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, 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!
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.
Like I always say, you can have the regular peppermint mocha 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!
peppermint mocha cold foam: 80 calories
Completely made up this drink as inspiration from the OG peppermint mocha, and let me tell you… this is fire. Order a grande cold foam cold brew and ask for 1 pump mocha in the coffee, then ask for 1 pump peppermint in the cold foam. Provides 80 calories.
You can also do this with other syrups! The cold foam cold brew is 35 calories plain. Add in these syrups to figure out the calories:
- 1 pump caramel brulee sauce = 50 calories
- 1 pump chestnut praline syrup = 20 calories
- 1 pump sugar cookie syrup = 20 calories
- 1 pump peppermint syrup = 20 calories
- 1 pump skinny mocha sauce (sorry babes, this one’s been discontinued… my heart is breaking!)
- 1 pump regular mocha sauce = 25 calories
- 1 pump sugar free vanilla syrup = 5 calories
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!
iced caramel brulee latte: 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!
Instead, order what I call an iced caramel brulee coffee. To order ask for 1 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 an hot coffee instead! Nutrition facts the same.
chestnut praline latte: 125 calories
A grande chestnut praline latte packs 320 calories and 35 grams of sugar when you order with 2% milk, whipped cream and of course the delicious topping. Instead order a a chestnut praline americano! To order ask for a grande americano with 2 pumps chestnut praline syrup and a splash of your favorite milk and whipped cream. Provides roughly 125 calories.
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 cold brew with 1 pumps white mocha sauce & 2 pumps sugar free vanilla syrup. Top it YOURSELF with a light serving of half & half cream! Provides 95 calories.
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? Click here to grab The Sorority Nutritionist’s Starbucks Swaps Guide to learn more ways to make your favorite Starbucks drinks lower calorie to help your weight loss goals while having FUN!
