Before ordering: The recipes and family stories below come from our original 2021 list. Custom syrups, juices and toppings may not be available at your store. Ask about the exact ingredients before ordering; these are not guaranteed current menu combinations.
What to check when ordering Starbucks drinks for kids
Coffee, black or green tea, and chocolate can contribute caffeine. A crème base does not make a chocolate drink caffeine-free, and decaf coffee still contains caffeine. Check the drink and size in the Starbucks app or ask your barista, including any custom additions. For guidance about your child’s caffeine intake, speak with their health care professional. See the FDA’s caffeine guidance.
For a simpler order, ask whether plain milk or apple juice is available, choose a size first, and decide whether you want any syrup or whipped cream. For warm drinks, ask for a child-appropriate temperature and check it yourself before serving. The sweetened drinks below are treat ideas, not nutrition recommendations.
Looking for Starbucks drinks for kids? Start by asking about plain milk or water, then check the ingredients, sweetness and serving size of any treat you are considering. This guide preserves our original 2021 drink ideas, with caffeine corrections and notes to help you check an order today.
Now, I’m not going to lie, I have what you call a Starbucks Obsession.
My drink of choice is the Iced Churro Macchiato. Yeah, I invented it. Yeah, it’s on our Starbucks Secret Menu.
When this list was first written, Cinnamon Dolce Syrup shortages affected some of our favorite orders. Check your store’s available syrups before choosing a customization.
Thank the good Lord that my husband works there and can get a discount, or I’d be BROKE from my addiction!
There are plenty of times that I go without him, and then I end up paying full-price for my drinks. *Sad Face*
And, about half the time, my kids are in the car with me, and beg for their own drinks.
These were the drink ideas I collected for our family in 2021. Some contain caffeine, so use the notes below to decide which options to skip and what to ask before ordering.
15 Starbucks Drink Ideas from Our Original List
1) Lemonade — A definite kid favorite. The Starbucks lemonade can be a bit on the bitter side for kids, so just ask for 2 pumps of Classic Syrup added to the mix.
2) Strawberry Lemonade — This is just like the original, but it has a bit of Strawberry Puree added for sweetness and flavor. SO GOOD!!
3) Peach Lemonade — Again, this is the classic lemonade, with a bit of Peach Juice added. We always ask for 2 pumps of Classic Syrup in this one.
4) Flavored Iced Teas — Any of the above drinks can be mixed with Green or Black Tea. Black and green tea contain caffeine. Skip the tea addition if you are looking for an order without caffeine.
5) Chocolate Milk or Hot Chocolate — Ask what chocolate milk or hot chocolate options your store offers, and check the ingredients and size. Chocolate can contribute caffeine, so do not treat either as automatically caffeine-free. Extra syrup and whipped cream are optional.
6) Apple Juice or Steamed Apple Juice — Again, one is iced, one is hot. Get your steamed cider with Caramel Syrup or Cinnamon Dolce Syrup. YUM!!!
7) Blended Strawberry or Peach Lemonade — DELICIOUS! This is the lemonade recipe above, it’s just blended with ice. It gives it a smoothie consistency.
8) Flavored Steamer — This is just steamed milk, and you can add whatever syrup you want. Try it with Vanilla, Hazelnut, or Cinnamon Dolce. OMG!! Heaven.
9) Chocolate Cookie Crumble Crème Frappuccino — Our original list included this crème-based chocolate drink. Crème does not mean caffeine-free: chocolate can contribute caffeine even without a coffee base. Check the current nutrition information for your selected size.
10) Vanilla Bean Crème Frappuccino — This was one of the crème-based blended drinks on our original list. Check the current recipe and any additions before ordering; adding chocolate or coffee changes the caffeine question.
11) Pink Drink — The base of this drink is the Strawberry Açaí Refresher, mixed with a bit of Coconut Milk. They add those freeze-dried Strawberry Inclusions, and pour it over ice. Our original recipe uses a Refresher base. Do not assume a fruity drink is caffeine-free; check the current product information before choosing it for a child.
12) Dole Whip Crème Frappuccino — This historical custom recipe combined a Vanilla Bean Crème Frappuccino with 6 pumps of Pineapple-Ginger Syrup. We have not verified that syrup is available today, so do not expect to order the original combination without checking first.
13) Pink Flamingo Crème Frappuccino — This is another historical custom recipe. Show the ingredient list to your barista and ask which ingredients are available before ordering. You can find the recipe for the Pink Flamingo Frappuccino HERE.
14) Peach Iceberg Crème Frappuccino — This is another custom recipe from our archive; check the peach ingredient and other additions with your store. You can get the recipe for the Peach Iceberg Frappuccino HERE.
15) Polyjuice Potion Frappuccino — This historical custom recipe includes espresso. Decaf espresso still contains caffeine, so switching to decaf does not make this a caffeine-free children’s drink. You can get the recipe for the Polyjuice Potion Frappuccino HERE.
Choose an option that fits your family’s needs, check the ingredients with your store, and skip the coffee, tea and chocolate combinations if you are avoiding those sources of caffeine.
