The immensely sweet, and increasingly complex, Starbucks holiday drinks will be back on store menus in November – and the company sells tens of millions worldwide each year.
The 2025 lineup includes the beloved Peppermint Mocha, Caramel Brulée Latte, Iced Sugar Cookie Latte and Iced Gingerbread Chai.
Starbucks fans can buy these drinks from November 6, while the Chestnut Praline Latte and fan-favorite, Eggnog Latte, will return closer to the holidays.
While everyone loves a sweet treat, The Independent has analyzed which drinks have a hint of sweetness, and which pack a heavy sugary punch. Nutritionists recommend American adults limit their added sugar intake to 50 grams each day, and children should have no more than 25 grams. Eating too much sugar has been tied to heart disease, diabetes and harmful inflammation.
Experts also say the key to a healthier drink starts with the milk. Almond and oat milk are lower in calories and fat than the 2 percent milk that is standard in Starbucks holiday drinks.
Iced Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte
The healthiest of this year’s drinks is the Iced Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte. The blonde espresso latte has 150 calories and 25 grams of sugar in a grande-sized cup.
The latte is made with almond milk, which is lower in calories but not as protein-rich as soy or cow’s milk.
“I wouldn’t call this a healthy drink since it doesn’t provide any real nutritional benefits, especially with 25 grams of sugar,” registered dietitian Keri Gans told Prevention.
“But compared to other Starbucks holiday drinks, it definitely is one of the better choices, with fewer calories and sugar.”
It’s also the drink with the least sodium and carbohydrates, with just 115 milligrams and 29 grams, respectively, according to The Impulsive Buy.
Chestnut Praline Latte
A Chestnut Praline Latte – which comes with a chestnut praline topping – has 320 calories and 34 grams of sugar, according to personalized nutrition company Noom.
That’s the same amount as a 12-ounce can of regular soda.
It’s also one of three holiday drinks with whipped cream – although customers can opt out of the extra sweetness.
With all the toppings, this drink has slightly more sodium and carbs – around 150 milligrams of sodium and 39 grams of carbs with whipped creams – but still under 200mg of sodium.
Iced Gingerbread Oat Milk Chai
For tea lovers, the Iced Gingerbread Oat Milk Chai is the best pick — and the only pick.
A grande-sized cup has about 360 calories, and 45 grams of sugar. A cup of low-fat yogurt has the same amount of sugar, but more nutritional value.
It also offers “some of the same benefits from oat milk as you’d get from oats,” registered dietitian Jamie Nadeau told USA TODAY.
“Some oat milks have a couple of grams of fiber per glass, which is important for gut health, digestion and can even benefit cholesterol levels,” he said.
This drink has more sodium than the Iced Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte, but less than the other options. There are 126 milligrams of sodium and 69 grams of carbohydrates, according to TastingTable.
Caramel Brulée Latte
The whipped cream and caramelized brulée bit-topped Caramel Brulée Latte is the first of the holiday drinks above 400 calories.
A grande has four pumps of warm and buttery caramel.
The latte has 430 calories and 49 grams of sugar. That hits the daily limit for sugar set by federal health officials for adults.
This is the first drink with 200 milligrams of sodium, although the carbs are about the same as the Iced Gingerbread Oat Milk Chai, software company Nutrionix shows.
Peppermint Mocha
The Peppermint Mocha has been sold at Starbucks for 23 years. The most popular holiday beverage in company history, it is sold internationally.
A grande option has 440 calories, and 54 grams of sugar (assuming you get it with whipped cream, mocha sauce and its signature chocolate curls — which used to be red sprinkles.)
The mocha is lower on carbs and the sodium too. Each grande-sized cup has 140 milligrams of sodium and 63 grams of carbs.
Eggnog Latte
While the peppermint mocha is Starbucks’s most popular holiday drink, the Eggnog Latte was the company’s first handcrafted holiday beverage.
Created in 1986, the festive beverage is also the most caloric and has the most sodium, at 235 milligrams per grande cup. That’s about the same as a slice of turkey.
With 470 calories, 53 grams of carbs and 52 grams of sugar, it’s pretty sweet. But, why else drink egg nog?