9 Starbucks Secret Menu Drinks For Winter That Are Even Better Than A Peppermint Mocha

From Taste of Home:

Laurie Dixon

Updated: Nov. 10, 2020

It's beginning to taste a lot like Christmas...

The holidays are right around the corner, and you know what that means! Starbucks will soon be rolling out all of the seasonal drinks we can only get our hands on once a year. But the best seasonal drinks we can’t help but crave come from the Starbucks secret menu—and they’re so easy to order, as long as you know how. These are the Starbucks winter drinks you should be ordering off the secret menu this holiday season.

Before we get started, here’s a reminder to have the recipe pulled up at the drive-thru—you don’t want to end up on that barista pet peeves list!

Olaf Frappuccino

If you’re a Disney fan, we know you’ve seen Frozen, which is the perfect holiday movie to settle under the blankets with. What’s better is you can indulge in a Frappuccino inspired by Olaf the Snowman from Frozen. (Shout out to Totally the Bomb for this recipe!)

How to order: Begin your order by asking the barista for a Vanilla Bean Frappuccino with a pump or two of white mocha drizzle painted around the cup. (You’ll want to keep the drizzle light, as Starbucks’ white mocha is very sweet.) Next, top it off with whipped cream, some chocolate curls, and order a Snowman Cake Pop on the side. To finish the look, pop your cake pop into the whipped cream, and you’ve got a tasty Olaf Frappuccino.

Christmas Cookie Frappuccino

If you’ve ever wanted to sip on your favorite Christmas cookies, Starbucks’ secret menu has just the recipe. Be sure you don’t leave this Christmas Cookie Frappuccino out for Santa—he’ll have to stick to regular milk and cookies.

How to order: Start your order out with a Grande creme-based Frappuccino with one and a half pumps of peppermint syrup. Next, ask for one and a half pumps of toffee nut, and have it all blended up. Top your Christmas Cookie Frappuccino with whipped cream and a packet of raw sugar to achieve that classic sugar cookie texture!

Santa Claus Frappuccino

Is it Christmas if you’re not indulging in a Frappuccino named after the big guy himself? We don’t think so, which is why this delicacy belongs on your winter Starbucks secret menu bucket list.

How to order: Begin with a Vanilla Bean Frappuccino—the size is totally up to you. Next, ask the barista to cover the bottom of the cup with strawberry puree, then request another stripe of strawberry puree in the middle of the beverage. Finish this Frappuccino with some whipped cream and red Christmas sprinkles. (If your store doesn’t have the sprinkles in stock, feel free to get creative with your toppings!)

Roasted Chestnut Macchiato

You’ve heard of chestnuts roasting on an open fire, but have you heard of chestnuts roasting in a macchiato? This isn’t your typical Starbucks beverage, but it’s certainly one you’ll order every holiday season from now on.

How to order: First, order a Hazelnut Macchiato, and add toffee nut syrup (one pump for a Tall, one and a half pumps for a Grande and two pumps for a Venti). Next, ask your barista to add some extra hazelnut (the same measurements as above) and a little bit of white mocha syrup (half a pump for Tall and Grande and one pump for a Venti). Top your roasted masterpiece off with whipped cream and caramel drizzle.

Buddy the Elf Frappuccino

What’s a Santa Claus Frappuccino without everyone’s favorite not-so-little helper, Buddy? This Frappuccino is perfect for sipping during your yearly rewatch of Elf (or any of these all-new Hallmark flicks).

How to order: Start with a Green Tea Frappuccino of any size—we suggest a Venti for maximum indulgence—then substitute the classic syrup for peppermint syrup. Complete this bevvie with some whipped cream and red and white Christmas sprinkles. If your Starbucks doesn’t have the sprinkles in stock, ask for a light dusting of matcha powder on top.

Candy Cane Frappuccino

Christmastime means candy canes, and if you know us, you know we love new and inventive candy canes you wouldn’t think exist in real life. Maybe that’s why we can’t get enough of this Candy Cane Frappuccino!

How to order: Begin with a Vanilla Bean Frappuccino, and ask your barista to add peppermint (make sure it’s with no mocha) to the blender. Ask for one pump of peppermint for a Tall, one and a half pumps for a Grande and two pumps for a Venti. Complete your Candy Cane Frappuccino with whipped cream and some sprinkles—or mocha drizzle if you want a rich chocolate aftertaste.

Year-Round Eggnog Latte

You probably know that Starbucks sells the Eggnog Latte every winter. But did you know you can recreate it even when eggnog isn’t in stock at your store? That’s what makes this Year-Round Eggnog Latte the perfect drink for those cold months after Christmas.

How to order: Ask for a Chai Tea Latte and add caramel syrup—one pump for a Tall, two for a Grande and three for a Venti—and finish the drink with a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar topping. You can also get an iced version by ordering an Iced Chai Tea Latte with caramel (two pumps for a Tall, three for a Grande and four for a Venti) or a frozen version by ordering a Chai Tea Frappuccino also with caramel (use the same measurements at the iced drink).

Snowball Frappuccino

Snowball fights are one of our favorite winter activities, so capture all that magic in a Snowball Frappuccino from Starbucks! It’s just what to cool down with after you work up a sweat pelting the competition.

How to order: Ask the barista for a White Chocolate Creme Frappuccino, then include toffee nut syrup and hazelnut syrup (one pump each for a Tall, one and a half each for a Grande and two each for a Venti). Next, request a dollop of whipped cream and a dusting of caramel brulee topping. If your store doesn’t have the caramel brulee topping in stock, the topping is totally up to you!

Peppermint Bark Frappuccino

Peppermint bark is a holiday staple, so it’s only natural there’s a Starbucks secret menu Frappuccino that pays homage to everyone’s favorite winter treat. If there’s one Frappuccino on this list to try this holiday season, it’s definitely this one.

How to order: Start with a Peppermint Mocha Frappuccino—which you can order year-round, by the way—and ask your barista to cut the mocha sauce in half. Then, replace the missing sauce with white mocha sauce, and finish it all off with whipped cream, mocha drizzle and red Christmas sprinkles. The result is a totally creamy and indulgent drink that tastes just like liquid peppermint bark.

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