Once November hits, it’s officially the holiday season and we are always ready to see what Holiday Drinks Starbucks is bringing us. But before we get too excited… are any of them vegan?
Word on the street is that there is a new potentially vegan-friendly drink on the menu but we had to do our investigating to know for sure!
Without further ado, let’s see what is on Starbucks’ 2023 Holiday Menu.
Starbucks 2023 Holiday Menu
Food
- Cranberry Bliss Bar
- Gingerbread Loaf
- Peppermint Brownie Cake Pop
- Snowman Cookie
- Sugar Plum Cheese Danish
Drinks
- Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai (NEW)
- Peppermint Mocha
- Caramel Brulée Latte
- Chestnut Praline Latte
- Iced Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte
What is NOT Vegan?
Let’s get the non-vegan items out of the way. Here is a list of which holiday menu items are NOT vegan-friendly and cannot be modified.
- Cranberry Bliss Bar (contains egg & dairy)
- Gingerbread Loaf (contains egg & dairy)
- Peppermint Brownie Cake Pop (contains egg & dairy)
- Snowman Cookie (contains egg & dairy)
- Sugar Plum Cheese Danish (contains egg & dairy)
- Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai Latte (contains honey; can be modified, sort of)
- Caramel Brulée Latte (contains dairy)
I do want to expand more on the Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai Latte and Caramel Brulée Latte.
The Caramel Brulee Latte contains brewed espresso, milk, caramel brulée sauce, whipped cream and a caramel brulee topping. The caramel brulee sauce is the main flavor component of the drink which contains dairy so that in itself makes this drink not possible.
However, the Caramel Brulee Topping is accidentally vegan. If you want to try this topping on another drink, go for it! We think it could be fun on Starbucks’ Blonde Vanilla Latte.
If you try it, let us know! Here are the ingredients
according to Starbucks:
CARAMEL BRULEE TOPPING [SUGAR, CORN SYRUP, NATURAL FLAVOR, FRUIT AND VEGETABLE COLORS (APPLE, PURPLE CARROT, HIBISCUS)]
See below for more on the Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Latte.
What is Vegan-Friendly at Starbucks for the 2023 Holiday Season?
…or can be modified.
First, let me give you a cheat sheet for ordering at Starbucks.
You have 4 non-dairy milks you can choose from:
- Oat
- Soy
- Almond
- Coconut
And 3 cup sizes:
- Tall
- Grande
- Venti
Now, on to the holiday drinks…
Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai Latte
This one is frustrating. Every drink that Starbucks has brought us with the words Oatmilk in it have been vegan-friendly–if we’re not mistaken–until now. The Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai Latte is NOT vegan as-is due to one ingredient that we consider to not be vegan but some may let slide.
Honey.
Honestly, that’s it. Here is the full list of ingredients for Starbucks’ Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai Latte.
OATMILK [OATMILK (WATER, OATS), CANOLA OIL, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF: DIPOTASSIUM PHOSPHATE, CALCIUM CARBONATE, TRICALCIUM PHOSPHATE, SEA SALT, DICALCIUM PHOSPHATE, RIBOFLAVIN, VITAMIN A, VITAMIN D2, VITAMIN B12], ICE, CHAI TEA CONCENTRATE [AN INFUSION OF (WATER, BLACK TEA, CARDAMOM, BLACK PEPPER, GINGER, CINNAMON, CLOVES, NATURAL FLAVORS, STAR ANISE), SUGAR, HONEY, GINGER JUICE, NATURAL FLAVORS, VANILLA, CITRIC ACID], GINGERBREAD FLAVORED SYRUP [WATER, SUGAR, NATURAL FLAVOR, CITRIC ACID, SODIUM BENZOATE (PRESERVATIVE)], PUMPKIN SPICE TOPPING [CINNAMON, GINGER, NUTMEG, AND CLOVES]
–> Make sure you notice though, this special is NOT a coffee drink. It is considered a tea drink.
Here’s another version you could order of the Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai Latte but is vegan and contains coffee beans.
HOW TO ORDER VEGAN: Order a Gingerbread Latte with your choice of non-dairy milk and NO whip.
Simple as that.
Peppermint Mocha, Iced or Hot
The Peppermint Mocha is NOT vegan as-is. In its original form, it has whipped cream and dark chocolate curls. Both of these contain dairy. But the good news is, you can make it dairy-free!
HOW TO ORDER VEGAN: Order an iced or hot Peppermint Mocha with your choice of non-dairy milk (oat, soy, almond or coconut), NO whip and NO chocolate curls.
The ingredients list will look like this… Non-Dairy Milk of your choice +
MOCHA SAUCE [WATER, SUGAR, COCOA PROCESSED WITH ALKALI, NATURAL FLAVOR], BREWED ESPRESSO, PEPPERMINT SYRUP [SUGAR, WATER, NATURAL FLAVOR, SODIUM BENZOATE, CITRIC ACID]
Chestnut Praline Latte, Iced or Hot
The Chestnut Praline is a favorite of mine but it is NOT vegan as-is. In its original form, it has dairy milk and whipped cream.
HOW TO ORDER VEGAN: Order an iced or hot Chestnut Praline Latte with your choice of non-dairy milk (oat, soy, almond or coconut) and NO whip.
The ingredients list will look like this… Non-Dairy Milk of your choice +
BREWED ESPRESSO, CHESTNUT PRALINE SYRUP [SUGAR, WATER, NATURAL FLAVOR, CITRIC ACID, PRESERVATIVE: POTASSIUM SORBATE], VANILLA SYRUP (SUGAR, WATER, NATURAL FLAVORS, POTASSIUM SORBATE, CITRIC ACID)], CHESTNUT PRALINE TOPPING [SPICED SUGAR (SUGAR, CINNAMON, GINGER, CLOVE), TOFFEE SUGAR (SUGAR, VEGETABLE COLORS (PUMPKIN, APPLE, PURPLE CARROT, HIBISCUS), NATURAL FLAVORS, SALT, ANNATTO, BAKING SODA)]
Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte, Iced Or Hot
The Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte made its debut in 2021, as Starbucks’ ONLY dairy-free as-is drink on the holiday menu. It made its reappearance in 2022 and now again in 2023. Woohoo! 🙂
The ingredients are:
ALMONDMILK [FILTERED WATER, ALMONDS, SUGAR, CALCIUM CARBONATE, SUNFLOWER LECITHIN, SEA SALT, XANTHAN GUM, GUAR GUM, VITAMIN A PALMITATE, VITAMIN D2 (ERGOCALCIFEROL)], WATER, BREWED ESPRESSO, SUGAR COOKIE FLAVORED SYRUP [SUGAR, WATER, NATURAL FLAVOR, PRESERVATIVE: POTASSIUM SORBATE, SALT, CITRIC ACID], RED & GREEN SPRINKLES TOPPING [SUGARS (SUGAR, POWDERED SUGAR (SUGAR, CORN STARCH)), CORN STARCH, NATURAL FLAVOR, VEGETABLE JUICE FOR COLOR (PURPLE SWEET POTATO, SPIRULINA), CARNAUBA WAX, RIBOFLAVIN FOR COLOR, TURMERIC AND BETA CAROTENE FOR COLOR, PALM OIL]
–> In our 2021 holiday guide, I shared with you a recipe I created. It was the cookie this drink was inspired from, a German Christmas cookie called Spritz (or SpritzgebÃ¥ck). You can reference our Starbucks 2021 Holiday Guide for the recipe if you’re interested in making them.
They are so good! And perfect with a cup of coffee. Tell us in the comments if you have made them and what you think.
Other Holiday Drink Options
The following drinks are other options that we feel have that holiday spice and could be another option if the ones they brought back do not tickle your fancy.
:: coffee drinks ::
Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato, Iced or Hot
This debuted in the fall of 2022 and returned on Starbucks’ 2023 Fall menu. Thankfully for those of us who love it, it’s still available. The Apple Crisp Otamilk Macchiato is creamy with a sweet apple pie taste.
It is vegan as-is and requires no changes to be made.
Side note, we both prefer the hot version of this one.
Cinnamon Dolce Latte, Iced or Hot
Not sure why this one is not highlighted on their holiday menu… It’s cinnamon! In its original form, the Cinnamon Dolce Latte is NOT vegan as-is. It contains whipped cream and a cinnamon dolce topping. Both contain dairy.
HOW TO ORDER VEGAN: Order a latte with cinnamon dolce syrup and your choice of non-dairy milk.
Starbucks Blonde Vanilla Latte, Iced or Hot
This is a favorite of mine! I love Starbucks’ Blonde Roast. It’s so smooth. And then you pair it with vanilla. It’s like you’re on a cloud. 😉
In its original form, Starbuck Blonde Vanilla Latte is NOT vegan-as is.
HOW TO ORDER VEGAN: Order a Blonde Vanilla Latte with your choice of non-dairy milk.
:: caffeine-free drinks ::
Hot Tea
Starbucks has a nice selection of hot teas.
- Emperor’s Clouds & Mist. This is nice green tea.
- Chai Tea. An infusion of black tea, ginger, cinnamon, black pepper, cardamom, star anise, cloves and cardamon essence.
- Earl Grey. An infusion of black tea, bergamot essence and lavender flowers.
- London Fog Latte. Order with your choice of non-dairy milk. This one is Earl Grey Tea + milk + vanilla syrup.
- Royal English Breakfast Tea. A blend of black teas.
- Royal English Breakfast Tea Latte. Order with your choice of non-dairy milk. This is the Royal English Breakfast Tea + milk + classic sugar syrup.
- Mint Majesty. An infusion of spearmint leaves, peppermint leaves and lemon verbena.
- Matcha Tea Latte. Order with your choice of non-dairy milk.
There are a couple of more hot tea choices. Ask your barista if these do not work for you.
Hot Chocolate
Who doesn’t love warm hot chocolate on a cold snowy day?
Now, I have never ordered a hot chocolate from Starbucks but I want to mention for those who like what they like, Starbucks does not use hot chocolate powder. Your drink is a mix of milk and their mocha sauce. I have discovered that to some this matters.
It is NOT vegan as-is though. It automatically comes with dairy milk and whipped cream. Both contain dairy.
HOW TO ORDER VEGAN: Order a Hot Chocolate with your choice of non-dairy milk and NO whip.
Peppermint Hot Chocolate
A hot chocolate with a hint of peppermint. Yum! This one also needs modifications. In its original form, it contains dairy milk, whipped cream and dark chocolate curls. All 3 contain dairy.
HOW TO ORDER VEGAN: Order a Peppermint Hot Chocolate with your choice of non-dairy milk and NO whip or dark chocolate curls.
Vegan Food Options
Since Starbucks has not brought us any new vegan-friendly food options this holiday season, we can choose from what we are already familiar with:
- Plain or Everything Bagel (be aware there is also an everything & cheddar bagel that is not vegan). Look for packaged Organic Avocado Spread to spread on. Justin’s Hazelnut Butter or Classic Almond Butter may also be an option–check with your location for availability.
- Rolled & Steel Cut Oatmeal with Blueberries (not labeled vegan but no animal-derived ingredients) … comes with whole grain oatmeal, nut medley, blueberries and agave nectar syrup. It is optional to add in a splash of non-dairy milk.
- Rolled & Steel Cut Oatmeal (not labeled vegan but no animal-derived ingredients) … comes with whole grain oatmeal, brown sugar, dried fruit and a nut medley. It is optional to add in a splash of non-dairy milk.
In Conclusion…
We would have loved to have the new Oatmilk drink to be vegan-friendly but at least we get a Gingerbread Syrup we can play with. There are so many drinks you can choose from for the Holidays at Starbucks.
Visit our Starbucks Vegan Guide for a complete list of drinks and food you can order. Share with us in the comments what your favorite drink is this time of year.
Happy Holidays!
