Every year, it’s like the holidays arrive sooner than expected with the Starbucks’ holiday drinks hitting the scene in November. Each sip of those festive drinks is pure bliss, but at over $6.00 each, these costs pile up, especially if I’m getting them multiple times a week. Luckily, I’ve discovered the secret recipes to recreate these Starbies holiday beverages at home, and let me tell you, they’ll taste just as good, if not better!
Traditional mochas and lattes use espresso, but if you don’t have an espresso machine, don’t worry — try a stovetop espresso maker. They work similarly to traditional machines, using pressure to brew robust coffee but without the cost or counter space. You can find them for as cheap as $5.00 on Amazon or at stores like Target.
Before I dive into the recipes, there are some key things to note. The hot lattes and mochas call for steamed milk. Most espresso machines have a built-in steam wand, but if you don’t have one, here’s a trick: first pour your preferred milk into a glass jar, filling it no more than halfway (avoid overfilling as milk expands when steamed). Seal the jar tightly and give it a good shake for thirty to sixty seconds until it doubles in volume and gets frothy (you can also use a handheld frother instead of shaking it). Remove the lid, then microwave the jar on high for 30 seconds and voila! You’ve got warm, frothy steamed milk ready to be added to your espresso.
Another important thing to note is that the recipes for hot and iced drinks are nearly identical. The only difference is that in the iced versions, skip the steamed milk step and instead pour in your cold milk of choice and toss in some ice cubes. It’s as easy as that!
These recipes are from @wyenu.brave on TikTok.
Peppermint Mocha
Ingredients:
- 1 shot espresso (1.6 fl oz / 50 ml)
- 1 cup milk of choice
- 2 tablespoons chocolate sauce
- 1 tablespoon peppermint syrup
- Optional: Whipped cream
- Optional: Chocolate curls
Directions:
- Drizzle chocolate sauce into a cup. (The Torani Puremade Dark Chocolate Sauce and the Ghirardelli Premium Chocolate Sauce are delicious options).
- Continue by gently streaming in the peppermint syrup. (I like to use the Torani Peppermint Syrup, available at your local supermarkets, Target, and Amazon.)
- Pour in one shot of espresso into the cup and swirl it.
- Next, layer the milk on top.
- Optional: Top it all off with whipped cream and sprinkle some chocolate curls. You can buy chocolate curls in store or simply grate a bar of chocolate using a cheese grater. Enjoy!
Note: If you’re wondering how to make the white peppermint mocha, all you have to do is add 2 tablespoons of white chocolate sauce instead of regular chocolate sauce and follow the same steps above (Torani and Ghiradelli both have delicious white chocolate flavored sauces).
Caramel Brûlée Latte
Ingredients:
- 1 shot espresso (1.6 fl oz / 50 ml)
- 2 tablespoons caramel brûlée sauce
- 1 cup milk of choice
- Optional: Whipped cream
- Optional: Sugar bits
Directions:
- Drizzle your cup with caramel brûlée sauce (Kyya Chocolate’s Creme Brûlée sauce and Monin’s Gourmet Caramel Sauce are tasty choices).
- Add in one shot of espresso.
- Pour your preferred milk.
- Optional: Top it off with whipped cream and sugar bits. Cheers!
Sugar Cookie Latte
Ingredients:
- 1 shot espresso (1.6 fl oz / 50 ml)
- 1 cup milk of choice
- 2 tablespoons sugar cookie syrup
- Optional: Sprinkles
Directions:
- Pour one shot of espresso into your cup.
- Add in the sugar cookie syrup (Jordan’s Skinny Syrup and Kyya Chocolate both have sugar cookie-flavored syrups).
- Gently pour in the milk.
- Optional: Top it off with some sprinkles
Gingerbread Latte
Ingredients:
- 1 shot espresso (1.6 fl oz / 50 ml)
- 2 tablespoons gingerbread syrup
- 1 cup milk of choice
- Pumpkin spice powder
Directions:
- Begin by pouring the gingerbread syrup into a cup (I personally love Torani’s Gingerbread Syrup).
- Continue by adding the espresso shot to the cup.
- Add in your milk of choice.
- Finish by topping it off with some pumpkin spice powder.
Chestnut Praline Latte
Ingredients:
- 1 shot espresso (1.6 fl oz / 50 ml)
- 2 tablespoons chestnut praline syrup
- 1 cup milk of choice
- Optional: Whipped cream
- Optional: Chestnut praline bits
Directions:
- Start off with adding the chestnut praline syrup into your cup (Jordan’s Skinny Chestnut Praline Syrup and Monin’s Praline Flavoring Syrup taste so good with this drink).
- Follow through with the shot of espresso.
- Pour the milk on top.
- Optional: Top it off with whipped cream and chestnut praline bits (see note below).
Note: There are two ways to make the chestnut praline topping. The lazy way is to mix sugar with a sprinkle of cinnamon. Another way is to toast a few pecans in the oven at 350°F for 5-10 minutes, finely chop them up, then mix with sugar and cinnamon. Both ways add crunch and spice to the drink.
Cold Foam
Most of these festive beverages have the option to add sweet cream cold foam rather than whipped cream, so here’s the recipe to make that at home:
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup milk of choice
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1-2 teaspoons vanilla syrup
Directions:
Pour the heavy cream into a bowl, then add the vanilla syrup (Torani, Monin, and Jordan’s Skinny Syrups all have yummy vanilla flavors). After that, add in your milk of choice. Next, use a whisk or milk frother to combine and froth the ingredients until you achieve a thick consistency with a layer of foam on top. Finally, top your drink with the cold foam and relish in the delightful flavor.