What Starbucks Syrups Are Dairy Free? (do all Starbucks syrups have caffeine + More Information)

Starbucks has all kinds of syrups to flavor the many beverages on offer. If you need to avoid dairy for whatever reason, you may want to know, what Starbucks syrups are dairy free? Read on to find out.

Starbucks has over a dozen dairy-free syrups, which include brown sugar, caramel, cinnamon dolce, classic, hazelnut, peppermint, raspberry, sugar-free vanilla, toffee nut, vanilla, apple brown sugar syrup, and the newly introduced toasted vanilla syrup.

I did not know this until I started a strictly dairy-free diet and had to make sure that the only milk products I took were plant-based. I learned that a good number of Starbucks syrups were good for me, making life a little easier as I am such a fan. Worry no more if you are in the same predicament as I am. In this post, I’ll be sharing what syrups you can use, what they are made of, and how they taste so that you know what to pick the next time you visit a Starbucks.

Starbucks Dairy-Free Syrups: What they are made of and what they taste like

Brown Sugar Syrup

Starbucks brown sugar is made of brown sugar and water in equal parts. I like this simple syrup’s deep flavor with notes of toffee and caramel, especially when served with cold beverages, such as iced coffee or tea.

Caramel Syrup

This Starbucks caramel syrup consists of water, sugar, and a natural flavor and is preserved with citric acid and potassium sorbate. My home recipe for this syrup has equal parts of water and sugar. Add vanilla extract and a little salt. Starbucks caramel syrup tastes like butterscotch, with a delicious, savory, heavy burnt sugar flavor. Unfortunately, this is one of the least favorite Starbucks syrups; many complain that it tastes too unnatural.

Chai Syrup

The chai syrup used at Starbucks is dairy-free but not vegan as it contains honey, together with black tea, ginger juice, vanilla, sugar, star anise, cloves, natural flavors, cinnamon, ginger, black pepper, cardamom, and citric acid. Interestingly, Starbucks Chai is made of just this syrup and water. Chai syrup tastes like sweet tea with spices.

Cinnamon Dolce Syrup

Starbucks lists the ingredients of their Cinnamon Dolce Syrup as water, sugar, natural flavor, preserved with potassium sorbate and citric acid, which unfortunately does not tell us much about its contents. My favorite at-home recipe for the Cinnamon Dolce Syrup includes white sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, water, and vanilla extract. “Dolce” is French for sweet, and this syrup does taste deliciously sweet with brown sugar and spicy cinnamon notes. Cinnamon Dolce is the primary syrup for caramel apple spice juice.

Classic syrup

Like most syrups, Starbucks indicates that their Classic syrup is made of natural flavor, sugar, water, and preservatives. However, this syrup tastes sweet and adds no flavor to your drink. Although it seems simple, this is one I’d advise not to use more than recommended amounts, as it can get too sweet. It has about 20 grams of sugar per pump. To achieve this high sugar concentration for my Starbucks classic syrup copycat, I use one ¼ cup of sugar and cook it with 1 cup of water.

Hazelnut syrup

According to Starbucks’ menu, their hazelnut syrup is made of natural flavor, sugar, and water, with potassium sorbate and citric acid as preservatives. The at-home recipe has real chopped roasted hazelnuts, water, and granulated sugar. You can use hazelnut extract instead of roasted ones. This syrup has a nutty flavor and is both delicious and rich. I’m not too fond of this syrup on its own, as it has a strong hazelnut aftertaste that is not necessarily what I need in my drink, so I’ll often pair it with another syrup, such as vanilla, and use it with my black coffee drinks.

Peppermint syrup

To make peppermint syrup at home, use equal parts of water and sugar and peppermint extract. Starbucks states that its peppermint syrup comprises the usual water, sugar, natural flavors, and preservatives. This is one of my favorite syrups. I love the minty freshness and cool creaminess it brings to mocha drinks and matcha teas. The good news is that you can now get it throughout the year.

Raspberry syrup

Raspberry syrup has a candy-like flavor. You can easily make it at home using sugar, water, raspberries, and vanilla extract. I find both the Starbucks and homemade versions to be very strong, so I’d advise you to use caution because too much of it can overwhelm the other tastes in your drink. Raspberry syrup is delicious in cocktails, passion tea, and lemonade drinks.

Toffee Nut Syrup

In addition to the usual sugar, water, and natural flavors, Starbucks also lists salt as an ingredient for this syrup, which happens to be a famous holiday syrup with a caramelly taste. I found it to go well with milk drinks, including non-dairy plant-based milk. You can also use it to flavor your Frappuccinos and iced coffees.

Vanilla syrup

Starbucks uses vanilla to sweeten almost anything. It is a classic and safe flavor you can pick anytime. It has a deliciously sweet, rich, and unforgettable taste. Starbucks lists vanilla syrup as made of water, sugar, natural flavors, and preservatives, while a typical recipe uses water, brown sugar, salt, and vanilla extract. I can use vanilla syrup with any beverage, hot or iced.

Apple Brown Sugar Syrup

Apple brown sugar is one of Starbucks’ fall syrups. It is made of brown sugar, water, and natural flavors, preserved using potassium sorbate and citric acid. It is a vegan syrup with a sweet caramel taste with hints of apple savor and is one of Starbucks’ less sweet syrups, so you may like it if you don’t fancy a lot of Starbucks sweet stuff. However, this syrup paired well with only a few drinks, including espresso and chai drinks.

Toasted Vanilla

Toasted vanilla was introduced in the spring of 2022 and is made of sugar, water, natural flavors, potassium sorbate (a preservative), and citric acid. Toasted vanilla has a more robust flavor; it reminded me of the sweet vanilla cake, which I found more tolerable in cold drinks. In the short time, it has been on Starbucks’ menu, fans have already replicated its taste by toasting cane sugar and real vanilla extract before adding water.

FAQ Section

Are vegan syrups also dairy free?

Yes, vegan syrups are also dairy-free, but not all dairy-free syrups are vegan. This is because, whereas no vegan syrup can have any animal-derived products, some dairy-free syrups contain animal-derived products such as honey.

What does dairy do to you?

Dairy products are good sources of calcium, an essential mineral for developing and maintaining healthy bones. However, dairy is also known to cause nausea, stomach cramps, diarrhea, bloating, and gas.