It’s official, winter is here and in full force. On November 2, Starbucks dropped the winter menu featuring some returning favorites and new flavors to spice up the season.
The drinks that are returning this year are the Peppermint Mocha, Caramel Brulée Latte, Chestnut Praline Latte and Iced Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte. The newest drink to the collection is the Iced Gingerbread Oat Milk Chai.
The new drink, the Iced Gingerbread Oat Milk Chai, is the second in a row that the basic chai drink has been added to the new seasonal menus and for good reason. The chai drink is very popular and this new flavoring will definitely get you in the holiday mood. With gingerbread syrup and a nutmeggy spiced topping, this drink reminds me of fresh gingerbread dipped in milk and is worth a try.
Alongside the drinks, Starbucks released the seasonal pastries that will be featured this year: The Cranberry Bliss Bar, Gingerbread Loaf, Peppermint Brownie Cake Pop, Snowman Cookie and Sugar Plum Cheese Danish.
Cake pops are a staple of Starbucks’ pastries section and this peppermint brownie cake pop with candy cane sprinkles does not disappoint. The chocolaty rich brownie interior balances out the sweet white chocolate coating to make a perfect pastry to go with your caramel brulée latte. As a fan of cakepops, this one is one of my favorites and I wish it was available year-round.
The caramel brulée latte is my absolute favorite at the moment. It’s a caramelly flavored drink topped with chewy caramel crystals. It’s sweet but not too sweet and doesn’t have a distinct milky flavor like the sugar cookie latte. It’s the perfect option if you are looking for a sweet coffee drink.
Festive flavors are something avidly looked forward to every year by Starbucks fans and this year was no less. These new winter flavors are a welcome break from the pumpkin spice fever of fall and are sure to get you in the gingerbread house-decorating, mistletoe hanging, sleighbell jingling mood.
