menus transform, and suddenly your daily coffee run becomes a seasonal ritual. If you want to make the most of this year’s offerings, this guide to the 9 best drinks to try this season will walk you through every must-order beverage, from the legendary to the newly revived .

Whether you are a die-hard fan or someone who is just starting to explore the seasonal menu, this list has something for everyone. I have broken down the flavors, ingredients, and what makes each drink special so you can walk into any Starbucks location — or open the app — and order with total confidence.

Key Takeaways

• 🎄 The Peppermint Mocha has been the #1 holiday drink since 2002 and remains the top seller every season [4].
• 🍂 The made a triumphant return in 2025 after a four-year absence [1].
• ❄️ Cold holiday drinks like the Eggnog Cold Foam and Iced Sugar Cookie Latte are strong alternatives for those who skip hot beverages.
• 🥛 The 2025 holiday menu introduced four new cold foam options, each packed with 15 grams of protein [4].
• ☕ Knowing the flavor profile of each drink helps you choose the right one for your taste — whether you love rich and indulgent or light and spiced.

The Full Lineup: 9 Best Starbucks Holiday Drinks to Try This Season

The 2025 Starbucks holiday menu officially launched on November 6, 2025 [4]. It brought back beloved classics, resurrected fan favorites that had been missing for years, and introduced brand-new cold foam innovations. Below is a complete breakdown of every drink worth ordering this season.

1. Peppermint Mocha — The Undisputed Holiday Champion

No list of the 9 best Starbucks holiday drinks to try this season would be complete without starting here. The Peppermint Mocha is the most popular holiday drink Starbucks has ever created, and it has held that title since its debut in 2002 [4].

What’s in it:

• Steamed milk
• Mocha sauce
• Peppermint syrup
• Dark chocolate curls

The combination of bold espresso, rich chocolate, and cool peppermint creates a drink that feels like the holidays in a cup. The dark chocolate curls on top add a touch of elegance that makes it feel indulgent without being overwhelming.

💬 “The Peppermint Mocha is not just a drink — it is a cultural moment. It signals the start of the holiday season for millions of people.”

Best for: Chocolate and mint lovers who want a classic, crowd-pleasing holiday experience.

Pro tip: Ask for an extra pump of peppermint if you want a stronger mint flavor, or reduce the mocha sauce for a lighter chocolate taste.

2. Chestnut Praline Latte — The Sophisticated Choice

If you find most holiday drinks too sweet, the Latte is your answer. This drink offers a more balanced, grown-up flavor profile that combines nutty, buttery notes with warm spices and a solid espresso base [2].

What makes it special:

• Rich chestnut praline syrup
• Espresso and steamed milk
• Spiced praline crumbs on top
• Warm, toasty finish

The Chestnut does not try to overwhelm your palate. Instead, it layers flavors gently — you taste the nuttiness first, then the warmth of the spices, and finally the espresso cuts through to balance everything out.

Best for: Coffee purists who want a holiday twist without a sugar overload.

3. Caramel Brûlée Latte — The Ultimate Indulgence

Described by tasters as “the ultimate indulgence”, the Caramel Brûlée Latte is for those who want their holiday drink to feel like dessert [2]. This is buttery, rich, and deeply satisfying.

What’s in it:

• Espresso
• Steamed milk
• Caramel brûlée sauce
• Whipped cream
• Caramelized sugar topping

The magic of this drink is in the caramelized sugar topping, which adds a slightly crunchy texture and a deep, smoky-sweet flavor. The caramel sauce itself is more complex than a standard caramel syrup — it has a slightly bitter edge that pairs beautifully with the espresso [2].

Best for: Caramel lovers and anyone who enjoys dessert-forward beverages.

Customization idea: Try it with oat milk for a creamier, slightly nuttier base that complements the caramel perfectly.

4. Gingerbread Latte — The Beloved Comeback Kid

Few holiday drink returns have generated as much excitement as the Gingerbread Latte. After a four-year absence from the (it was last available in 2019), this classic came back in 2025 and reminded everyone exactly why it was missed [1].

What’s in it:

• Espresso
• Steamed milk
• Gingerbread-flavored syrup
• Cinnamon and nutmeg infusion
• Whipped cream topping

The gingerbread syrup is the star of the show here. It is warm, spiced, and unmistakably festive. The cinnamon and nutmeg blend gives the drink a depth of flavor that goes beyond simple sweetness [1].

💬 “The Gingerbread Latte’s return in 2025 felt like running into an old friend — familiar, comforting, and immediately welcome.”

Best for: Anyone who loves classic holiday spice flavors and missed this drink during its long hiatus.

Did you know? The Gingerbread Latte was one of Starbucks’ original holiday drinks, making its return a true nostalgia moment for long-time fans.

5. Eggnog Latte — The Holiday Classic Reborn

Like the Gingerbread Latte, the Eggnog Latte made a comeback after a four-year hiatus [2]. It was one of two major holiday drink drops that Starbucks launched for the 2025 season, and its return was met with enthusiasm from fans who had been requesting it for years.

What’s in it:

• Espresso
• Eggnog (in place of regular milk)
• Steamed to creamy perfection
• Optional whipped cream and nutmeg

The Eggnog Latte is thick, rich, and deeply seasonal. The eggnog replaces standard milk, which gives the drink a custard-like creaminess that you simply cannot replicate with any other ingredient. The espresso cuts through the richness to keep it from feeling too heavy.

Best for: Eggnog enthusiasts and those who want a drink that feels truly unique to the holiday season.

Sweetness level: Medium-high. The natural sweetness of eggnog means you may want to skip added syrups.

6. Eggnog Cold Foam Cold Brew — The Cold Drink Dark Horse

Here is where things get interesting. While the Eggnog Latte is a strong contender, the Eggnog Cold Foam actually ranked higher in taste tests [2]. The contrast between the velvety, sweet eggnog cold foam and the bold, slightly bitter cold brew creates a layered drinking experience that is genuinely exciting.

What’s in it:

• Starbucks Cold
• Eggnog-flavored cold foam on top
• Optional holiday spice dusting

The key to this drink is the contrast. Cold brew is naturally less acidic and smoother than regular , which means the eggnog foam sits on top beautifully and blends in gradually as you sip. You get a different flavor combination with every sip [2].

Best for: Cold drink lovers who want a sophisticated, layered holiday beverage.

🌟 Editor’s Pick: If you are only trying one cold holiday drink this season, make it this one.

7. Iced Sugar Cookie Latte — The Festive Cold Option

Not everyone wants a hot drink during the holiday season — especially if you live somewhere warm or simply prefer cold beverages year-round. The Iced Sugar Cookie Latte is the perfect answer, serving as a cold alternative on the 2025 seasonal menu [4].

What’s in it:

• Oat milk (standard base)
• Sugar cookie-flavored syrup
• Ice
• Red and green sprinkles on top

The Iced Sugar Cookie Latte is bright, sweet, and festive. The sugar cookie syrup has a vanilla-forward flavor with a buttery finish that works surprisingly well with the lighter blonde espresso. The sprinkles on top are a fun, playful touch that makes this drink feel like a holiday treat [4].

Best for: Cold drink fans, those who prefer lighter espresso, and anyone who wants a visually festive beverage for social media.

Sweetness level: High. This is a dessert drink — lean into it.

8. Iced Gingerbread Chai — Spice Meets Cool

The Iced Gingerbread Chai is a clever twist on two beloved flavors — the warming spice of gingerbread and the bold, complex profile of chai tea [4]. This drink works as a cold beverage, making it a great option for those who want holiday flavor without the heat.

What’s in it:

• Chai
• Gingerbread syrup
• Milk (or milk alternative)
• Ice

The chai base already carries notes of cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger, so adding gingerbread syrup amplifies those spice notes into something truly festive. The result is a drink that is warming in flavor even though it is served cold [4].

Best for: Tea lovers, spice enthusiasts, and those who want a caffeine-light holiday option (chai has less caffeine than espresso).

9. Gingerbread Cream Cold Foam Cold Brew — The New Protein-Packed Contender

Rounding out the 9 best Starbucks holiday drinks to try this season is one of the most exciting new additions: the Gingerbread Cream Cold Foam Cold Brew. This drink is part of the 2025 holiday menu’s biggest innovation — four new holiday cold foams, each containing 15 grams of protein [4].

What’s in it:

• Starbucks Cold Brew
• Gingerbread Cream Cold Foam (protein-enhanced)
• Holiday spice notes throughout

The protein-enhanced cold foam is a game-changer for health-conscious coffee drinkers who still want to participate in the holiday drink experience. At 15 grams of protein per serving, this drink bridges the gap between a festive treat and a functional beverage [4].

Best for: Fitness-focused coffee drinkers, cold brew fans, and anyone curious about the new protein cold foam trend.

💬 “15 grams of protein in a holiday drink? That is the kind of innovation that makes you rethink what a seasonal menu can be.”

How to Choose the Right Holiday Drink for You

With so many options on the menu, picking the right drink can feel overwhelming. Here is a simple guide to help you decide:

Choose a hot drink if:

• You want a cozy, warming experience ☕
• You are drinking in cold weather
• You prefer espresso-forward beverages

Choose a cold drink if:

• You live in a warm climate ❄️
• You prefer cold brew or year-round
• You want a lighter, more refreshing holiday experience

Choose based on sweetness preference:

• 🍬 High sweetness: Peppermint Mocha, Iced Sugar Cookie Latte, Caramel Brûlée Latte
• 🍂 Medium sweetness: Chestnut Praline Latte, Eggnog Cold Foam Cold Brew, Iced Gingerbread Chai
• ☕ Lower sweetness (customizable): Eggnog Latte (skip extra syrups), Gingerbread Cream Cold Foam Cold Brew

Popular Holiday Syrups to Know

One of the best things about Starbucks is the ability to customize. The 2025 holiday menu featured several standout seasonal syrups that you can add to any drink [3]:

1. Peppermint — Cool, minty, and refreshing
2. Caramel Brûlée — Rich, buttery, and slightly smoky
3. Gingerbread — Warm, spiced, and festive
4. Sugar Cookie — Sweet, vanilla-forward, and buttery
5. Toffee Nut — Nutty, caramel-like, and deeply warming

Knowing these syrups gives you the power to customize any base drink into a holiday creation of your own. For example, adding a pump of toffee nut to a standard latte instantly gives it a seasonal twist [3].

Tips for Getting the Most Out of the Holiday Menu

Before you head to Starbucks, here are a few practical tips to enhance your experience:

✅ Order through the app — You can customize your drink in detail and earn Starbucks Rewards points on every purchase.

✅ Ask about size options — Most holiday drinks are available in Tall, Grande, and Venti. A Tall is a great way to try a new drink without committing to a full large.

✅ Try the cold foam versions — The 2025 protein cold foam additions are genuinely innovative and worth trying even if you are a hot drink loyalist.

✅ Customize your sweetness — You can always ask for fewer pumps of syrup to reduce the sweetness level of any drink on this list.

✅ Check seasonal availability — Holiday drinks are available while supplies last and typically run through early January.

Conclusion

The 9 best Starbucks holiday drinks to try this season offer something for every type of coffee drinker — from the iconic Peppermint Mocha that has anchored the holiday menu since 2002, to the brand-new protein-packed Gingerbread Cream Cold Foam Cold Brew that represents the future of seasonal beverages. Whether you gravitate toward rich, indulgent hot drinks or prefer a bold cold brew with festive cold foam, this year’s menu delivers.

Your actionable next steps:

1. Start with the Peppermint Mocha if you are a first-time holiday drink explorer — it is the classic for a reason.
2. Try the Eggnog Cold Foam Cold Brew if you want to discover a hidden gem that outperforms its more famous counterpart in taste tests.
3. Experiment with seasonal syrups to customize your everyday order into something festive.
4. Download the Starbucks app to customize, order ahead, and earn rewards on every holiday drink purchase.
5. Visit before the season ends — these drinks disappear in early January, and some (like the Gingerbread Latte) have a history of going on extended hiatus.

The holiday menu is one of the most exciting times to be a Starbucks customer. Do not let the season pass without trying at least a few of these standout beverages. Your perfect holiday drink is waiting — go find it. 🎄☕

References

[1] Best Starbucks Holiday Drinks – https://yourdreamcoffee.com/best-starbucks-holiday-drinks/

[2] Starbucks Holiday Drinks Ranked 2025 – https://www.delish.com/food-news/a69677682/starbucks-holiday-drinks-ranked-2025/

[3] 10 Starbucks For Holidays – https://drinkdigits.com/blog/10-starbucks-christmas-drinks-for-holidays/

[4] Starbucks Holiday Menu 2025 Review – https://parade.com/food/starbucks-holiday-menu-2025-review

[5] Starbucks Holiday Drinks – https://www.purewow.com/food/starbucks-holiday-drinks