Don’t get me wrong, that pumpkin cream cold brew really gets me going in fall… but I gotta be real. The holiday drinks at Starbucks featuring all things peppermint, chestnut, caramel brulee, mocha and now even SUGAR COOKIE get me even more amped up!
And I’m on cloud nine because… HOLIDAY DRINKS AND RED CUPS ARE BACK AT STARBUCKS NOVEMBER 2ND THIS YEAR!!
Since I posted about pumpkin spice everything at Starbucks alongside my usual Sorority Nutritionist Starbucks Swaps, I got so many messages about the holiday drinks at Starbucks and how to make low calorie and skinny versions to help you stay on track.
Not to mention this year Starbucks brought back… gingerbread!
Like I always say, you can have the regular peppermint mocha or a gingerbread latte without guilt. No one food causes weight gain… eating more calories than what your body burns does! BUT with that in mind, many of these drinks really aren’t coffee… they are like having a slice of cake or your favorite dessert!
That’s why I’ve rounded up my favorite Top 5 Low Calorie Holiday Drinks at Starbucks to help you enjoy this amazing time of year but make it fit your weight loss goals by saving you lots of calories if you want to drink these seasonal favorites more often!
1) peppermint mocha cream cold brew: 80 calories
Because it’s harder to customize the foam in cold brews at Starbucks now, this is the easiest way to order this drink that still gets the same flavor.
To order, ask for a grande cold brew with 1 pump mocha, 1 pump peppermint and a splash of cream. If you order with a splash of almond milk drink is 60 calories.
2) hot peppermint mocha: 175 calories
My all time favorite… the peppermint mocha! A few years ago Starbucks got rid of their skinny peppermint syrups and skinny mocha sauces, ugh! But it’s okay because knowledge is power. 1 pump of their regular peppermint syrup is 20 calories and 1 pump of their regular mocha sauce packs 25 calories per serving.
A grande peppermint mocha is 440 calories and 54 grams of sugar packing 4 pumps of regular mocha sauce. Instead, order a grande nonfat latte with 1 pump regular mocha sauce and 1 pump peppermint syrup. Provides 175 calories.
You can also order this with almond milk for 145 calories!
3) gingerbread oatmilk cold brew: 75 calories
To order, ask for a grande cold brew with 2 pumps of gingerbread and a splash of oatmilk. If you’d like it more sweet, add in 1 pump of sugar free vanilla or stevia.
4) iced caramel brulee coffee: 85 calories
An iced grande caramel brulee latte packs 400 calories – basically a meal! 1 pump of caramel brulee sauce packs 50 calories and 7 grams of sugar, so when the barista adds in multiple pumps it adds up!
To order, ask for a grande iced coffee, splash of cream, 1 pump caramel brulee sauce and 1 pump sugar free vanilla. If you add more cream, it will add more calories but not big deal!
*Pro tip! You can also order this as a hot coffee, too! Nutrition facts the same if you swap the iced coffee for blonde roast.
5) white chocolate mocha: 95 calories
A grande white chocolate mocha packs 430 calories and 53 grams of sugar! 1 pump of their white mocha syrup packs 60 calories, so multiple pumps add up fast! Instead order a white mocha cold brew.
To order, ask for a grande blonde roast with 1 pump white mocha sauce, 2 pumps sugar free vanilla syrup, and a splash of cream.
*Pro tip! I love ordering 2-3 shots of espresso over ice with 1 pump of white mocha. Because it’s a sauce, it doesn’t need much sweetness!
BONUS recipe! ICED SUGAR COOKIE LATTE
Starbucks dropped their new sugar cookie latte, so of course we had to include it in the list! Truthfully the regular version of this iced sugar cookie situation is actually not very high in calories… however 4 pumps of syrups is too sweet for me! And like all other Sorority Nutritionist Starbucks Swaps, modifying regular drinks can be a great way to save calories to help with shedding fat and staying fit for life.
1 grande iced sugar cookie latte is 150 calories and 25 grams of sugar. Instead order a grande iced coffee with almond milk and 2 pumps sugar cookie syrup. Provides 75 calories and 11.5 grams sugar.
BONUS recipe! PEPPERMINT HOT CHOCOLATE
If you don’t do caffeine, wanted to give you babes another FUN peppermint recipe because it’s such a fan favorite at Starbucks.
1 tall peppermint hot chocolate with 2% milk and whipped cream packs 350 calories and 47 grams of sugar! In terms of pumps, that’s 3 pumps of mocha sauce, 4 pumps of peppermint syrup and 1 pump of vanilla syrup! To save calories and sugar, I recommend ordering a skinny tall hot chocolate with 1 pump peppermint. Provides 150 calories and far less sugar.
Love other Starbucks drinks, but aren’t sure how to fit those calories into your weight loss goals? Grab my Winter Starbucks Guide that packs 6 hot and 6 iced low calorie holiday drinks, alongside other tips to make any of your favorite Starbucks drinks healthier for your goals.
