It is beginning to look a latte like Christmas! November marks the beginning of the holiday season, and with it comes festive drinks and snacks from Starbucks and Dunkin’. These coffee shops are a great place to get a holiday fix with their various joyous flavors.
Dunkin’ holiday menu features drinks and snacks such as the Cookie Butter Cold Brew, Peppermint Mocha Latte, Toasted White Mocha and Cookie Butter Doughnut. Starbucks’ holiday menu spotlights their new Cran-Merry Orange refresher, Iced Gingerbread Latte, Toffee Bundt Cake and Cranberry Bliss Bar.
Starbucks’ Cookie Butter Cold Brew (8/10)
The Cookie Butter Cold Brew from Dunkin’ has taken over TikTok. Cold brew, coffee created from a cold water press, has a heavy coffee flavor. The cold brew is bitter but perfect for coffee fans. The cold foam is inspired by the Biscoff cookies and features notes of brown sugar, similar to a classic chocolate chip cookie.
Starbucks’ Cran-Merry Orange Refresher (5/10)
Starbucks’ newest addition to its menu is the Cran-Merry Orange Refresher. The drink is a bright red color with decorative cranberry inclusions. Although visibly appealing, it is unappetizing, as the first sip is similar to drinking a bottle of soap. The cranberry flavor is more prominent than the orange, yet both are overwhelmed by water. Starbucks also offers the drink made with lemonade or coconut milk which helps with the blandness but ultimately does not get rid of the soapy taste.
Dunkin’s Cookie Butter Doughnut (6/10)
Dunkin’s holiday donut is the Cookie Butter Doughnut. Although the filling is overly sweet, the cookies sprinkled on top provide a variety of textures with a crunch. The flavor of the doughnut is similar to a coffee cake with the strongest flavors being cinnamon, spice and brown sugar.
Starbucks’ Toffee Bundt Cake (4/10)
Starbucks has delicious baked goods such as the iced lemon loaf and a classic birthday cake pop. The toffee bundt cake, however, is not one of them. Starbucks’ Toffee Bundt Cake is their newest bakery item added to the holiday menu, and it did in fact disappoint. The stickiness of the cake makes the eating experience unenjoyable. The texture is heavily dense and moist, and the flavor is bland with an oddly bitter aftertaste.
Dunkin’s Iced Peppermint Mocha Signature Latte (9/10)
The perfect pair, chocolate and peppermint, are featured in Dunkin’s Iced Peppermint Mocha Signature Latte. The drink is like Christmas in a cup. The rich, chocolatey mocha base is nicely balanced with a refreshing peppermint flavor that is not too overpowering, making it perfect for customers who want a coffee drink without a strong coffee flavor.
Starbucks Iced Gingerbread Chai (7/10)
The Gingerbread Chai with the gingerbread cold foam is the perfect transformation from cookie to coffee. The taste is slightly artificial but the chai meshes perfectly with the gingerbread cold foam. It highlights the spices of a classic gingerbread cookie, with notes of cinnamon, nutmeg and brown sugar. Starbucks has a whole line of holiday cold foams, gingerbread, peppermint chocolate, sugar cookie, chestnut praline and caramel brulée.
Starbucks’ Cranberry Bliss Bar (10/10)
The Cranberry Bliss Bar from Starbucks was bliss indeed. The base is a blondie with white chocolate chips, cream cheese frosting and dried cranberries. It is the perfect dessert for a chilly winter day. The white chocolate chips add a variety in texture, the cranberries provide a subtle tartness and the cream cheese frosting is creamy, rich and not overly sweet.
Dunkin’s Toasted White Chocolate Mocha (8/10)
The Toasted White Chocolate Mocha from Dunkin is a top-tier drink. The drink is rich and creamy, resembling marshmallows and vanilla. The taste is enjoyable, but if you are looking for a strong coffee flavor, this is not it.
Starbucks’ Iced Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte (7/10)
Starbucks’ Iced Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte is an elevated vanilla coffee drink. Topped with red and green sprinkles, the drink is perfect if you want a holiday beverage that is not too sweet. The latte does not stand out compared to other holiday drink options.
Whether enjoying a cool iced coffee or cozying up with a hot chocolate, Dunkin’ and Starbucks are top-notch locations to begin holiday festivities. Dunkin’ won on the drinks front, whereas Starbucks’ snacks stood out with the Cranberry Bliss Bar.
