Vegan Starbucks Holiday Guide: 2022 Seasonal Drinks and Swaps (2024)

Sweater weather, gift-giving, Christmas music already on the radio—the holiday season is indeed upon us.

Further evoking the holiday spirit with its signature seasonal red cups, Starbucks' holiday drinks collection has arrived. The lineup features familiar favorites like the Peppermint Mocha and one already-vegan creation: the Iced Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte.

While the holidays aren't always easy for vegans—particularly when family members bring non-vegan dishes and desserts to the table—we have the inside scoop to help customers order their favorite Starbucks drinks with exclusively plant-based ingredients. Here are all their festive beverages and precisely how to make them vegan.

Peppermint Mocha

If you’re craving mint chocolate, the Peppermint Mocha is for you. This holiday-menu staple combines Espresso Roast, milk, mocha sauce, and peppermint syrup.

To ensure your drink is vegan, ask your barista to hold the dark chocolate curls and whipped cream, and choose either soy, almond, coconut, or oat milk to replace the dairy milk.

*Can also be ordered as an iced mocha and a Frappucino. Make sure to order with the same modifications.

Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Looking for a little less caffeine? When ordering the decadent Peppermint Hot Chocolate, swap the dairy milk with a plant-based alternative and leave off the dark chocolate curls and whipped cream. It will still taste exactly like a liquid peppermint patty.

For a festive hot chocolate beverage, this classic treat is your best bet. All of the drinks from the white hot chocolate collection (including classic, peppermint, and toasted white chocolate) contain a dairy-based sauce.

Iced Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte

Unless otherwise labeled, sugar cookies typically contain milk, eggs, butter—often all three. But you won’t find any animal products in the Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte. From the syrup to the sprinkles, every ingredient in this sweet pick-me-up is entirely vegan.

*Can also be ordered as a hot latte and a Frappuccino. Make sure to request no whipped cream on the Frappuccino.

Chestnut Praline Latte

Warm spices complement caramelized chestnuts in this smooth, nutty latte. Ideal when sipped by the fireplace. Hold the whipped cream and opt for your choice of plant-based milk. Make sure to keep the chestnut praline topping, which is delicious and totally safe for vegans.

*Can also be ordered as an iced latte and a Frappuccino. Make sure to order with the same modifications.

Caramel Brulée Latte

This one is a bit tricky. The Caramel Brulée Latte technically cannot be vegan because the caramel brulée sauce contains skim milk powder.

What you can do instead is replace the caramel brulée sauce with a combination of non-dairy caramel syrup and toffee nut syrup, hold the whipped cream, and replace the milk with a plant-based alternative. Keep the caramel brulée topping, which is vegan.

Irish Cream Cold Brew

The Irish Cream Cold Brew also cannot be made vegan as the Irish cream cold foam contains (you guessed it) cream and milk. However, the Irish cream syrup is free of animal products.

Swap out the cold foam for a couple of extra pumps of Irish cream syrup and add a splash of oat milk to regain some of that creamy sweetness.

Starbucks Christmas Blend 2022

Looking for some extra servings to take home? Try a whole-bean bag of Starbucks' latest Christmas blend. These dark roasted beans from Guatemala, Colombia, and Papua New Guinea contain notes of spiced chocolate and spruce tips. Rich and sweet, this blend will keep you warm all season long.