Starbucks holiday 2023 lineup, products, and reviews!

It’s the best time of the year for those of us who love both Starbucks and the holidays. For 2023, Starbucks is bringing back many of its classic favorites, including Gingerbread!

(Related: See what Starbucks offers for their newest fall, holiday, winter, spring, and summer seasonal menus.)

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Starbucks launched its 2023 holiday drinks and cups on November 2. There will also be a second launch on Monday, December 4.

Starbucks now has its 2023 holiday grocery store options available. You can find them in your local store, or online at Amazon.

The cup design for this year is a bright and cheery mix of colors and patterns. “When we were looking at trends when designing this year’s holiday, we kept seeing bright, bold, uplifting colors,’” said Kristy Cameron, creative director at Starbucks. “We found that magenta alongside the holiday reds and greens lifts the traditional holiday colors and makes the red look even brighter.”

In-cafe options

For many, the holiday season officially starts when Starbucks launches holiday drinks. Thankfully, they are out as of November 1. And, there will also be a second launch on Monday, December 4.

This may feel like an early start, but it’s only one day earlier than last year’s launch.

Merry Mint White Mocha – 12/13

The Merry Mint White Mocha is a late addition to Starbucks’ featured holiday drinks. This one launches in mid-December on the 13th. It makes use of flavors already available, and will be featured on the app, but can also be ordered in-store.

This drink is an Iced White Mocha topped with Peppermint Chocolate Cold Foam. It’s sure to be a tasty holiday treat! If you don’t like white chocolate, you can order a mocha, and have the same cold foam added to the top.

And don’t forget Starbucks is also doing Hot Chocolate Cheer Weekends in December.

Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai

“It’s a love letter to gingerbread and ginger,” said Matt Thornton, senior beverage developer at Starbucks. “The gingerbread flavor amplifies the spice of the chai.”  

Starbucks says of this drink, “The beverage is made with a blend of oatmilk and black tea infused with cinnamon and warming spices and topped with a sprinkle of spice topping.”

They also note that yes, you will be able to again order a Gingerbread Latte, hot or iced.

Review: The Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk chai, is a delicious option if you already love chai. I tried it out this morning and the gingerbread taste is very mild. The drink is made with chai, oatmilk, and then a froth on top that contains gingerbread syrup. Pumpkin spice topping is added to the top. I’d say this drink is okay, but not great. I’m not sure it’s worth spending the extra money when you could just order a straight Iced Chai Latte.

Returning holiday drinks

The rest of the drinks, all returning, include the Iced Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte, Caramel Brûlée Latte, Chestnut Praline Latte, and the Peppermint Mocha. You can order any of these drinks hot, iced or blended. And remember, you can always use the syrups used in these drinks to make your own “secret menu” combinations.

Missing from this list is the Irish Cream Cold Brew, Toasted White Chocolate Mocha, and the Eggnnog Latte.

Holiday Cold Foam

Several of the holiday syrups will be added to cold foam as a featured item. These are a delicious way to add a festive flavor to your iced drinks.

• Peppermint Chocolate Cold Foam
• Sugar Cookie Cold Foam
• Caramel Brûlée Cold Foam
• Chestnut Praline

Food

The Cranberry Bliss bar, Snowman Cookie, and many other favorites will return for the holidays. Five holiday food offerings will be available.

• Peppermint Brownie Cake Pop
• Gingerbread Loaf
• Snowman Cookie
• Sugar Plum Cheese Danish
• Cranberry Bliss Bar

(Recipe: Make a Hazelnut Latte at home!)

Is the Irish Cream Cold Brew and the Eggnog Latte Returning for 2023?

As of now, the Irish Cream Cold Brew will NOT be returning to Starbucks for the 2023 holiday season. It’s surprising as it has been a popular drink. It seems instead of this drink, Starbucks will focus on promoting “Holiday Cold Foam” options with their other holiday syrups.

(Get Irish Cream syrup from Amazon or make the syrup yourself at home!)

The Eggnog Latte is also not returning for 2023. It was not available last year, but in previous years has been a popular and festive holiday drink.

At-home Starbucks syrups for holiday drinks

Whether you are trying to save money this year by making coffee at home, or simply love having syrup on hand to make your favorite drink, these are my holiday suggestions.

And be sure to sign up for my café-worthy coffee recipes community to get the latest news and recipes!

• Starbucks peppermint syrup
• Starbucks toffee nut syrup
• Recipe for Irish cream syrup
• Recipe for sugar cookie syrup
• Starbucks cinnamon dolce syrup (or try the recipe!)
• Starbucks hazelnut syrup

Hot Chocolate Cheer Weekends

For the remaining Saturdays and Sundays in December, Starbucks is offering a free short (8-ounce) hot chocolate with a purchase of a grande or larger handcrafted drink.

This is a fun offer and encourages you to bring your kids to Starbucks with you while you do that last-minute Christmas shopping or returns. Of course, you can get a hot chocolate for yourself or your bestie, it doesn’t have to be for a kid.

Any modifications are extra and this doesn’t include Hot and iced brewed coffee and tea and ready-to-drink beverages. The official dates are December 9 & 10, 16 & 17, 23 & 24, 30 &31.

Starbucks Red Cup Day

Red Cup Day for 2023 will be Thursday, November 16.

If you aren’t familiar, this is the day when Starbucks gives out free reusable red cups with the purchase of a holiday drink. It’s a much-anticipated offering and is always a great way to kick off the holiday season.

Last year, if you ordered any size of their holiday OR fall drinks, you would be eligible to receive a cup.

Grocery options

Starbucks is again offering a variety of holiday products in grocery stores. Nothing is new this year, but many items are returning including the popular Holiday Blend coffee beans.

Coffee creamers

Coffee creamers are a staple in many households, and these are a great way to bring a bit of Starbucks into your own home. For the holidays, Starbucks has released holiday-themed packaging for three of its flavors.

• Cinnamon Dolce Flavored Creamer
• Caramel Flavored Creamer
• White Chocolate Flavored Creamer

Coffee Beans

Starbucks says of the 2023 Holiday Blend, “Sweet and layered, every sip celebrates the joy of the season with this blend of smooth Latin American and Indonesian coffees. Starbucks Holiday Blend is complex, yet approachable for enjoyment throughout the season.”

You can purchase the Holiday Blend at your grocery store, or get the Holiday Blend ground beans or K-cups from Amazon.

Starbucks is also again offering Gingerbread flavored ground beans and K-cups, as well as Peppermint Mocha flavored grounds beans and K-cups.

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