The 7 Must-Try Starbucks Holiday Drinks And Treats Of 2025: Including The Brand NEW Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai

The holidays are officially back at Starbucks, and the 2025 menu is packed with festive cheer, featuring a highly anticipated new beverage and the surprise return of two beloved classics. Starting on November 6, 2025, Starbucks coffeehouses across the U.S. and Canada will transform into a winter wonderland, launching their iconic lineup of seasonal drinks and food items, all served in the new collection of festive holiday cups. This year’s menu is a perfect blend of nostalgic favorites and exciting new flavors, designed to delight both traditionalists and those looking for a fresh, new winter sip. The biggest news for this season is the introduction of the Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai, a spicy, creamy, and dairy-free-friendly creation that is already generating buzz across social media. Furthermore, fans who mourned the absence of the Eggnog Latte and Chestnut Praline Latte in recent years will be thrilled to hear about their limited-time return in early December, making this one of the most comprehensive holiday menus in recent memory.

The Brand-New Star of the Season: Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai

The centerpiece of the 2025 holiday beverage lineup is the all-new Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai. This drink is a modern twist on classic holiday flavors, leaning into the popularity of both iced beverages and non-dairy alternatives.

The Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai is crafted to deliver a complex, comforting flavor profile:

• Chai Base: A warming blend of black tea infused with classic chai spices like cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves.
• Gingerbread Syrup: A perfectly balanced syrup that captures the essence of fresh-baked gingerbread cookies.
• Oatmilk: The creamy, subtly sweet flavor of oatmilk is used to complement the spices and create a smooth texture.
• Espresso Shot (Optional): While a chai, many baristas recommend adding a shot of Starbucks Signature Espresso for an extra caffeinated kick and depth of flavor.

This beverage is specifically designed to be served cold, making it a refreshing option for those who live in warmer climates or simply prefer iced coffee year-round. The combination of spicy chai and sweet, comforting gingerbread syrup offers a cozy-yet-cool experience, establishing it as a must-try for the season.

The Legendary Lineup: 5 Returning Fan-Favorite Holiday Drinks

While the Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai is the new kid on the block, the holidays wouldn't be complete without the return of the five legendary seasonal beverages. These classics officially launched on November 6, 2025, and remain the foundation of the festive menu.

1. Peppermint Mocha

The Peppermint Mocha is arguably the most iconic holiday drink at Starbucks. This staple beverage combines rich espresso, steamed milk, sweet mocha sauce, and peppermint-flavored syrup. It is traditionally topped with whipped cream and a sprinkle of dark chocolate curls, delivering a perfect balance of mint and chocolate that tastes like a candy cane in a cup.

2. Caramel Brulée Latte

For those who prefer a rich, caramelized sweetness, the Caramel Brulée Latte is the perfect choice. This drink features Starbucks Signature Espresso, steamed milk, and a decadent Caramel Brulée Sauce. It’s finished with whipped cream and a crunchy topping of Caramel Brulée bits, reminiscent of a crème brûlée dessert.

3. Iced Sugar Cookie Latte

Returning for its third holiday season, the Iced Sugar Cookie Latte quickly became a modern classic. It features a non-dairy blend of sugar cookie syrup, Starbucks Blonde Espresso, and oatmilk, making it a bright, buttery, and vanilla-forward treat. It’s often topped with colorful festive sprinkles, capturing the joy of holiday baking.

4. Eggnog Latte (Returning December 2, 2025)

In a move that thrilled long-time fans, the Eggnog Latte is making a limited-time return this year, starting December 2, 2025. This comforting drink is made with rich, steamed eggnog blended with espresso, and finished with a dusting of ground nutmeg. Its brief reappearance is a special treat for those who consider it the true taste of the holidays.

5. Chestnut Praline Latte (Returning December 2, 2025)

Also returning on December 2, 2025, is the nutty and sweet Chestnut Praline Latte. This beverage is a blend of espresso, steamed milk, and a caramelized chestnut flavor, topped with whipped cream and a crunchy praline crumb. It offers a sophisticated, cozy, and distinctly wintery flavor that is less sweet than the Peppermint Mocha.

Seasonal Treats and Global Highlights: Expanding Your Topical Authority

The holiday menu isn't just about the drinks; Starbucks has also rolled out a selection of festive food items and unique regional beverages that add to the seasonal excitement.

The New Holiday Food Lineup

The food menu for 2025 introduces two highly anticipated items that pair perfectly with the festive lattes:

• Sugar Plum Cheese Danish: This new pastry features a buttery, flaky puff pastry filled with a sweet cream cheese and a vibrant, fruity sugar plum filling. The combination of tart plum and rich cheese is a sophisticated holiday flavor.
• Cinnamon Pull-Apart Bread: A warm, gooey, and shareable treat, this bread is covered in a cinnamon-sugar glaze, making it an ideal comfort food for a chilly morning.

These treats, along with returning favorites like the Cranberry Bliss Bar, round out the full holiday experience, giving customers a full range of seasonal flavors to enjoy.

International Flavor Spotlight: The Strawberry & Joyful Medley Tea Frappuccino

While the Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai is the U.S. star, Starbucks often introduces unique, regional holiday drinks. One such offering that has captured global attention is the Strawberry & Joyful Medley Tea Frappuccino. Available in markets like Japan and parts of Latin America, this vibrant iced beverage features a creamy milk tea base, blended with a chunky strawberry pulp-filled sauce, and topped with whipped cream and freeze-dried strawberry pieces. It showcases how Starbucks tailors its seasonal offerings to regional preferences, often focusing on fruit-forward flavors in other parts of the world.

How to Customize Your Holiday Drink Experience

One of the best ways to enjoy the Starbucks holiday menu is by customizing your order to your exact preference. Using LSI keywords like *dairy-free*, *sugar-free syrup*, and *Blonde Espresso* can help you craft the perfect custom drink:

• Make it Dairy-Free: Any of the lattes can be made dairy-free by substituting the steamed milk with oatmilk, almond milk, or soy milk. The Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai already uses oatmilk, making it a great choice.
• Adjust the Sweetness: Ask for fewer pumps of the seasonal syrup (e.g., *Caramel Brulée Syrup* or *Peppermint Syrup*). You can also ask for sugar-free vanilla syrup to be substituted for some of the sweetness.
• Change the Espresso: Request Starbucks Blonde Espresso for a lighter, sweeter, and smoother coffee flavor that allows the holiday syrups to shine through more clearly.
• Try it Iced: All the hot lattes—including the Peppermint Mocha and Chestnut Praline Latte—can be ordered iced, making them a refreshing alternative to the traditional hot cup.

Don't forget to mark your calendar for Red Cup Day on November 13, 2025. Customers who order any handcrafted holiday beverage on this day will receive a free, reusable 2025 holiday cup while supplies last. This is an annual tradition that kicks off the season and is a great way to get a new piece of holiday merchandise.