We have all heard about the Starbucks secret menu. And while there are some drinks we know baristas hate making, these 10 might be worth it.
Starbucks might be a coffee shop, but with their extended hours and ability to provide a meeting place for so many, it is so much more than the typical coffee destination. For some of us who rely on caffeine to get us through the morning, let alone the entire day, Starbucks is a beacon of glory when we need our fix.
And while there are plenty of options on the menu to keep all of us happy and satisfied, there is something about a secret menu that calls to our adventurous side. Over the years, there has been a lot of talk about items that are only part of this illustrious secret menu. And while we sometimes talk about these drinks in hushed whispers, social media has acted as a way to shine light on these beverages when Starbucks won’t.
Although some of these beverages are ridiculous and complicated, there are others that are actually quite easy to ask for. In fact, some of the secret menu items are easy enough that while they may not be on the menu, your barista won’t actually hate you for ordering something not on the boards.
Whether they have previously appeared on the menu as a limited edition drink or as a seasonal offering every few years, there are some drinks that live on the secret menu in infamy (we’re looking at you Unicorn Frappuccino). But, what if the drink you want is actually so easy to make that your barista won’t even care?
Luckily for us, we know of a few Starbucks secret menu items that are not only delicious, but also won’t leave your barista ready to banish you for life.
Cinderella Latte
Up first, we have to talk about the Cinderella Latte. As you might expect from the name, the Cinderella Latte was actually a Disney-inspired drink that originated in the parks.
We recently wrote about the Cinderella Latte and found ourselves curious about this interesting (and very seasonal) drink of choice. As Delish explained, this latte is a hybrid of a white mocha and a pumpkin spice latte, making it only available when the PSL is in stores.
While you can’t just walk up to the register and ask for a Cinderella Latte (your barista will look at you with disdain and confusion), knowing how to make this drink will make your life so much easier.
Heading up to the barista, you will want to first order a Pumpkin Spice Latte. (You can choose hot or iced with this drink, making it a very versatile secret menu item.) But, you are going to change out the pumps, so that half of them are Pumpkin Spice and half are White Mocha.
If you know how many pumps are in the drink you are ordering, then you can always customize the latte perfectly to get the ratio of pumpkin spice and white mocha you want to get a Cinderella Latte the way you want it.
IT Frappuccino
When the first half of the IT movie remake was released in 2017, Starbucks and their fans honored the film with its own Frappuccino. And now that IT: Chapter 2 has made it into theaters, it makes sense that the frozen beverage would be making a comeback, even if it’s only with the help of secret menu lovers.
As Delish pointed out recently, this drink is inspired by Pennywise himself. And while it may not be on official menus at this time, it is all over social media. The IT Frappuccino is white and red, thanks to the use of vanilla and strawberries, making it a perfect representation of the horror movie.
Once again, we are talking about a super simple drink that your barista really won’t hate you for (hopefully). Just remember, not to order this as the IT Frappuccino, because they won’t have a clue what you are talking about.
Instead, in order to get this drink, you will simply order a vanilla bean Frappuccino and have strawberry puree added on top. The red from the strawberry will drip down into the vanilla bean base and give you the bloody effect that truly makes this an IT inspired drink.
Warm Sugar Cookie
If you are looking to jazz up your hot chocolate, while also getting a taste of home, then you will definitely want to give the Warm Sugar Cookie a try. While you may not think of chocolate when it comes sugar cookies, with this particular hot drink, you can’t help but be transported a bakery.
As far as secret menu items go, this one is not only very easy, but also comforting. Like anything else, it is about knowing what to order and how to order it. And while it might seem hard to mess up hot chocolate, it has been known to happen.
In order to get your hands on the Warm Sugar Cookie, you will start out by ordering a White Mocha Hot Chocolate. From there, you will ask for both vanilla and hazelnut syrup to be added to the hot chocolate. To get the right flavor, you will likely want to go one for one, meaning if you order a Grande, you would ask for two pumps each of the hazelnut and vanilla syrups. When going with a Venti, make it three pumps each.
Finally, you can’t have a sugar cookie without the sugar, so once you get your drink, you will want to add raw sugar to the top.
If you are worried about how sweet the drink will end up being, you can alter the pumps to your preference, but in order to get the flavor of a warm sugar cookie, make sure to keep the pumps even (remember the one to one ratio).
London Fog
Tea lovers looking for their own secret menu item from Starbucks, have no fear as the London Fog is here for you. Not only do we love how mysterious this name seems, but the fact that it uses Earl Grey tea makes it all the more fitting for this special drink.
With this drink you are getting a classier beverage than most and we are perfectly okay with that. Plus, your barista probably won’t hate you for this one either.
In order to get a London Fog made, you will first order an Earl Grey tea. But rather than that being the end of things, you will also add in caramel and vanilla syrups. Depending on the size, you may want to decide how many pumps works for you, but we have seen two pumps of each being recommended.
Once you have your tea, you will want to let the tea bag steep for minute, just like you normally would. Then stir it up and enjoy the way you normally would, but knowing that your tea was given an upgrade.
The Neverland Sunset
Turning back to our love of Disney, we have to once again give credit to the Starbucks locations in the parks, as their creative ideas give us some of the best secret menu offerings. Not only are the names amazing and perfect for a nostalgic feeling, but for many of the drinks, they are as easy as asking for a splash of this and pump of that.
For lemonade lovers, the Neverland Sunset is a great way to get the freshness of the citrusy drink, with a hint of peach and tea. And lucky for us, the Double Dose of Disney Instagram account has us covered with instructions on how to make this refreshing drink.
To snag yourself a Neverland Sunset, you are going to ask for an iced lemonade with peach juice and a splash of passion tea added. And that’s it!
Your drink gives you the perfect hues of a sunset on Neverland, while also being easy to make and of course super delicious. Now, if only we could actually get ourselves over to Neverland to indulge.
The Dr. Facilier Elixir
Once again, we have to give our love and affection to the Starbucks in Disneyland, as the Market House has created another must try offering with a Disney twist. Although these drinks are obviously limited edition menu items in the park, once you leave the magic of Disney, these items are relegated to the secret menu.
Luckily, if we know what it takes to make the unique concoctions, we can still get our hands on these Disney inspired beverages. In this case, we are talking about a rather unique blend, which makes sense considering which character inspired this particular beverage of choice.
Thanks to the Princess and the Frog, we get a villainous drink that is a great fall choice, but also works all year long.
According to the Magical Day Project Instagram, in order to get the Dr. Facilier Elixir, you want to order a chai tea with lemonade and then ask for a splash of passion fruit tea. Not only is this easy enough to make happen, but you get a drink that has a hint of zing and warmness thanks to the chai.
Honestly, this is one of those drinks that really does feel and look like fall. And for that reason alone, it is a must have secret menu item.
Butterbeer Frappuccino
If you love all things Harry Potter, then you know you want to try a Butterbeer for yourself. With the help of this secret menu item, Starbucks is letting you transport yourself to Hogsmeade and we can’t really ask for more than that.
While you may not be able to have the joy of asking for a Butterbeer, at least you can get the taste and that’s just as good (if not better).
For this one, the secret menu website suggests order a creme based Frappuccino and while that is easy enough to do, if you don’t want to worry about getting the right one, I have a suggestion (you can choose to go with mine or have some fun with it).
When ordering this Frappuccino from Starbucks, I typically ask for a Vanilla Bean Creme Frappuccino. Then to transform it into the Butterbeer, I ask for three pumps of the toffee nut syrup and three pumps of the caramel syrup. I also ask for Caramel Drizzle on top.
While this is typically the measurement for a Grande, I usually ask for this in a Venti size because otherwise it is a bit too sweet for me. You can always ask for more or less pumps depending on the sweetness levels you like.
Peanut Butter Cup Frappuccino
When it comes to perfect pairings, we have to give chocolate and peanut butter its due. After all, we think peanut butter cups are the ultimate treat, which is why if we can get that flavor in a drink, we are all for it.
While Starbucks does not actually carry peanut butter flavors, that doesn’t mean you can’t get a drink that gives the impression of being peanut butter. Thanks to their toffee nut syrup, we can still craft a drink that gives us the joy of a peanut butter cup.
Unsurprisingly, to get a Peanut Butter Cup Frappuccino, you will want to first order a Mocha Frappuccino. From there, you will ask for four pumps of Toffee Nut Syrup if you are getting a Venti (there are three pumps in a Grande and two in a Tall). While I make my Frappuccinos with whole milk, you can use whatever milk you prefer.
To top it off, this Frappuccino is a winner when you add whipped cream with a chocolate drizzle. (And if you just so happen to have peanut butter cups in your bag, why not throw one or two on top for good measure.)
When it comes to the many combinations at Starbucks, there are some drinks that we can’t miss, even if they are on a Secret Menu. And while we don’t want the baristas to hate us for asking for a Cinderella Latte or a Butterbeer Frappuccino, we think not only knowing the recipes, but also how easy these really are, makes it so much easier to try something fun and different next time we head out for our daily caffeine fix.