Starbucks gingerbread latte (ingredients, taste, variations, sizes, Copycat recipe, caffeine, calories, dairy content & more information)

Starbucks has a variety of holiday drinks that are only offered during the holiday season, with the gingerbread latte being a favorite of many. Stick around to find out more about Starbucks’ gingerbread latte.

Since the debut of the gingerbread latte in 2000, our household has been a big fan of this drink. We do not love overly sweet drinks, so this works perfectly. My mum describes this holiday treat as her ultimate holiday experience drink, as she loves a beverage that does not have a strong flavor. This is precisely what the gingerbread latte offers, a flavor that is not overly sweet, with hints of gingerbread and nutmeg, with gingerbread being a bit stronger. However, this drink was discontinued at Starbucks, and we had to look for alternatives, which made our festive season complete. I researched and learned how to make it at home; continue reading to get more information about this drink.

A brief history of the drink

As mentioned above, gingerbread was introduced at Starbucks in 2000 alongside other variations of gingerbread drinks like peppermint gingerbread. This drink joined other seasonal staples at the coffee house and attracted a cult following. However, many Starbucks fans (including our household) were disappointed when the gingerbread latte was discontinued in 2019. The gingerbread latte was the last offer in the US market during the 2018 holidays.

Is the Starbucks gingerbread latte still available at Starbucks?

No, the Starbucks gingerbread latte is no longer available at the coffee chain. As mentioned above, Starbucks last offered this drink in 2018; since then, it has never come back alongside other festive drinks. Though there has never been any clear communication from Starbucks as to why the gingerbread latte was discontinued, talks from the corridors have it that the drink did not have much following as the public thought; hence it had to be dropped.

Starbucks gingerbread latte (ingredients, taste, variations, sizes, caffeine, calories, dairy content)

What’s in a Starbucks gingerbread latte – (ingredients?)

The Gingerbread latte offered at Starbucks is made of gingerbread syrup, brewed espresso, milk, nutmeg, and whipped cream. The gingerbread syrup is simply a combination of natural flavors, citric acid, water, sugar, and sodium benzoate added to it.

• Gingerbread syrup – this syrup is sweet and made of natural flavors, contributing to this latte’s sweetness and ginger flavor.
• Nutmeg – nutmeg makes this drink flavorful and maybe a bit spicy, like gingerbread. Though not too strong, it takes the flavor of the gingerbread latte to a whole level.
• Brewed espresso – what is a latte without some energy boost? The gingerbread latte has covered you, as it is made with brewed espresso and has enough caffeine to push you through a busy day.
• Milk – gingerbread latte is made of steamed milk, which perfectly blends well with other ingredients to give this drink a slightly creamy texture.
• Whipped cream – Starbucks uses a gingerbread-flavored whipped cream on its gingerbread latte, a different variation of whipped cream from its regular one. The flavored whipped cream not only gives this drink a smooth texture but also enhances its gingerbread flavor.

Starbucks gingerbread latte: sizes, nutrition, caffeine, content & Calories

What sizes are available?

If you are not a fan of large-sized drinks, don’t worry, as Starbucks offers gingerbread lattes beginning from a short serving size. This drink’s other three sizes include a tall, grande, and Venti. Therefore, if you want to try the gingerbread latte for the first time, you can start with a short or tall serving size.

However, there are other considerations you should weigh when choosing the size you want this drink in. This includes price, caffeine information, and nutritional value. The Venti is more expensive than the other sizes and has the highest amount of caffeine and calories.

Nutritional facts

The gingerbread latte is not for the health freaks! This drink has reasonably high calories, fat, and cholesterol. And even if you are not a health freak, this should not be a daily drink unless you customize it to make it a bit healthy.

Calories	330
Nutritional value (Grande serving)	Daily Value
Total fat 14 grams   Saturated fat 9 grams	18%   45%
Total carbs 40 grams   Sugars 38 grams	15%
Cholesterol 55 mg	18%
Sodium 170 mg	7%
Protein 12 grams	–

Caffeine information

The caffeine content of the gingerbread latte varies from size to size. A Grande serving of the gingerbread latte will give 150 mg of caffeine as it is made with two espresso shots. This caffeine should give you the energy boost you require on a busy day. However, if you feel like it is not enough, you can either order this drink in a Venti or ask the barista to add some more shots to your drink.

Dairy content

According to Starbucks’ website, the gingerbread latte is made with 2% steamed milk. The standard recipe of this drink is made with dairy milk; however, you can easily drop it and substitute it with plant-based milk. You can also use heavy cream instead of dairy milk.

So, what does a Starbucks gingerbread latte taste like?

Nutmeg and ginger! The gingerbread latte stays true to its name and will offer you a taste that almost resembles that of gingerbread, just that this latte is not as spicy as gingerbread but so delicious. The ginger in the Starbucks gingerbread latte is a bit loud compared to the nutmeg flavor. However, these two mix perfectly well and offer a drink with just the right amount of sweetness to keep you asking for more.

Ways to customize a Starbucks gingerbread latte at Starbucks – Starbucks gingerbread latte variations

If you do not like the standard form of the gingerbread latte offered at Starbucks, don’t ditch it yet, as you can easily customize it to meet your preferences. For those with a sweet tooth, I know the standard recipe of this drink does not favor you as it is not overly sweet as you would love it. However, Starbucks has a variety of sweeteners that you can add to your drink to enhance its sweetness to meet whatever you prefer.

However, if your concerns are with its nutritional content, there are several ways to make the gingerbread latte healthy. First, ditch dairy milk and use plant-based milk or non-fat milk to make your drink. You can also let go of the whipped cream as it contributes significantly to this drink’s fat and calorie content.

How to make Starbucks gingerbread latte at home – Starbucks gingerbread latte Copycat recipe

Informative section

How to order a Starbucks gingerbread latte

You can no longer order the gingerbread latte from Starbucks as this beverage was discontinued and is no longer on Starbucks’ menu.

How much is the Starbucks gingerbread latte?

The price of the gingerbread latte varies depending on the Starbucks location you are buying from. However, generally, this drink should cost you around $5.75.

Is Starbucks gingerbread latte good?

Absolutely! If you do not love overly sweet drinks, join the gingerbread latte gang; I promise you, you will love it over here!

Why did Starbucks discontinue the gingerbread latte?

Starbucks has never communicated clearly why it discontinued the gingerbread latte. However, a barista came out on social media and noted that the core reason might be because, contrary to what the public thought, this drink did not have a large following and hence had to be dropped.

When do gingerbread lattes come back?

The gingerbread latte, alongside other Starbucks holiday drinks, usually comes back on the third of November.

Is Starbucks gingerbread latte gluten-free?

Yes, the Starbucks gingerbread latte is gluten-free, as all its ingredients are free from gluten or wheat.