✔ Updated · 41 copycats: lattes, teas, iced drinks, bakery + extras
These 41 Starbucks copycat recipes cover the coffeehouse orders people most want to make at home: lattes and mochas, tea lattes, iced drinks and Frappuccino-style blended drinks, plus the bakery case, breakfast and lunch favorites and the syrups and toppings.
The most popular Starbucks copycat recipes are the Pink Drink, caramel macchiato, iced coffee, chai tea latte, White Chocolate Mocha, pumpkin spice latte, caramel Frappuccino, egg bites, lemon loaf and banana bread. Most drinks need only espresso or strong coffee, milk and a flavored syrup, and a homemade vanilla syrup covers half the menu.
- Easiest wins: iced coffee, vanilla latte, Pink Drink.
- Best make-ahead: egg bites, lemon loaf and banana bread, which all keep for days.
- No espresso machine? Use 1/2 cup of very strong brewed coffee or moka pot coffee per 2 shots.
Each one is a homemade version built from supermarket ingredients, so the flavor is close rather than identical, and you control the sweetness, the milk and the size. They are grouped by type below, with a link to our full recipe for nearly every item.
Hot Espresso Drinks
Every drink here starts with espresso (or very strong coffee) and steamed milk; the syrup and toppings make the difference. I keep three syrups in my fridge.
1. Flat White
Ristretto-style espresso shots topped with a thin layer of velvety whole milk and a small white dot of microfoam on top.
Get the recipe →
2. Vanilla Latte
Espresso, steamed milk and vanilla syrup with a light layer of foam; the easiest latte to master and customize.
Get the recipe →
3. Caramel Macchiato
Vanilla syrup and steamed milk marked with espresso poured on top, finished with a crosshatch of caramel sauce.
Get the recipe →
4. Cinnamon Dolce Latte
A latte sweetened with brown sugar and cinnamon syrup, topped with whipped cream and a cinnamon-sugar sprinkle.
Get the recipe →
5. White Chocolate Mocha
Espresso and steamed milk blended with a creamy white chocolate sauce, finished with whipped cream; rich and sweet.
Get the recipe →
6. Salted Caramel Mocha
A chocolate mocha with toffee nut or caramel syrup, whipped cream, caramel drizzle and a pinch of flaky salt.
Get the recipe →
7. Pumpkin Spice Latte
Espresso and milk simmered with real pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice and sugar, then topped with whipped cream.
Get the recipe →
8. Pistachio Latte
Espresso and steamed milk sweetened with a homemade pistachio syrup for a nutty, mellow latte; finish with a little foam and crushed pistachios.
Get the recipe →
9. Snickerdoodle Latte
A latte sweetened with a buttery cinnamon-sugar syrup and dusted with cinnamon sugar on top, so it tastes like the cookie.
Get the recipe →
10. Peppermint Mocha
Copycat of the seasonal coffee-shop favorite: espresso, chocolate sauce and homemade peppermint syrup under whipped cream, plus a caffeine-free kids' version.
Get the recipe →Tea Lattes and Other Hot Drinks
For a coffee-free order (my London Fog habit), these four rely on tea, steamed milk, honey or chocolate.
11. Chai Tea Latte
Black tea concentrate brewed with cinnamon, cardamom, ginger and cloves, sweetened and mixed half and half with steamed milk.
Get the recipe →
12. London Fog Tea Latte
Earl Grey tea with vanilla syrup and frothy steamed milk; gentle, floral and lightly sweet with bergamot.
Get the recipe →
13. Medicine Ball
Mint green tea and peach herbal tea steeped together, mixed with steamed lemonade and a spoonful of honey.
Get the recipe →
14. Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Rich hot chocolate made with mocha sauce and peppermint syrup, topped with whipped cream and chocolate curls.
Get the recipe →Iced Drinks, Refreshers and Frappuccinos
Cold drinks are the easiest to copy: brew, chill, pour over ice. They are what I make most in summer. Blended drinks need a splash of xanthan gum or a little instant pudding mix to stay smooth instead of icy.
15. Iced Coffee
Double-strength brewed coffee chilled and poured over ice with classic syrup and a splash of milk.
Get the recipe →
16. Iced Matcha Latte
Sweetened matcha green tea powder whisked smooth and shaken with cold milk and ice; three ingredients.
Get the recipe →
17. Pink Drink
Açaà berry tea and white grape juice sweetened with agave, then shaken with creamy coconut milk and sliced fresh strawberries.
Get the recipe →
18. Passion Tea Lemonade
Hibiscus herbal tea brewed strong, chilled and shaken half and half with lemonade and a little sugar syrup.
Get the recipe →
19. Caramel Frappuccino
Strong coffee, milk, caramel sauce and ice blended thick and topped with whipped cream and a caramel drizzle.
Get the recipe →
20. Mocha Frappuccino
Coffee, milk, chocolate sauce and ice blended until frosty, finished with whipped cream; a cold mocha in a glass.
Get the recipe →
21. Vanilla Bean Frappuccino
A caffeine-free blended drink of milk, vanilla bean, sugar and ice, like a light vanilla milkshake.
Get the recipe →
22. Strawberry Açaà Refresher
A chilled green tea base mixed with strawberry and grape juice, shaken with ice and sliced strawberries; fruity and lightly caffeinated.
Get the recipe →
23. Violet Drink
Hibiscus tea and mixed berry juice shaken with creamy coconut milk, ice and freeze-dried blackberries for a sweet, tart purple drink.
Get the recipe →
24. Cotton Candy Frappuccino
Vanilla bean ice cream, milk and raspberry syrup blended with ice; caffeine-free and sweet, with a pink fairground flavor.
Get the recipe →25. Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
Espresso shaken hard with brown sugar syrup, a pinch of cinnamon and ice until frothy, then topped with cold oat milk.
Bakery Favorites
The pastry case is where homemade versions shine, because fresh bakes taste better than anything that has sat under glass all day.
26. Banana Bread
A moist loaf made with very ripe bananas, a little cinnamon and chopped walnuts or pecans folded through and on top.
Get the recipe →
27. Lemon Loaf
A tender lemon pound cake made with fresh zest and juice, finished with a thick, sweet lemon icing.
Get the recipe →
28. Classic Coffee Cake
A buttery cake with a ribbon of cinnamon sugar through the middle and a thick brown sugar streusel crumb on top.
Get the recipe →
29. Cake Pops
Crumbled vanilla cake mixed with frosting, rolled into balls, dipped in pink candy melts and decorated with sprinkles.
Get the recipe →
30. Double Chocolate Brownies
Fudgy, chewy brownies with melted chocolate in the batter and chocolate chunks folded through.
Get the recipe →
31. Gingerbread Loaf
A moist loaf spiced with ginger, cinnamon and cloves, finished with a thick layer of sweet cream cheese frosting.
Get the recipe →
32. Pumpkin Bread
A moist, warmly spiced pumpkin loaf with a crunchy pepita top, mixed in one bowl with a whisk.
Get the recipe →
33. Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin
A soft spiced pumpkin muffin with a sweet cream cheese center and pepitas on top. The fall favorite.
Get the recipe →
34. Cranberry Bliss Bars
Chewy brown sugar blondie bars with dried cranberries, white chocolate and orange zest, topped with orange cream cheese frosting, more cranberries and a white chocolate drizzle.
Get the recipe →
Bonus: Pumpkin Scone
Soft, spiced pumpkin triangles with a thick white glaze and stripes of cinnamon icing, mixed by hand in one bowl.
Get the recipe →
Breakfast and Lunch
Three savory picks: the egg bites and wrap can be cooked in a batch on Sunday and reheated through the week, and the grilled cheese takes ten minutes.
35. Egg Bites
Silky sous vide-style egg bites of blended eggs, cottage cheese, shredded cheese and crisp bacon, baked gently in a muffin tin.
Get the recipe →
36. Spinach Feta Wrap
Egg whites, wilted spinach, feta and a sun-dried tomato cream cheese spread rolled in a tortilla, then toasted in a pan.
Get the recipe →
37. Grilled Cheese
Sourdough filled with white cheddar and mozzarella and grilled in a parmesan butter spread until the crust is crisp and golden.
Get the recipe →
Syrups, Toppings and Extras
Make these once and they upgrade every drink above; the last one is for the dog.
38. Vanilla Syrup
Sugar and water simmered with vanilla until clear; it keeps in the fridge for about 2 weeks and sweetens lattes, iced coffee and cold foam.
Get the recipe →
39. Vanilla Whipped Cream
Cold heavy cream whipped with a little vanilla syrup to soft peaks, for topping mochas, hot chocolate and Frappuccinos.
Get the recipe →40. Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam
Heavy cream, 2% milk and vanilla syrup frothed until thick and pourable, then spooned over cold brew or iced coffee.
41. Puppuccino
A small cup of plain whipped cream for dogs; serve it only as an occasional treat in a small amount.
Get the recipe →Tips for Coffeehouse Drinks at Home
- Make one syrup first. A batch of vanilla syrup keeps in the fridge for about 2 weeks and sweetens lattes, iced coffee and cold foam.
- Know the sizes. A tall is 12 ounces, a grande 16 ounces and a venti 20 ounces hot or 24 ounces iced; most grande hot drinks use 2 espresso shots.
- Measure the sweetener. One pump of syrup is roughly 2 teaspoons, so a grande with 4 pumps uses about 2 tablespoons; start with less and adjust.
- Froth without a steamer. Heat milk to about 150°F, then shake it in a sealed jar or use a handheld frother; whole milk and oat milk foam best.
- Top it off. A spoonful of homemade vanilla whipped cream finishes mochas, hot chocolate and Frappuccinos.
- Chill coffee before blending. Hot coffee melts the ice; freeze leftover coffee in an ice cube tray for stronger blended drinks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the easiest Starbucks drinks to make at home?
The easiest Starbucks drinks to copy are iced coffee, the vanilla latte, the Pink Drink, the London Fog and the iced matcha latte. Each needs three or four ingredients and no special equipment beyond a jar for shaking. A homemade vanilla syrup covers several of them.
Can you make Starbucks drinks without an espresso machine?
Yes. Use strong brewed coffee, moka pot coffee, AeroPress coffee or instant espresso powder in place of espresso. About 1/2 cup of very strong coffee stands in for 2 shots. Froth the milk in a jar or with a handheld frother after heating it to around 150°F.
What syrup does a copycat Starbucks latte use?
Most copycat lattes use a simple flavored syrup: equal parts sugar and water simmered until clear, then flavored with vanilla, caramel, brown sugar and cinnamon or hazelnut. Store-bought coffee syrups work too. Use about 2 tablespoons for a 16-ounce drink and adjust to taste.
How do you make a copycat Frappuccino smooth instead of icy?
Blend chilled coffee, milk, sweetener and ice with a pinch of xanthan gum or a teaspoon of instant vanilla pudding mix. Either one thickens and emulsifies the drink so it stays creamy and does not separate. Coffee ice cubes keep the flavor strong as they melt.
Are homemade Starbucks copycat recipes cheaper?
Usually, yes. A homemade latte costs mainly the coffee and milk, so it is typically a fraction of the café price, and syrups made at home cost very little per serving. You also control the sugar, milk type and size, which makes it easier to lighten a drink.
