Today is the day! After getting out and voting first thing, we stopped by our favorite neighborhood Starbucks and there.. low and behold… the Mother Ship…. Red Cup Day!
That alone just makes me happy. I don’t know what it is about those happy red cups but for me it marks the beginning of the holiday season and just puts me in the mood for cookie baking, snuggling by the fire and enjoying your family and friends. Then the really exciting news…. they also had SOME of the Holiday flavors available. Usually this happens on different days.. the red cups come in and then a few days to a couple of weeks later then get the special Holiday only flavors in. Today, election day BOTH things were ready to go! As of 2013 Red Cup Day is usually November 1st.
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I did a happy dance with the barristas, (my husband tried to hide and pretend he doesn’t know me) and I ordered my favorite Starbucks drink EVER! A Vente Gingerbread Latte’ WITH whip. The rest of the year I drink skinny everything.. but Gingerbread Latte’s are just a very special treat. You can order the Gingerbread Syrup here.
A couple of years ago Starbucks tried to mess with success and changed the Gingerbread Latte to a “Gingersnap” Latte which was just awful, with nasty chunks of ginger in it and the Holiday Starbucks season just wasn’t the same, but after I’m sure many including my own complaints to Starbucks HQ, they came to their senses and went back to what worked.. the REAL Gingerbread Latte’s.
I wouldn’t be adverse to them creating a sugarfree Gingerbread Latte syrup (Just in case you are reading this Mr. and/or Mrs. Starbucks Mothership) but either way I’ll be enjoying these until Red Cups and Gingerbread syrup run out sometime in January.
It looks like this year they have different designs on different sized cups and a representative from Starbucks send me the artwork here.
There are other Holiday Coffee flavors available this year including:
Chestnut Praline Latte (2014)– Espresso, steamed milk, and flavors of caramelized chestnuts and spices. Topped with whipped cream and spiced praline crumbs. (Confession time.. This is my new favorite.. I never thought anything would beat out Gingerbread but this one has and you can order the syrup here.. OH NO!)
Caramel Brulée Latte – Featuring a combination of espresso and steamed milk flavored with rich caramel sauce and topped with whipped cream and shimmery pieces of caramel topping. (now a regular flavor)
Gingerbread Latte – Enjoy the flavor of freshly baked gingerbread combined with freshly ground espresso and steamed milk. Classically topped with whipped cream and ground nutmeg.
Eggnog Latte – Savor Starbucks wildly popular interpretation of holiday eggnog. This rich espresso beverage is complemented with subtle holiday spices.
Still available for awhile are the :
Special Holiday Pastries
Cranberry Bliss® Bar – A holiday classic, this treat is back for the 13th year! Enjoy this seasonal treat chock full of dried cranberries and sweet goodness.
© Starbucks
Polar Bear Cookies – Cute and delicious, this holiday sugar cookie is sure to make you smile this holiday season.
Holiday Gingerbread – Nothing says the holidays like gingerbread! Indulge in this moist and delicious treat with intense flavor and topped with irresistible cream cheese icing. (Of course have this with the Gingerbread Latte!)
Ok, so now that your mouth is watering, go and hug and tip your favorite barrista at Starbucks.
Artwork was obtained through official channels at Starbucks and is copyrighted by them. Please do not use without permission.
Red Cup Day is followed closely by Starbucks ever famous Black Friday, Cyber Monday and 12 Days of Christmas Deals. Be sure to subscribe to the Clumsy Gourmet because I will post them as soon as I get the press release!
This post was originally from my Thyme in My Garden blog (my first one) in 2010. It has gotten so much attention I decided to update it a bit this year with the newest holiday latte flavors at my guilty obsession.. Starbucks!!