Starbucks’ secret menu: Pumpkin hot chocolate (Taste, Ingredients, Caffeine, Calories, Copycat Recipe & More information)
Sometimes, we need a steaming cup of hot chocolate on a chilly night. Spicing hot chocolate with pumpkin sauce takes it to a whole new level. To know more about Starbucks pumpkin hot chocolate, read on.
I love a flavored cup of hot chocolate; be it flavored with peppermint or just the toasted white hot chocolate, count me in. During the last fall season, I was trying out hot chocolate drinks on the Starbucks secret menu and came across the pumpkin hot chocolate. When I tell you this combination is heavenly, you better trust me. I love this drink’s rich chocolate taste, which blends well with the pumpkin flavor. In this post, we will explore this drink and share a simple recipe.
Table of Contents
A brief history of the drink
The Starbucks pumpkin hot chocolate is simply a blend of hot chocolate and pumpkin spice sauce. Pumpkin spice sauce was introduced at the coffee chain in 2003 alongside the pumpkin spice latte. On the other hand, the hot chocolate used as a base of this beverage was introduced at the coffee chain on the 14th of October, 2004.
Pumpkin hot chocolate overview
What’s in a Starbucks pumpkin hot chocolate? – (Ingredients)
According to Starbucks’ secret menu website, pumpkin hot chocolate combines Starbucks hot chocolate with pumpkin spice sauce.
- Milk – Starbucks uses 2% steamed milk to make its hot chocolate giving it a creamy texture.
- Mocha sauce – the mocha sauce is used to give this drink a rich chocolate taste and flavor.
- Whipped cream – whipped cream is used as a topping in this drink, giving it a smooth, creamy finish.
- Dark chocolate curls – dark chocolate curls are used as ingredients in this drink to enhance the chocolate flavor.
- Pumpkin spice sauce – this is the key ingredient in this drink as it is added to the hot chocolate to twist its taste and flavor hence the identity of the pumpkin hot chocolate.
Starbucks pumpkin hot chocolate: Sizes, nutrition, caffeine, & Calories
What sizes are available?
Starbucks offers all its hot chocolate drinks in 5 sizes. This includes kids’ sizes, a short, tall, grande, and a venti. Therefore, this drink can be enjoyed by both kids and adults. If you have never tried this drink before, start by ordering a short, and upgrade to a bigger size if you like it.
Nutritional facts
This drink is quite unhealthy as just a grande serving has 440 calories. Its carb and sugar content is also high, and thus this drink should be avoided by someone on a healthy diet. However, it is essential to note that the nutritional facts mentioned here are just an estimate based on the ingredients as Starbucks has not availed the nutritional information of this drink.
Calories 440 | |
Nutritional Value | Daily Value |
Total fat 16 grams
Saturated fat 10 grams | 21%
50% |
Total carbohydrates 62grams
Sugars 56 grams | 23% |
Sodium 150mg | 7% |
Cholesterol 45mg | 15% |
Protein 13 grams |
Caffeine information
This drink has a caffeine content of 25 mg. Many people are unaware that chocolate has a low caffeine content, and this drink gets its caffeine from chocolate. Therefore, if you love a low-caffeinated drink, try pumpkin hot chocolate.
So, what does Starbucks pumpkin hot chocolate taste like?
The taste profile of the pumpkin hot chocolate from Starbucks combines pumpkin and a rich chocolate taste. The two flavors balance out perfectly, making this drink sweet. However, if you want your drink to have a rich pumpkin taste, you can ask your barista to use more pumpkin sauce pumps while making it.
Ways to customize a pumpkin hot chocolate at Starbucks?
To reduce the calorie content of this drink, you can start by ditching whipped cream. You can substitute the steamed milk used to make this drink with plant-based or non-fat milk. Additionally, you can top this drink with pumpkin spice toppings instead of dark chocolate curls to enhance the pumpkin flavor in this drink.
How to make Starbucks pumpkin hot chocolate at home – Starbucks Caffe Misto Copycat Recipe
Starbucks Caffe Misto Copycat Recipe
Equipment
- Pan
- Mug
Ingredients
- Milk
- Mocha sauce
- Pumpkin spice sauce
- Whipped cream
- Cocoa
Instructions
- Heat your milk in a pan and pour it into a mug over unsweetened cocoa.
- Add mocha sauce and pumpkin spice sauce to the hot chocolate and stir.
- Top your drink with whipped cream or any other toppings of your liking. Enjoy!
Notes
- You are not restricted on which milk type to use.
- You can omit the whipped cream to make this drink a bit healthy.
Informative Section
How do you order pumpkin hot chocolate from the Starbucks app?
To order this drink, select hot chocolate and customize it by adding pumpkin spice sauce. Place your order.
Is the Starbucks pumpkin hot chocolate still available?
Yes, it is. You can find it at any Starbucks store.
Does Starbucks have pumpkin hot chocolate all year round?
No, this drink is seasonal and only available during the fall season.
Is the Starbucks pumpkin hot chocolate healthy?
No, this drink is unhealthy as it contains high calorie and sugar content.
How much is the Starbucks pumpkin hot chocolate?
Starbucks barista will determine the price of this drink depending on how you customize it.
Is Starbucks pumpkin hot chocolate good?
Yes, this drink is good, mostly for chocolate and pumpkin lovers.