As soon as there’s a chill in the air and Mariah Carey hits the airwaves, we find ourselves craving a little holiday cheer in our morning latte. Thankfully, we don’t have to wait terribly long to find out.
Starbucks Holiday Menu
As Food & Wine reports, Starbucks’ holiday menu just rolled out last Friday. The seasonal lineup brings five holiday coffees — which, of course, includes the returning alum Peppermint Mocha — as well as a new Refresher, a savory pastry, and three new sweet treats.
For more than two decades, the Peppermint Mocha’s heralded in the holiday season at Starbucks. This creamy fan-favorite latte, with swirls of mocha sauce and minty syrup, is topped with whipped cream and sweet curls of dark chocolate. It’s available hot or iced, but you can also order it as a blended Frappuccino if your sweet tooth feels especially strong. The seasonal menu also includes the returning Caramel Brulée Latte, Chestnut Praline Latte, Iced Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte, and Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai.
If coffee isn’t your thing, you’ve now got options. We’ll soon see the first-ever holiday Refresher, which can be customized in three different ways. The Cran-Merry Orange Refresher offers flavors of orange, cranberry, and warm spices (like cardamom, cinnamon, and nutmeg) — and per Starbucks’ tasting notes, with real cranberries as a tasty garnish. You can also order it with a base of lemonade or even coconut milk, the latter of which is ideal for those craving the creaminess of the original Pink Drink in a holiday-appropriate format.
“These beverages were very much inspired by this idea of a festive punch as a sensorial experience — the appearance, the aroma, the taste,” lead beverage developer Billy Altieri said. “We wanted to create a drink that brought all of those sensory elements together in a cup.”
Six seasonal cold foams are also hitting the menu, including new Gingerbread and Salted Pecan options. Otherwise, you’ll be able to top your cold brew with Peppermint Chocolate, Sugar Cookie, Chestnut Praline, and Caramel Brulée cream cold foams. The Seattle-based coffee chain also recommends topping the Cran-Merry Refresher with its vanilla cold foam, which we’ll leave up to your discretion.
As for food, we can expect all the usual suspects (like the Cranberry Bliss Bar and Sugar Plum Cheese Danish) alongside some newcomers. The Turkey Sage Danish, a savory pastry filled with turkey sausage and a bechamel sauce, is set to debut on Thursday. It’s also joined by the sprinkles-topped Dark Toffee Bundt, Penguin Cookie, and Snowman Cake Pop.
Dunkin’ for the Holidays
Dunkin’ is officially adding a full menu of returning holiday favorites and exciting newcomers on November 1, according to a statement provided to Food & Wine. Even better? There are two months’ worth of “Free Donut Wednesdays” in the near future. Food blogger extraordinaire Markie Devo first predicted the new lineup of drinks and treats on Instagram earlier this month, and it seems his speculations were right on track.
The Holiday Cookie Signature Latte (both hot and iced) arrives as the star of the show, bringing a gourmand flavor profile of buttery cookies, toasted almonds, and rich espresso. It’s topped with crumbles and a generous drizzle of caramel for extra sweetness. The highlight of the seasonal food menu, on the other hand, is the Almond Croissant — an almond paste-filled treat that fans have already demanded on social. It’s joined by the Hash Brown Brisket Scramble Bowl, a leveled-up version of the chain’s classic breakfast potatoes. This savory treat features shredded brisket, scrambled eggs, smoked cheddar cheese, poblano peppers, caramelized onions, and seasonings all over a bed of crisp hash rounds.
Making a welcome return is the Peppermint Mocha Signature Latte and Toasted White Chocolate Signature Latte, two beloved alums among Dunkin’s holiday rotation. Joining the Dunkin-verse is also the White Hazelnut Bark Coffee, which brings familiar notes of white chocolate and toasted hazelnut. Not to worry — the internet-beloved Cookie Butter Cold Brew is also returning to the holiday menu.
As for the holiday merch, you can browse Dunkin’ pajamas, beanies, socks, and Mini Doughnut Tote Bags made to match the new design on your iced coffee cup. They’ll drop the entire limited-quantity collection — plus, a brand-new bedazzled Dunkin’ Bling Cup — all available right now.
Finally, America’s favorite coffee chain is promising exclusive in-app deals, including “Free Donut Wednesdays,” returning from November 6 to December 25. This promo is only available to Dunkin’ Rewards members and requires a beverage purchase, but we’re not complaining about an opportunity to taste the menu.
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