The holiday season is upon us, and I’m thrilled to embrace all of Christmas!
I especially love the flavors of the season.
Peppermint, dark chocolate, and cranberry are some of my favorites!
And today’s drink features a delicious cranberry syrup perfectly complemented by melted white chocolate chips.
Starbucks has offered this drink in the past in locations including Latin America and the Caribbean, but it’s not on their 2024 holiday line-up here in the United States.
Thanks to today’s recipe, you can enjoy a white chocolate cranberry latte from the comfort of your home—no drive-thru or passport required!
And if you’re a skip-to-the-good-parts kind of person, click here to jump right to the recipe card.
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What is a Cranberry White Chocolate Latte?
The cranberry white chocolate latte is almost like a cranberry bliss bar in coffee form.
This drink is creamy, comforting, and has a delectable richness unmatched by other espresso-based drinks.
And it’s one of the most elegant ways to celebrate the holiday season!
What’s in a Cranberry White Chocolate Latte?
This drink comes together quickly with a few simple ingredients.
Espresso
As with any latte, espresso forms the base of this drink.
If you don’t have an espresso machine, try instant espresso powder.
You can also use a French press to make a brew that’s similar to espresso.
Combine 4 tablespoons of finely ground coffee and 3.5 cups of hot water in the French press.
Steep for approximately 6 minutes, and then pour out your brew, which is strong enough to hold its own despite the addition of milk and flavor syrups.
If you’d like this drink to have more of a hot chocolate vibe, simply leave out the espresso.
You could also make a cold version of this drink for an interesting twist.
I recommend using cold brew for the iced version.
Milk
Most specialty Starbucks lattes, like this one, use 2% milk, but you can use whatever type of milk you have in your refrigerator.
I love using creamy oat milk to keep it dairy-free.
I’ve also found that oat milk froths the best of other dairy-free milk.
Flavor Syrups
The first syrup used in this drink is a simple syrup made with cranberries.
You can buy premade cranberry syrup or make your own with turbinado cane sugar, water, and fresh cranberries.
Brown sugar is also an option. It would add a hint of caramel flavor to the drink, which would likely pair nicely with the other flavors of the drink.
The second flavor in this drink is white chocolate, and you have several options.
You can buy premade white chocolate syrup.
Although the syrup is a convenient option, you can also use melted chocolate.
White chocolate bars melt well, as do white chocolate chips.
Melted chocolate adds decadence to the drink, which is tough to find with syrup.
Cranberry White Chocolate Latte
Ingredients
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup water
- 1 cup cranberries
- 1 tbsp white chocolate chips
- 2 shots espresso omit or substitute as described above
- 1.5 cups milk
- whipped cream or soft top optional
Instructions
- Combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Boil for approximately 1 minute, then reduce heat to a simmer until the sugar has completely dissolved. Add the cranberries and continue cooking for approximately 10 minutes until the cranberries have burst.
- Remove from heat and pour the mixture through a strainer to remove the cranberry hulls. Pour the syrup into a jar and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
- Place the white chocolate chips into a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds, stirring, and then continue microwaving in 30-second increments until the chips have completely melted.
- Prepare the espresso according to your preferred method. Stir the melted chocolate into the espresso shots.
- Add approximately 2 tablespoons of cranberry syrup to the milk then heat and froth the milk per your preference. Check out this one if you're looking for a machine that does it all.
- Combine the chocolatey espresso and cranberry milk. Stir gently to combine. Top with whipped cream for an extra dollop of indulgence, and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you make an iced version of the cranberry white chocolate latte?
Yes! Use this white chocolate syrup, which mixes well in cold drinks, and follow the above recipe. Add ice, and enjoy!
If you like a drink with more body, you can froth the milk without heating it by using this handheld frother.
What is a latte?
A latte is a drink containing a mixture of espresso and milk. Flavor syrup is usually also added.
If you’re looking for more latte ideas, check out these recipes:
- How to Make a Copycat Iced Caramel Apple Cream Latte
- Best Copycat Recipe for an Iced Lavender Oatmilk Latte
- How to Make the Best Homemade Iced Mint Mocha Latte
Can you order a cranberry white chocolate latte from Starbucks year-round?
Although you can order a white chocolate mocha year-round, Starbucks only offers cranberry syrup seasonally.
Unfortunately, they are not offering any espresso-based cranberry drinks in 2024.
But thanks to the above recipe, you can make your own version regardless of the season!
How much sugar is in a cranberry white chocolate latte?
A regular white chocolate mocha from Starbucks has close to 50 grams of sugar for a grande.
But by making your own version at home, you can significantly reduce the amount of added sugar.
You can even buy sugar-free white chocolate syrup to reduce the sugar burden without sacrificing flavor.
And you can substitute Stevia for sugar when making flavored simple syrup at home.
Can you make a dairy-free cranberry white chocolate latte?
Yes! I recommend oat milk for any dairy-free coffee drinks. It froths very well and doesn’t have a strong taste that interferes with other flavors in the drink.
White chocolate syrups and white chocolate chips are typically made with dairy products, so if you’re avoiding dairy, try this brand of white chocolate chip.
Final Thoughts
Even though Starbucks isn’t offering the cranberry white chocolate latte in the United States in 2024, you now have what you need to recreate the drink yourself at home.
And whether it’s Christmas or the 4th of July, the cranberry white chocolate latte is a tasty treat that’s fun to make at any time of the year!
If you enjoyed this post, check out my other Starbucks copycat recipes!
- Copycat Elphaba’s Cold Brew: A Deliciously Wicked Recipe!
- How to Make the Iced Apple Crisp Nondairy Cream Chai at Home
- How to Make a Refreshing Copycat Chocolate Cream Cold Brew
- Should You Try Putting Olive Oil in Coffee?
- How to Make a Copycat Starbucks Caramel Brulee Latte
- How to Make an Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte
- How to Make a Copycat Iced Apple Crisp Shaken Espresso
- How to Make a Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew with Caramel
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