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    11 DIY Starbucks Drinks for the Holidays

    November 2, 2017 by Nadia Sheikh

    DIY Starbucks Holiday Favorites: Low Sugar, Vegan, & Paleo!

    During the holiday season, it seems like all roads lead to Starbucks. Our days are busy and we need a pick-me-up, it's chilly outside so we need a warm-me-up, there are SO many tasty holiday drinks and we NEED to get them while they last!! But, let's be real, it's easy to spend way too much money on all of that holiday Starbucks-ing... What if you could have your favorite holiday drinks year-round, and you didn't have to break the bank to get them? You can—with DIY Starbucks drinks! 

    I've got 12 easy recipes for holiday DIY Starbucks drinks that are deliciously comforting and you can make them anytime at home. Of course, going to Starbucks and getting those indulgent holiday drinks is a special experience that many of us enjoy during this time of year. But, these DIY Starbucks drinks aren't just loaded with those scrumptious holiday flavors—they're also healthy!

    These recipes are made with all clean ingredients, use no artificial syrups or flavors, and are far lower in sugar than the drinks we know and love at Starbucks. We can enjoy them without the guilt of indulging in a sugary drink, and we save money! Plus, ALL of these DIY Starbucks recipes are vegan-friendly, paleo-friendly, and gluten-free!

    Pumpkin Spice Latte

    from my Healthy Pumpkin Recipes for Fall, Thanksgiving & Christmas video & my 150+ Healthy Holiday Recipes eBook

    Fall is pretty much pumpkin spice season for me, and the Pumpkin Spice Latte is one of my FAVORITE drinks. Starbucks uses their Pumpkin Spice sauce to give the PSL its crave-able flavor, but this DIY Starbucks drink uses a homemade Pumpkin Spice syrup that's vegan and paleo! (Get the recipe here!) That way, YOU are in control of the sweetness level of your drink. A PSL from Starbucks has almost 25 more grams of sugar than this DIY Starbucks version! Plus, you can store your DIY PSL syrup in the fridge for a few weeks and it tastes delicious drizzled on just about anything! (I also have another pumpkin spice latte recipe that doesn't call for homemade PSL syrup.)

    Dietary Preferences:

    Vegan

    Paleo

    Gluten-free

    Low-sugar

    Low-fat

    Ingredients:

    Milk of choice

    Coffee or espresso

    DIY Pumpkin Spice syrup

    Toppings:

    Whipped cream, or

    Coconut whipped cream

    Pumpkin pie spice

    Get the recipe:

    Pumpkin Spice Latte

    Nutrition:

    DIY Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte

    Per 12-oz. latte (w/ 1 Tbsp syrup), yields 1:

    39 calories  |  5g carbs  |  2g fat  |  1g protein  |  3.5g sugars  |  2g dietary fiber

    Pumpkin Spice Latte @ Starbucks

    Per tall (12-oz.) latte, made with almond milk, no whipped cream:

    180 cals  |  31g carbs  |  4.5g fat  |  4g protein  |  28g sugars  |  1g dietary fiber

     

    Cinnamon Dolce Latte & Frappuccino

    from my Healthy Starbucks DIY Fall Recipes video & my 150+ Healthy Holiday Recipes eBook

    Starbucks' Cinnamon Dolce Latte and Frappuccino are SO deliciously indulgent. This DIY Starbucks Cinnamon Dolce has all of the deliciousness, but none of the guilt! With only 6 grams of sugar per latte, you can't go wrong. Like the Pumpkin Spice Latte, this recipe calls for homemade Cinnamon Dolce syrup (you can get the recipe here) to better capture that Starbucks-y flavor. And, you can easily turn this latte into a Frappuccino—just let it cool and blend it up with a cup of ice cubes!

    Dietary Preferences:

    Vegan

    Paleo

    Gluten-free

    Low-sugar

    Low-fat

    Ingredients:

    Milk of choice

    Coffee or espresso

    DIY Cinnamon Dolce syrup

    Toppings:

    Whipped cream, or

    Coconut whipped cream

    Caramel drizzle

    Get the recipe:

    Cinnamon Dolce Latte & Frappuccino

    Nutrition:

    DIY Starbucks Cinnamon Dolce Latte

    Per 12-oz. latte (w/ 1 Tbsp syrup), yields 1:

    47 calories  |  8g carbs  |  2g fat  |  1g protein  |  6g sugars  |  3g dietary fiber

    Cinnamon Dolce Latte @ Starbucks

    Per tall (12-oz.) latte, made with almond milk, no whipped cream:

    140 cals  |  24g carbs  |  4.5g fat  |  2g protein  |  21g sugars  |  1g dietary fiber

     

    Peppermint Mocha

    from my Vegan Peppermint Mocha Recipe Starbucks DIY video & my 150+ Healthy Holiday Recipes eBook

    My other holiday favorite! The Peppermint Mocha is made with Starbucks' mocha sauce and peppermint syrup, which are undeniably scrumptious. But, they're loaded with sugar, so a tall-size (12 oz.) Peppermint Mocha has over 30 grams of sugar! On the other hand, this DIY Starbucks Peppermint Mocha uses cocoa powder, peppermint extract, and the sweetener of your choice. If you choose a natural sweetener like stevia, this holiday drink is sugar-free!

    Dietary Preferences:

    Vegan

    Paleo

    Gluten-free

    Sugar-free

    Low-fat

    Ingredients:

    Milk of choice

    Cocoa powder

    Peppermint extract

    Sweetener of choice

    Strong brewed coffee

    Toppings:

    Whipped cream, or

    Coconut whipped cream

    Chocolate shreds

    Crushed peppermint

    Get the recipe:

    Peppermint Mocha

    Nutrition:

    DIY Starbucks Peppermint Mocha

    Per 12-oz. latte, yields 2:

    48 calories  |  8g carbs  |  3g fat  |  3g protein  |  0g sugars  |  4g dietary fiber

    Peppermint Mocha @ Starbucks

    Per tall (12-oz.) latte, made with almond milk, no whipped cream:

    220 cals  |  39g carbs  |  6g fat  |  4g protein  |  32g sugars  |  4g dietary fiber

     

    Gingerbread Latte

    from my DIY Starbucks Holiday Remakes video & my 150+ Healthy Holiday Recipes eBook

    What could be better than gingerbread cookies dipped in coffee? How about a coffee that TASTES like gingerbread cookies?! By making your own DIY Starbucks Gingerbread Latte, you can skip the artificial syrups and sugars. YOU are in control of the sugar or sweetener, if you choose to use any! The ground ginger and molasses give this recipe an authentic gingerbread taste—the gingerbread cookies are optional, but I do highly recommend them...

    Dietary Preferences:

    Vegan

    Paleo

    Gluten-free

    Low-sugar

    Low-fat

    Ingredients:

    Milk of choice

    Cinnamon

    Ground ginger

    Molasses

    Sweetener of choice

    Strong brewed coffee

    Toppings:

    Whipped cream, or

    Coconut whipped cream

    Cinnamon

    Get the recipe:

    Gingerbread Latte

    Nutrition:

    DIY Starbucks Gingerbread Latte

    Per 12-oz. latte, yields 2:

    47 calories  |  9g carbs  |  1g fat  |  1g protein  |  7g sugars  |  1g dietary fiber

    Gingerbread Latte @ Starbucks

    Per tall (12-oz.) latte, made with almond milk, no whipped cream:

    130 cals  |  21g carbs  |  4.5g fat  |  2g protein  |  19g sugars  |  1g dietary fiber

     

    Salted Caramel Mocha

    from my DIY Starbucks Holiday Remakes video & my 150+ Healthy Holiday Recipes eBook

    Holy mocha—this DIY Starbucks drink is SO easy to make and so much cleaner than the traditional version. This homemade Salted Caramel Mocha recipe uses date syrup instead of caramel, and only has 13 grams of sugar instead of 33 grams! Plus, you can even learn how to make your own salted caramel topping for that extra touch of crunchy-salty-sweetness!

    Dietary Preferences:

    Vegan

    Paleo

    Gluten-free

    Lower-sugar

    Low-fat

    Ingredients:

    Milk of choice

    Coffee or espresso

    Cocoa powder

    Date syrup

    Sea salt

    Sweetener of choice

    Toppings:

    Whipped cream, or

    Coconut whipped cream

    Date syrup

    DIY salted caramel topping

    Get the recipe:

    Salted Caramel Mocha

    Nutrition:

    DIY Starbucks Salted Caramel Mocha

    Per 12-oz. latte (not including DIY salted caramel topping), yields 2:

    88 calories  |  16g carbs  |  2g fat  |  2g protein  |  13g sugars  |  2g dietary fiber

    Salted Caramel Mocha @ Starbucks

    Per tall (12-oz.) latte, made with almond milk, no whipped cream:

    220 cals  |  40g carbs  |  6g fat  |  4g protein  |  33g sugars  |  4g dietary fiber

     

    Christmas Cookie Frappuccino (Bulletproof)

    from my DIY Starbucks SECRET MENU Holiday Drinks video & my 150+ Healthy Holiday Recipes eBook

    Here's a DIY Starbucks drink from the Starbucks secret menu! The Christmas Cookie Frappuccino isn't on the actual Starbucks menu, but similar drinks—like the Caffe Vanilla Frappuccino—can have up to 60 grams of sugar or more! Instead, you can make your own Christmas Cookie Frappuccino at home with just 2 grams of sugar! *This DIY Starbucks drink is designed to be a holiday twist on Bulletproof coffee for a ketogenic diet or low-carb lifestyle, which is why the recipe calls for grass-fed butter. (Check out my Bulletproof coffee recipe here!) You can omit the butter if you prefer.

    Dietary Preferences:

    Low-carb

    Keto

    Vegan-friendly

    Paleo-friendly

    Gluten-free

    Low-sugar

    Ingredients:

    Coconut cream

    Milk of choice

    Coffee or espresso

    Grass-fed butter*

    Sweetener of choice

    Peppermint extract

    Maple extract

    Vanilla paste

    Salt & Ice

    Toppings:

    Whipped cream, or

    Coconut whipped cream

    Date syrup

    Raw sugar

    Get the recipe:

    Christmas Cookie Frappuccino

    Nutrition:

    DIY Starbucks Christmas Cookie Frappuccino

    Per 16-oz. Frappuccino (with grass-fed butter), yields 2:

    355 calories  |  3g carbs  |  38g fat  |  2g protein  |  2g sugars  |  0g dietary fiber  |  3g net carbs

    Per 16-oz. Frappuccino (without butter), yields 2:

    255 calories  |  3g carbs  |  27g fat  |  2g protein  |  2g sugars  |  0g dietary fiber  |  3g net carbs

    Caffe Vanilla Frappuccino @ Starbucks

    Per grande (16-oz.) Frappuccino, made with almond milk, no whipped cream:

    280 cals  |  66g carbs  | 1.5g fat  |  1g protein  |  64g sugars  |  1g dietary fiber

     

    Pumpkin Patch Latte

    from my DIY Starbucks SECRET MENU Holiday Drinks video & my 150+ Healthy Holiday Recipes eBook

    No, you didn't read that wrong—the Pumpkin PATCH Latte is another gem from the Starbucks secret menu! It's basically a Pumpkin Spice Latte with matcha powder steamed into it (which might sound strange, but it's a combo that actually exists in Japan). While even the smallest (8-oz.) PSL at Starbucks has almost 20 grams of sugar, this DIY Starbucks drink has just 1 gram of sugar! Plus, matcha adds in some extra caffeine and LOADS of healthy antioxidants.

    Dietary Preferences:

    Vegan

    Paleo

    Gluten-free

    Low-sugar

    Low-carb

    Ingredients:

    Milk of choice

    Pumpkin puree

    Sweetener of choice

    Pumpkin pie spice

    Cinnamon

    Matcha powder

    Coffee or espresso

    Toppings:

    Whipped cream, or

    Coconut whipped cream

    Cinnamon

    Get the recipe:

    Pumpkin Patch Latte

    Nutrition:

    DIY Starbucks Pumpkin Patch Latte

    Per 10-oz. latte, yields 2:

    45 calories  |  2g carbs  |  3g fat  |  1g protein  |  1g sugars  |  1g dietary fiber  |  1g net carbs

    Pumpkin Spice Latte @ Starbucks

    Per short (8-oz.) latte, made with almond milk, no whipped cream:

    120 cals  |  21g carbs  |  3g fat  |  3g protein  |  19g sugars  |  1g dietary fiber

     

    Gingerbread Eggnog Chai Latte

    from my DIY Starbucks SECRET MENU Holiday Drinks video & my 150+ Healthy Holiday Recipes eBook

    Where the Chai Tea Latte meets Christmas, you'll find the Gingerbread EGGNOG Chai Latte—also from the Starbucks secret menu! The milk is replaced with eggnog, which pairs surprisingly well with the chai flavors. Traditional eggnog is loaded with sugar, but you may be able to find a cleaner, lower-sugar variety of eggnog at your grocery store. Or, check out my dairy-free eggnog and vegan eggnog recipes and use them to make your DIY Starbucks drink! At Starbucks, a tall (12-oz.) Chai Eggnog Latte (an item their actual menu but without the gingerbread syrup) has 45 grams of sugar in it. A homemade Gingerbread Eggnog Chai—even when made with store-bought eggnog—contains half as much sugar!

    Dietary Preferences:

    Vegan-friendly

    Paleo-friendly

    Gluten-free

    Lower-sugar

    Ingredients:

    Chai tea bag

    Water

    Eggnog

    Sweetener of choice

    Molasses

    Ground ginger

    Cinnamon

    Toppings:

    Whipped cream, or

    Coconut whipped cream

    Graham cracker crumbs

    Get the recipe:

    Gingerbread Eggnog Chai Latte

    Nutrition:

    DIY Starbucks Gingerbread Eggnog Chai Latte

    Per 12-oz. latte, yields 1:

    180 calories  |  23g carbs  |  8g fat  |  4g protein  |  21g sugars  |  1g dietary fiber

    Chai Eggnog Latte @ Starbucks

    Per tall (12-oz.) latte, made with almond milk, no whipped cream:

    290 cals  |  49g carbs  |  9g fat  |  6g protein  |  45g sugars  |  1g dietary fiber

     

    Caramel Apple Spice

    from my Healthy Starbucks DIY Fall Recipes video & my 150+ Healthy Holiday Recipes eBook

    This is one of the simplest DIY Starbucks drinks to make, and it's still full of delicious Fall flavors! It's pretty much a warm caramel apple in a cup—perfect for kids or those who aren't fans of coffee. All you have to do is simmer your apple juice with some DIY Cinnamon Dolce syrup, and voila! (Get the DIY Cinnamon Dolce syrup recipe here.) If you've already made a batch of the syrup for Cinnamon Dolce Lattes or Frappuccinos, you can use it again to make another DIY Starbucks drink! 

    Dietary Preferences:

    Vegan

    Paleo

    Gluten-free

    Lower-sugar

    Fat-free

    Ingredients:

    100% apple juice

    DIY Cinnamon Dolce syrup

    Toppings:

    Whipped cream, or

    Coconut whipped cream

    Caramel drizzle

    Get the recipe:

    Caramel Apple Spice

    Nutrition:

    DIY Starbucks Caramel Apple Spice

    Per 12-oz. drink, yields 1:

    172 calories  |  44g carbs  |  0g fat  |  2g protein  |  38g sugars  |  2g dietary fiber

    Caramel Apple Spice @ Starbucks

    Per tall (12-oz.) drink, no whipped cream:

    220 cals  |  54g carbs  |  0g fat  |  0g protein  |  49g sugars  |  0g dietary fiber

     

    Vanilla Apple Spice

    from my DIY Starbucks SECRET MENU Holiday Drinks video & my 150+ Healthy Holiday Recipes eBook

    Another simple-yet-delicious DIY Starbucks drink, except this one is from the Starbucks secret menu. It's similar to the Caramel Apple Spice, but with a yummy vanilla twist! Vanilla and apple are an awesome holiday combo, and I think the vanilla bean powder and vanilla bean paste take this drink to a new level of flavor. A warm and comforting option that's coffee-free and kid-friendly! Apple juice does contain natural sugars—I recommend finding a variety of juice with no added sugars, and even better if you use a variety that's not from concentrate. But, an 8-oz. DIY Starbucks Vanilla Spice has 10 fewer grams of sugar than the 8-oz. Caramel Apple Spice from Starbucks!

    Dietary Preferences:

    Vegan

    Paleo

    Gluten-free

    Lower-sugar

    Fat-free

    Ingredients:

    100% apple juice

    Cinnamon

    Vanilla bean powder

    Vanilla paste

    Toppings:

    Whipped cream, or

    Coconut whipped cream

    Date syrup

    Cinnamon

    Get the recipe:

    Vanilla Apple Spice

    Nutrition:

    DIY Starbucks Vanilla Apple Spice

    Per 8-oz. drink, yields 2:

    106 calories  |  26g carbs  |  0g fat  |  1g protein  |  22g sugars  |  0g dietary fiber

    Caramel Apple Spice @ Starbucks

    Per short (8-oz.) drink, no whipped cream:

    140 cals  |  35g carbs  |  0g fat  |  0g protein  |  32g sugars  |  0g dietary fiber

     

    Vegan White Hot Chocolate

    from my DIY Starbucks Holiday Remakes video & my 150+ Healthy Holiday Recipes eBook

    Not only is this DIY Starbucks White Hot Chocolate vegan, it's also got just a fraction of the sugar compared to Starbucks' White Hot Chocolate! It's a much cleaner and less sugary option, perfect for holiday celebrations with the family and cold winter nights. And, you only need 4 ingredients to make this decadent drink! Melted cacao butter is used to give the drink a rich and creamy texture, and you can use any milk you prefer. The cacao butter and milk will separate a bit as the drink sits over time, so it's best to enjoy this DIY Starbucks drink hot and fresh!

    Dietary Preferences:

    Vegan

    Paleo-friendly

    Gluten-free

    Lower-sugar

    Ingredients:

    Milk of choice

    Cacao butter

    Maple syrup

    Vanilla

    Toppings:

    Whipped cream, or

    Coconut whipped cream

    Dairy-free white chocolate shavings

    Get the recipe:

    Vegan White Hot Chocolate

    Nutrition:

    DIY Starbucks Vegan White Hot Chocolate

    Per 10-oz. drink, yields 2:

    210 calories  |  14g carbs  |  17g fat  |  1g protein  |  13g sugars  |  1g dietary fiber

    White Hot Chocolate @ Starbucks

    Per tall (12-oz.) drink, made with soy milk, no whipped cream:

    280 cals  |  44g carbs  |  8g fat  |  10g protein  |  41g sugars  |  1g dietary fiber


     

    And, find TONS more healthy holiday recipes in my 150 Healthy Holiday Recipes eBook!

    Healthy Holiday Recipes for Christmas, Thanksgiving & Halloween


     

    DIY Starbucks SECRET MENU Holiday Drinks—Healthy Holiday Recipes!

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