20 Best Starbucks syrup flavors I use to switch up my coffee

Best Starbucks syrup flavors - Ranked for taste

Starbucks gives you plenty to play with, and these are the drink-and-syrup pairings I keep coming back to when I want my order to taste a little less ordinary or a little more interesting.

1. Brown Sugar Syrup

Brown sugar syrup has a caramelized flavor that feels deeper than regular caramel syrup, without hitting me as aggressively sweet.

I like it most in straightforward coffee drinks like iced coffee, cold brew, or plain brewed coffee, where that molasses-like note has room to show up.

The first time I ordered an Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaken Espresso, I expected a sugar bomb. What I got was much more interesting: a caramelized, slightly smoky note that worked really well with the oat milk, and I understood the hype after that.

2. Toasted Vanilla Syrup

Toasted vanilla is one of the newer Starbucks syrups I’ve tried, and I was curious whether it would feel too floral or too close to regular vanilla. The first sip of an Iced Toasted Vanilla Oat Milk Shaken Espresso made me think it had more going on than I expected.

Some people read it as a little floral or even perfume-like, but I like that it tastes less flat than standard vanilla syrup.

In fact, lavender latte lovers will adore the lighter floral vanilla taste.

I’d still taste the original drink first so you can see how toasted vanilla sits apart from regular vanilla syrup. I did that once, and the difference was easier to pick up later.

3. Sugar Cookie Syrup (Seasonal)

As the name suggests, this syrup is based on sugar cookies.

It has a buttery sweet flavoring that can blend well in any coffee drink, especially iced coffees and Frappuccinos.

Around winter, this one always feels especially cozy to me. I like it in cocoa or a Mocha Frappuccino when I want something that hints at sugar cookies without tipping the whole drink into dessert territory.

It also shows up in a lot of secret menu recipes, including the Warm Sugar Cookie made with white mocha hot chocolate, sugar cookie syrup, and hazelnut syrup.

4. Hazelnut Syrup

Who doesn’t love the flavor of hazelnut? This sweet, nutty flavor can complement many drinks, especially coffee and Starbucks hot chocolate drinks –Nutella, am I right?

The hazelnut syrup is one of the most versatile Starbucks syrups.

I’ve added hazelnut to hot cocoa more times than I can count, and a hazelnut latte can be a nice change when I want something simple but a little more polished than plain coffee.

It works well in Frappuccinos too, especially if I’m chasing that Nutella-like mocha flavor. I’ve even had it in chai, which sounds odd until you try it.

5. Cane Sugar Syrup

This Starbucks-flavored syrup is made from turbinado cane sugar, which is a minimally processed sugar.

This syrup tastes a little rawer than classics like caramel or vanilla. The flavor lands somewhere between brown sugar and caramel, but it stays less sweet than either one.

Cane sugar syrup is one of my favorite ways to sweeten my everyday orders like my morning latte or afternoon macchiato.

People often treat that as a healthier choice, but I wouldn’t read too much into the label.

In terms of chemical composition, it has sucrose, the same as other syrups. In other words, nutritionally speaking, it’s basically liquid sugar.

6. Vanilla Syrup

This syrup doesn’t need any fancy introduction. It’s probably the most popular and versatile syrup on the Starbucks menu.

Vanilla is the syrup most people already know, and it earns that spot.

I’ve used it for years in lattes, hot chocolate, and even iced tea when I want something simple and familiar rather than flashy. It also softens espresso without hiding it completely.

It also smells great with coffee, which is probably why it ends up in so many default orders.

7. Caramel Syrup

Are you obsessed with caramel like me? If so, the Starbucks caramel drink syrup is for you. This is one of the best Starbucks syrups, thanks to its delicious taste that can blend well in any type of beverage.

Caramel is a classic coffee combo for a reason. It never feels out of place.

I’ve been ordering Caramel Macchiatos since early in my coffee habit, so there’s a lot of comfort attached to the flavor for me. It got me through long study sessions more than once.

Even better, bottled Starbucks caramel syrup is also available for purchase.

I’ve also kept this one in mind for home use when I want something caramel-like without leaving the house.

8. Raspberry Syrup (Discontinued)

Hold onto your mugs because Starbucks raspberry syrup is slowly disappearing from many stores. Starbucks is planning to discontinue this beloved syrup flavor.

I get oddly attached to syrups I use often, so when one disappears from a menu, I notice it fast.

This is the kind of flavor I’m always happy to see on a menu again.

It can get sweet fast, but in the right drink it works nicely. I like it in iced tea when I want a fruity twist instead of honey or plain sugar.

9. Classic Syrup

This one probably does not need much explanation.

The classic syrup is one of the first Starbucks syrups introduced and is mainly used to sweeten any beverage on the Starbucks menu.

If you ask for something sweetened without being specific, this is often what gets added.

I usually reach for Classic when I’m too early in the day to think about the menu. A sweetened iced latte gets me moving faster than debating options before coffee.

10. Cinnamon Dolce Syrup

For a spiced-sweet syrup, cinnamon dolce is the one that comes to mind.

Its place on the menu makes sense once you taste how easy it is to use.

The cinnamon dolce syrup gives any Starbucks drink a spiced-sweet kick in just a few pumps. It is one of the quickest ways to make a latte feel less plain when I want something in the pumpkin-spice lane without ordering the same fall drink again.

That flavor profile makes sense to me as something Starbucks keeps around, even if I still wish Starbucks would do the same with apple brown sugar.

11. Chestnut Praline Syrup (Seasonal)

Chestnut praline is one of the seasonal syrups I look forward to most.

It tastes sweet, but not in the way that makes a drink feel like pure sugar.

No getting punched in the tastebuds with sweetness – just a perfect balance of nutty undertones and mellow sweetness.

The latte is the obvious winter order, but I also like adding chestnut praline to a Mocha Frappuccino or Cocoa when I want something that tastes a bit like liquid chocolate truffles .

It also keeps an Espresso Macchiato interesting when I want sweetness without turning the whole drink into a chocolate bomb.

12. Toffee Nut Syrup

The Starbucks toffee nut syrup is perfect for when I want something nutty with some brown sugar undertones.

Lately I’ve been adding toffee nut syrup to plain cold brew and iced coffee on library trips, and it gives those drinks a little more body than I expect from a simple sweetener. In summer, an iced toffee nut latte is one of my easier afternoon orders.

I used to hesitate with this one because I was never fully sure about the nut-extract question, so I stayed away from it for a while.

I only found out that there are no actual nuts in it after I recovered from my allergy – talk about a tough break!

13. Peppermint Syrup

Mint chocolate is one of those flavors that makes me think of Thin Mints immediately, so I always look forward to it when the season changes.

Ever since trying it in the Peppermint Mocha for the first time, it become an instant festive favorite for me.

I usually notice myself wanting it while I’m out shopping for holiday gifts, probably because it feels so tied to that time of year.

It also turns up in a lot of secret menu drinks, including the Peppermint Chocolate Chip Frappuccino and Holly Jolly Latte .

14. Irish Cream Syrup (Seasonal)

Are you looking for a flavored syrup that has a creamy, nutty with a hint of chocolate and vanilla flavor? Look no further because the Irish cream syrup is here.

The mint gives it a slight Irish cream impression, even though it is non-alcoholic.

Irish Cream is one of my regular winter choices, especially in a midday cold brew. On wet, cold days, I like it in hot chocolate too because it feels richer than plain peppermint without becoming too heavy.

15. Peach Syrup

For anyone who does not lean hard toward coffee, fruity Starbucks syrups like this Peach one can be an easy starting point.

Fruity. Fresh. Sweet. What more could you want?

I already like Starbucks’ loose leaf green tea, and peach lemonade is one of the combinations I keep coming back to. It also works well with their iced black tea.

I once tried it in an iced matcha and it was not quite for me, but I think flavored matcha fans could really enjoy that fruity-herbal combination.

I also like it in a Vanilla Bean Creme Frappuccino in summer when I want something that tastes a little like peaches and cream.

16. Mango Syrup

I’m a mango person year-round, but the craving gets stronger in summer, especially for mango syrup and the fruit itself.

It’s not too sweet and tastes like actual mango (no small feat for a fruity syrup).

The Mango Black Tea Lemonade gets me through hot days, and it still reminds me of making iced tea with my dad when I was younger.

I’ve found the Vanilla Bean Creme Frappuccino makes a good base if you want mango-parfait vibes in a cup.

17. Apple Brown Sugar Syrup (Seasonal)

The flavor of apple pie and caramel in one syrup? A match made in heaven.

This one is seasonal, so it only sticks around for part of the year, which is a shame because it really sets the tone for fall.

Don’t tell the PSL stans, but I often prefer it to the Pumpkin Spice syrup!

It makes me think of caramel apple pie and long walks when the leaves start changing. I also like it before apple picking because it has that crisp, baked-apple feeling without being heavy.

18. Pumpkin Spice Syrup (Seasonal)

Most people know this one by name.

Pumpkin spice is the syrup behind the PSL, which tells you why it gets so much attention.

Cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and pumpkin all show up, so it reads like fall in a cup.

This syrup has been setting the autumnal tone for over 20 years now – incredible!

My heart still leans toward apple brown sugar, but I usually get at least one PSL when late September arrives. I especially like it with oat milk because it leans into that cookie-and-spice feeling.

19. Honey Blend Syrup

Honey is my go-to sweetener for coffee and tea, so the honey blend was an easy one for me to like.

As you might have guessed, it’s made of honey with other ingredients. I love its sweet taste that avoids being fake or overpowering like other syrups.

I do not need anything fancy with it. It works well in black tea or a simple iced latte, and I end up ordering it more often than I probably should.

20. Funnel Cake Syrup (Seasonal)

Funnel cake syrup leans hard toward dessert-style drinks.

In a Frappuccino or latte, it reminds me of county fairs and the sticky sweetness of spun sugar. Every sip takes me right back there.

I only really get it once a year because it can feel a little too sweet, even for me.

Still, it is the kind of syrup I only see as a summer treat because it is seasonal.

Bonus: Sugar-Free Syrup Flavors

Starbucks does have a few sugar-free syrup options.

However, there are only two sugar-free versions: sugar-free vanilla syrup and sugar-free cinnamon dolce syrup.

I was disappointed when I looked at the sugar-free selection more closely, because it is pretty limited. I had also been paying more attention to my sugar intake, so the small number of choices stood out even more.

The sugar-free versions are close enough in flavor that I do not notice a huge gap, but the lineup still feels limited.

What are Starbucks flavor syrups used for?

Compared with a lot of other coffee shops, Starbucks gives you a huge amount to play with. It is the kind of menu that makes small experiments feel easy, whether you are building a secret menu drink or just revisiting an old favorite.

You can add syrup to plenty of drinks.

FAQs

What is original syrup at Starbucks?

The original Starbucks syrup is Classic, which is essentially turbinado cane sugar in liquid form.

Can you buy a bottle of syrup from Starbucks?

You can also buy bottles of syrup from Starbucks, though the flavors available can change.

Do Starbucks syrup pumps cost extra?

There is usually no extra cost for syrup pumps in drinks that already include syrup. If you add syrup to a drink that does not normally have it, there may be an added charge, but the amount can vary by store.

How much syrup is in one pump?

One pump is roughly 1 tablespoon.

Are Starbucks flavored syrups gluten-free?

If you need to avoid gluten, I’d check the current ingredient information for the specific syrup and store, especially seasonal flavors.

Add flavor to your drink today!

That’s my ranking of the Starbucks syrup lineup, from favorite to least favorite.

If nothing else, it should make the menu a little easier to navigate.

It’s the kind of list I come back to when I’m deciding what to try next.