When it comes to festive holiday drinks, it’s hard to top the classic hot chocolate. The blend of warm milk, rich chocolate, and marshmallows has inspired the cocoa bomb and more than a few unique variations.
If you’re visiting Starbucks this winter, here’s all the ways you can enjoy their Hot Chocolate, including some “secret menu” creations.
From S’mores Hot Chocolate to Peppermint Hot Chocolate, we’re sure you’ll find something you like. And, if not, there’s always Swiss Miss. And whiskey.
Starbucks Hot Chocolate History
Starbucks has been serving hot chocolate since they were Il Giornale, though it was originally under the name Hot Cocoa. The current iteration of the Starbucks Hot Chocolate is made with mocha sauce, vanilla syrup, and steamed milk, then topped with whipped cream and chocolate drizzle.
Since chocolate naturally contains caffeine, the Hot Chocolate contains minimal caffeine. But, their White Hot Chocolates use white mocha sauce instead and as a result, are caffeine free.
Over the years, the coffee giant has tried a few different recipe variations. Some of which were hot, some of were about as much of a hit as hot chocolate made with water.
- Chantico: Launched in 2005, this drink named for the Aztec goddess of the hearth and fire was made with cocoa butter and whole milk. Michelle Gass, Starbucks’ SVP of Category Management described the 390 calorie six-ounce drink as “drinking a melted truffle.” Tasting Table suggests it flopped because it wasn’t customizable. Uh, can they bring it back anyway? We think it could be delicious with oat milk.
- Starbucks Signature Hot Chocolates: In 2008, the brand launched three flavored hot chocolates: Salted Caramel and Hazelnut. One of these is still hiding out on the website. We’ve included details on how to order them below.
- Molten Chocolate: In 2016, Starbucks introduced their Molten Chocolate line for Valentine’s Day. There was a latte, Frappuccino, and Hot Chocolate version. The Molten Hot Chocolate was made by melting mocha sauce and chocolate chips into steamed milk then topping it with mocha and espresso-infused whipped cream and espresso mocha drizzle. It would take some tinkering, but with some secret menu customizations, you could get pretty close to this.
How to Customize Starbucks Hot Chocolate
- Kid-proof it. Any Starbucks drink can be made at a lower temperature, for safety and impatience.
- Make it smaller. Any hot chocolate can come in an 8 oz. “Short” size.
- Make it vegan. Want a dairy-free version? Replace the milk with any of their plant-based milks and ask for no whipped cream. Just FYI, none of the white hot chocolate drinks are vegan due to the white mocha sauce.
- Make it sweeter. The mocha sauce isn’t very sweet on its own and a regular Hot Chocolate may leave some feeling disappointed. You may want to add vanilla syrup or white mocha sauce to it.
Official Starbucks Hot Chocolate Drinks
1. Hot Chocolate
The classic drink combines steamed milk, mocha sauce, vanilla syrup, whipped cream, and mocha drizzle. There’s a rumor that Starbucks has removed the vanilla syrup, but it’s in the ingredients on the official site. If you’re not sure if yours will include vanilla syrup, ask your barista. Nicely.
2. White Hot Chocolate
Starbucks White Hot Chocolate is made with white mocha sauce instead of regular mocha and includes vanilla syrup. We suggest not adding any additional sweeteners unless you also like the taste of raw sugar.
3. Peppermint Hot Chocolate
The Peppermint Hot Chocolate is only available certain times of the year, but it’s their Hot Chocolate with peppermint syrup added. Yes, you still have to brush your teeth.
4. Peppermint White Hot Chocolate
You probably know how this goes by now. You take the White Hot Chocolate, you add the peppermint syrup, you do the Hokey Pokey, and you turn yourself around. Then you end up on TikTok because someone took a video of the person in Starbucks doing the Hokey Pokey.
5. Toasted White Hot Chocolate
The Toasted White Hot Chocolate uses the White Hot Chocolate as a base, then they mix in toasted white chocolate mocha sauce and tops it all with whipped cream and sugar sparkles. Similar to the Toasted White Chocolate Mocha, this one has a hint of toasted marshmallows. But no espresso. Or hokey pokey.
Starbucks Hot Chocolate Secret Menu Ideas
1. Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate
- Order a Hot Chocolate
- Ask for toffee nut syrup
- Top with whipped cream and caramel drizzle
- Add part of a salt packet on top
2. Hazelnut Hot Chocolate
- Order a Hot Chocolate
- Ask for hazelnut syrup
- Top with whipped cream
3. TikTok’s Fudge Brownie Hot Chocolate
- Order a Hot Chocolate
- Ask for hazelnut syrup
- Top with whipped cream and mocha drizzle
@sarahmargareteats Try this Starbucks Fudge Brownie Hot Chocolate ???? #starbucks #starbucksdrinks #holidaystarbucks2022
4. S’mores Hot Chocolate
- Order a Hot Chocolate
- Add vanilla syrup
- Add chestnut praline syrup or toffee nut syrup
- Top with whipped cream and mocha drizzle
5. Caramel Brulée Hot Chocolate
- Order a Hot Chocolate
- Add mocha syrup
- Add caramel brulée syrup
6. Sugar Cookie Hot Chocolate
- >Order a Hot Chocolate
- Ask for sugar cookie cold foam
7. Cookie Crumble Hot Chocolate
- Order a Hot Chocolate
- Add mocha syrup
- Add caramel syrup
- Top with cookie crumble topping and caramel drizzle
8. Frozen Hot Chocolate
- Order a Grande Mocha Frappuccino
- Add white mocha syrup
- Add cinnamon blended in
- Ask to be blended with heavy cream (or whipped cream)
- Top with whipped cream and chocolate drizzle
9. Mexican Hot Chocolate
- Order a Hot Chocolate
- Add mocha sauce
- Add white chocolate sauce
- Add cinnamon dolce syrup
- Top with whipped cream and cinnamon powder
10. Snickerdoodle Hot Chocolate
- Order a White Hot Chocolate
- Add white mocha sauce
- Add cinnamon dolce syrup
- Top with whipped cream and cinnamon dolce sprinkles
11. Pumpkin Hot Chocolate
- Order a Hot Chocolate
- Ask for no vanilla syrup
- Ask for pumpkin syrup
- Top with whipped cream and pumpkin spice topping
12. Swirl Pow Hot Chocolate
- Order a Hot Chocolate
- Add vanilla syrup
- Add mocha syrup
- op with whipped cream and mocha or caramel drizzle.
Ashley is a Nashville unicorn (born, raised, and based), queer, vegan, and dedicated to leaving a positive impact through her life, work, and her website, Wild Hearted.
When she's not writing, she's traveling, reading a book, trying not to kill her houseplants, worshiping her dog, or having an existential crisis. Follow her on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and Twitter, and LinkedIn
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