Last week, Starbucks unveiled this year’s “red cups.” There is always excitement around the cups. Some people consider them to be a sign of the holiday season. Some people debate whether or not they are Christmassy enough. Others say that they aren’t meant solely for Christmas but for everyone to enjoy. Our team is just excited about what’s in the cups.
We don’t have a problem with the design. We have a problem with the sugar content of the drinks they contain. Yes, the drinks are delicious. But, packed with carbs, they are hard — if not impossible — to fit into a low-carb lifestyle. And then there is the price tag! A Starbucks drink comes at a steep cost. We want to enjoy the flavors of the drinks that mark the season, but we don’t want to drink a red cup of sugar. Here are four versions you can make at home that cut out the carbs and let you savor the taste! We don’t advocate drinking calories as a rule, and these aren’t low in calories. But, if you’re yearning for Starbucks’ red cup drinks, these will satisfy you.
People might make fun of the pumpkin spice latte for being ubiquitous. But it’s so many people’s favorite for a reason! Usually, the drink contains no pumpkin, just the spices used in the pie, but this version uses a little of the squash. That gives it more pumpkin taste and some fiber. We love this fall favorite that tastes like a mix of pumpkin pie and coffee. A serving has 92 calories and three net carbs. Get the recipe.
The salted caramel mocha and its Frappuccino version are a fall favorite that some people wait for with anticipation. But, the Starbucks version of the Frappuccino has 400 calories and 55 grams of carbs! Some people love cold drinks all year round. If you are someone who loves salted caramel and chocolatey coffee, this drink is for you! It’s a near-perfect knockoff of the original, but a serving has 197.5 calories and three grams of carbs. Get the recipe.
For a lot of people, the peppermint mocha reigns supreme among Starbucks holiday drinks. We get it: the combination of mint, chocolate and coffee is wonderful! Mint is a festive flavor all on its own, and when you add it to mocha, it becomes a whole new delicious creation! The peppermint also makes the decadent drink slightly more palatable for people who want something sweet but want to stay grounded. This version keeps that amazing flavor while cutting all the carbs. A serving has 66 calories, 5.3 grams of carbs and three grams of fiber. Get the recipe.
We think two things about this drink. The first is that they missed a perfect pun by not calling it the crème bru-latte. The second is that, while brutally sweet, this is our favorite. There is debate about what drink people like most; this is our team’s pick. But, the original has 420 calories and 61 grams of carbs! That is crazy! We want a drink that tastes indulgent but won’t derail our health goals. This drink you can make at home has 133 calories and 10 grams of carbs. While that’s higher than our other drinks, it’s nothing compared to the one from the store. Get the recipe.
We hope these drinks will help you get into the holiday spirit. Grab your favorite red mug and enjoy them at home. Your blood sugar will thank you!
