We would all be rich if we just stopped buying coffee, in particular Starbucks white chocolate mocha while eating avocado toast, right?
Sigh. Well, not quite. Wouldn’t it be nice if that were true? An occasional Starbucks mocha or latte or chai tea is not going to break the bank.
It is true, though, that a trip to Starbucks every day can be a somewhat expensive habit and easy one to fall into—and if it’s a habit that’s in your budget, that’s totally okay! If it’s an occasional treat, that’s okay too!
But if you do want to save a couple of bucks—or you want to mix something up on the spur of the moment at home because making things at home is sometimes just more convenient, then here is a super easy copycat recipe for a Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha.
The white chocolate mocha latte was one of the very first specialty drinks Starbucks offered when Starbucks was still a pioneer of complicated, sugary coffee concoctions in an endless variety of combinations, and it’s been a popular menu item ever since. Creamy, sweet white chocolate and milk make a great balance for the strength and bitterness of the espresso.
How to Make a Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha
You can find Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha flavored syrup at many groceries, specialty stores like World Market, or online, and plenty of other brands make very similar syrups. You’ll find them in the coffee aisle. It’s also simply to make your own flavoring using white chocolate—either as a bar or in chip form. So, all you’ll need is that flavoring, espresso, milk and whipped cream.
If you don’t make espresso at home, don’t worry! You can find instant espresso in groceries as well. You can honestly just make coffee with your usual method, just extra-strong. If you’re a big fan of espresso drinks, you can also find small, manual espresso pots online easily—just search for “stovetop espresso pot” and you’ll see many options, some of them under $30.
Milk frothing devices are also a worthwhile buy if you’re getting into homemade mochas and lattes, because they’re even cheaper than espresso pots, and they’re really fun. An electric frother will be under $20, and you can find a manual one under $10. If you don’t have one, heating the milk on the stove and whisking like crazy, or using an immersion blender or hand mixer will froth up your milk perfectly well.
If you don’t feel like doing any frothing, your drink will still be lovely.
Nutrition Facts
1 servings per container
- Amount Per ServingCalories415
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 22g 34%
- Saturated Fat 12g 60%
- Cholesterol 35mg 12%
- Sodium 163mg 7%
- Potassium 540mg 16%
- Total Carbohydrate 40g 14%
- Sugars 40g
- Protein 12g 24%
- Calcium 10%
* The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Conclusion
Starbucks offers dozens of variations on every drink, and this recipe is no different (You may also enjoy the Starbucks medicine ball). You can use any kind of milk—skim, 2% or whole—or any milk replacement like soy, coconut, oat, etc.
You can also find sugar-free flavoring syrups or sugar-free white chocolate anywhere you find the regular versions.
If you want to get a little fancy, or you’re making drinks for several people, it might be worth whipping your own cream up fresh. Totally up to you!
An iced version is easy if you’re using a flavored syrup—just combine milk, coffee, syrup, and ice and give it a good mix. (Bonus points for a cocktail shaker). Using melted chocolate works best in a hot drink.
Enjoy!