Starbucks puts its holiday menu on sale Thursday, Nov. 5, adding a Tiramisu Velvet Latte, a Tiramisu Velvet Cold Brew and an Apple Pomegranate Refresher to the returning Peppermint Mocha, Caramel Brulée Latte, Sugar Cookie Latte and Gingerbread Chai, the company said Wednesday. Dunkin' got there a day earlier: its holiday drinks and new Donutcracker cups went on sale Wednesday, Nov. 4.
Neither chain listed prices. Starbucks' Red Cup Day, when a holiday drink purchase comes with a free reusable cup, is Nov. 17.
What's new at Starbucks
The tiramisu drinks share a new topping, Velvet Mascarpone Cold Foam. The latte, hot or iced, is Signature Espresso with milk and vanilla syrup under that foam and a dusting of cocoa. The cold brew version starts with Starbucks Cold Brew and is finished the same way.
The Apple Pomegranate Refresher has apple flavor and pomegranate-flavored popping pearls. Starbucks also lists a creamier Snowy Apple Drink made with coconutmilk and a lemonade version, and the Refresher can be ordered anywhere from caffeine-free to a higher-caffeine Energy Refresher.
Two returning flavors get new forms this year, an Iced Caramel Brulée Cream Chai and an Iced Sugar Cookie Cream Matcha, and the Gingerbread Chai comes iced with gingerbread cold foam. Five holiday cold foams can go on any cold coffee, iced tea or Refresher, and each can be made with added protein, about 15 grams extra in a grande. Most can be made nondairy, but the Velvet Mascarpone and Caramel Brulée foams cannot.
| New | Returning | |
|---|---|---|
| Drinks | Tiramisu Velvet Latte, Tiramisu Velvet Cold Brew, Apple Pomegranate Refresher, Iced Caramel Brulée Cream Chai, Iced Sugar Cookie Cream Matcha | Peppermint Mocha, Caramel Brulée Latte, Sugar Cookie Latte, Gingerbread Chai |
| Food | Braised Short Rib Grilled Cheese, Bearista Cake Pop, Turkey & Stuffing Sandwich (new recipe) | Snowman Cookie, Cranberry Bliss Bar, Sugar Plum Cheese Danish |
| Coffee | Thanksgiving Blend, Christmas Blend, Holiday Blend |
The Braised Short Rib Grilled Cheese adds braised short rib, caramelized onion jam and a little Dijon to a three-cheese sandwich on sourdough. The Turkey & Stuffing Sandwich now comes on a baguette baked with cranberries.
Cups and Red Cup Day
This year's to-go cups pair Starbucks green and red with retro colors such as mint and antique gold. The hot cups show trees and bows, and the cold cup has evergreen and red bows. For the first time there is also a holiday pup cup for dogs, at select stores while supplies last.
On Nov. 17, anyone who buys a handcrafted holiday drink gets a collectible reusable red cup, at participating stores while supplies last. Holiday merchandise goes on sale Nov. 5 as well. The Bearista glass cups have their own release dates, Nov. 10 and Dec. 1.
What Dunkin' brought back
Dunkin's holiday drinks bring back two flavors, according to its holiday announcement. Cookie Butter comes back in six drinks: a Cloud Latte, a Cloud Dunkalatte, a hot chocolate, a matcha, an iced oatmilk chai latte and a Spiced Cookie Iced Coffee. Toasted White Chocolate returns in a Cloud Latte, a Signature Latte, an Almond White Chocolate Shakin' Espresso and a Raspberry White Chocolate Matcha.
Cups and donut and Munchkins boxes also carry a new design, a donut-themed nutcracker Dunkin' calls the Donutcracker.
Dunkin' Rewards members can earn triple points once on a drink purchase on Nov. 4 or 5, and 100 bonus points on drinks ordered ahead on Mondays through Nov. 30. Customers who donate $1 or more to the Dunkin' Joy in Childhood Foundation from Nov. 4 to Nov. 30 get a sticker sheet.
