11 DIY Starbucks Drinks for the Holidays
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
Get the recipe:
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
Get the recipe:
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
Get the recipe:
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
Get the recipe:
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
Get the recipe:
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
Get the recipe:
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
Get the recipe:
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
Get the recipe:
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
Get the recipe:
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
Get the recipe:
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
Get the recipe:
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!
