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Sometimes you don’t need all that much coffee in your coffee, you know? Enter the sweet drinks at Starbucks, an indulgence even the snobbiest of coffee aficionados indulges in.
Starbucks sweet drinks come in the form of handy sugar packets, caramel sauce drizzles, or shots of syrup. Which ones should you try? While the magical-sounding Unicorn Frappuccino is no longer available, the Starbucks menu still has quite a few sugary delights to whet your appetite with.
We’ll break down the most popular sweet drinks at Starbucks, looking at the taste and also when it comes to calorie count and fat content.
The Top Sweet Drinks at Starbucks
These drinks are the (sometimes literal) cream of the crop. They’re sugary, they’re loaded with fat, and they keep coffee to a side detail.
Chocolate Cookie Crumble Creme Frappuccino
Want a more dessert-like feel to your coffee drink? The Chocolate Cookie Crumble Creme Frappuccino is like drinking a delicious birthday cake (and only slightly less fatty).
This drink is loaded with just about every chocolate flavor you can imagine. The base comes with a few pumps of their mocha chocolate sauce, some chocolate chips, espresso shots, and your milk of choice. The whipped cream topping is further outfitted with a drizzle of mocha and a dusting of cookie crumble.
The Chocolate Cookie Crumble Crème Frappuccino should not be attempted without a spoon and some serious determination.
Sugar Count: 33 to 61 grams
- Mocha chocolate sauce
- Chocolate chips
- Whipped cream
- Cookie crumble
Calorie Count:
- Tall – 330 calories
- Grande – 460 calories
- Venti – 560 calories
Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino Blended Beverage
Our second entry is the rather hefty Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino Blended Beverage, a dessert drink that’s not for the faint of heart. The Venti alone has as many calories as some lunches!
The base of this drink is, unsurprisingly, as much caramel as possible. Specifically, you’ll get a base of dark caramel sauce and a caramel drizzle with their Frappuccino roast coffee and milk. The crunch comes not just from the ice, but from an additional sprinkle of caramel sugars.
This is a drink we highly recommend saving as a dessert to round out lunch or dinner. It’s so sugary you might just feel your teeth aching when you reach the bottom of your cup!
Sugar Count: 42 to 78 grams
- Six pumps of caramel syrup
- Four pumps of coffee syrup
- Caramel sugar topping
Calorie Count:
- Tall – 330 calories
- Grande – 470 calories
- Venti – 570 calories
Caramel Apple Spice
When you’re feeling the crisp air of autumn on your cheeks, what’s the first thing you crave? Caramel, apple, and spices are all festive staples, so consider trying a hot drink that has all three.
This hot drink steams apple juice with a base of caramel sauce, a few shots of cinnamon syrup, and a topping of whipped cream. While that doesn’t sound as sugary as the first two entries on the list, it’s still a pretty sweet drink (pun intended). There’s also no coffee in this one for those eager to skip this ingredient!
If you want to watch your calorie count or want to buy a few for your children they also have Kid and Short sizes.
Sugar Count: 36 to 87 grams
- Three pumps of cinnamon syrup
- Drizzle of caramel
- Whipped cream topping
Calorie Count:
- Tall – 310 calories
- Grande – 380 calories
- Venti – 460 calories
White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino
Blending the best of all worlds, the White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino eschews milk chocolate in favor of creamy, nutty white chocolate. You’ll be able to taste a little more coffee in this beverage than the first two on the list.
This drink uses the Frappuccino roast with three pumps of their white chocolate sauce, which is much thicker and more flavorful than syrup. The whipped cream topping rounds this drink out as one of the sugariest items on the menu.
Sugar Count: 40 to 76 grams
- White chocolate sauce
- Whipped cream topping
Calorie Count:
- Tall – 280 calories
- Grande – 420 calories
- Venti – 500 calories
Smoked Butterscotch Crème
This subtle spin on a traditionally autumnal recipe may be your next favorite menu item. While you’ll get the buttery caramel flavor of similar drinks, the Smoked Butterscotch Crème stands apart immediately.
For those craving more balance in their sugary drinks, the flavor of this recipe is seriously tasty. The butterscotch adds the signature buttery flavor with a slightly roasted finish for a taste that instantly feels like Christmas.
Add an extra drizzle of butterscotch on top or leave it off: up to you!
Sugar Count: 30 to 57 grams
- Butterscotch
- Whipped cream
Calorie Count:
- Tall – 250 calories
- Grande – 380 calories
- Venti – 450 calories
The Runner-Up Sweet Drinks at Starbucks
These drinks hit the aptly named sweet spot between sugary, but not too sugary. If you want to get a little more flavor in your drink and still have room for dinner, these entries are for you.
Chai Latte
Is coffee not quite your thing? Starbucks isn’t only for the espresso fans – their Chai Latte is a popular sweet menu item for both morning rushes and lazy afternoon lunches.
This heartwarming drink uses a foundation of black tea, which comes with hints of clove, cinnamon, and ginger. With a little steamed milk and a topping of foam, you have the perfect drink to warm your toes with. That said, their Chai Latte also tastes delicious when over ice!
Consider adding a pump or two of their vanilla syrup for another classic chai flavor combination.
Sugar Count: 32 to 53 grams
- Chai Latte syrup pump
- Brown sugar (optional)
- Vanilla syrup (optional)
Calorie Count:
- Tall – 190 calories
- Grande – 240 calories
- Venti – 310 calories
Strawberry Frappuccino Blended Beverage
Strawberries were bound to make their way on the list sooner or later! This cheek-puckering drink gives you a tart kick to balance out the sweetness.
Their Strawberry Frappuccino is similar to their coffee varieties with a base of blended ice and milk. Strawberry puree and vanilla-flavored whipped cream are then added to make this drink taste like a summer sundae.
Since this beverage has a few more basic ingredients than the above options, it’s not the sugariest. Depending on your tastes, this lower sugar count could be just perfect!
Sugar Count: 32 to 61 grams
- Strawberry puree
- Vanilla-flavored whipped cream
Calorie Count:
- Tall – 250 calories
- Grande – 370 calories
- Venti – 460 calories
Starbucks Blonde Smoked Butterscotch Latte
For those that just want to grab a little hint of sweetness without completely taking over their appetite, try this recipe on for size. The Starbucks Blonde Smoked Butterscotch Latte is a simple spin on an otherwise traditional recipe.
Using espresso shots and steamed milk, this recipe uses a hint of smoked butterscotch to sweeten things up. You can add more shots or more butterscotch according to your tastes at the moment.
You can also add a little vanilla or white chocolate to give your drink a cookie-like flavor.
Sugar Count: 26 to 46 grams
- Smoked butterscotch
- Vanilla or white chocolate (optional)
Calorie Count:
- Tall – 230 calories
- Grande – 310 calories
- Venti – 410 calories
Caramel Macchiato
The last entry on our list of Starbucks sweet drinks is the iconic (and rather confusing) Caramel Macchiato. This drink has single-handedly muddied the waters of coffee terminology, but that doesn’t change the fact it tastes great.
For clarity’s sake: a traditional macchiato is made with a shot of espresso and a dollop of microfoam. The Starbucks Macchiato is essentially a latte with a dash of vanilla syrup and a criss-cross of caramel on top (and on the bottom if you want extra sweetness).
Sugar Count: 15 to 40 grams
- Caramel drizzle
- Vanilla syrup
- Caramel foundation (optional)
Calorie Count:
- Tall – 190 calories
- Grande – 250 calories
- Venti – 310 calories
Sweet Drinks At Starbucks – FAQs
What else is there to know about sweet drinks at Starbucks? Here are a few commonly asked questions to steer you closer to your favorite menu item.
What is the Most Popular Starbucks Drink?
While this question will no doubt start a riot among passionate Starbucks drinkers, a few drinks have reached mainstream popularity. The most popular Starbucks drinks are:
- Pumpkin Spice Latte
- Caramel Frappuccino
- Iced Caramel Macchiato
What is the Famous TikTok Starbucks Drink?
A Starbucks sweet drink that went viral was the TikTok Starbucks Drink: a venti white chocolate iced mocha. Thanks to the simpler ingredients and swirly appearance, it’s a regular request at most stores. It’s also quite sweet, especially when you add extra white chocolate syrup!
What Can I Ask For Sweeter at Starbucks?
If your drink isn’t giving you enough sugar, you can ask for:
- Extra pumps of syrup
- More sauce
- More fruit puree (if part of the recipe)
- Sugar packets
- A combo of the above
