Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha

Enjoy the perfect combination of sweet white chocolate and mocha when you make your own Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha, sometimes called the Iced White Chocolate Mocha, at home. Make the ultimate coffee experience right in your kitchen with this simple recipe.

 

Are you into coffee? Me too… As much as I hate to admit it, I need the pick-me-up, especially after having kids.

But during the hot summer months, a hot cup of Joe isn’t what I’m after. I need something more refreshing, and the best thing is an iced coffee or cold brew is at the top of my list.

Why You’ll Love This Iced Coffee Recipe

After you make this drink once and you won’t need to be convinced a second time.

• Easy– While this drink is a little more time consuming that simply brewing a cup of coffee, it is also easy to assemble as long as you have all of the ingredients on hand and aren’t making the chocolate sauce from scratch. The cold foam is optional.
• Variations– Albeit a simple recipe, there are many ways to customize to make it different everyday or just because you don’t have all of the ingredients on hand.
• Saves You Money- While we all love indulging in a Starbucks beverage, there is no denying that the get costly on a regular basis. Making these delicious drinks at home tastes exactly the same, but saves you oodles of money. If you drink one Starbucks per day, you are spending approximately $200 per month on just coffee. Your local Starbucks is rolling the dough.

What Do You Need to Make a White Chocolate Mocha?

The ingredient list is pretty short and can be made even if you don’t have a coffee maker! These simple ingredients make this homemade version.

• White chocolate sauce – The signature ingredient to this iced beverage is probably the only one I wouldn’t substitute, but regular old chocolate sauce can be used. I prefer the Ghirardelli white chocolate sauce or Torani and Hollander also make a delicious version. And of course, you can make homemade white chocolate sauce and just stash it in the fridge. You can also make your own smooth white chocolate sauce from white chocolate chips.
• Espresso or cold brew– The Starbucks version is made using 1-2 shots of espresso. If have an espresso machine, good for you, but the majority of us don’t. There are several ways to get your coffee fix listed below, but the condensed version is using the “strong coffee” on a Keurig, instant powdered espresso or cold brew. Using the Starbucks brand will make it even that much more like the real thing.
• Milk– The original recipe calls for whole milk. It is thick, luxurious and totally decadent. That said, feel free to chop down the calorie count with a reduced-fat or non-fat milk. Non-dairy options like oat milk, soy milk or almond milk are great too.
• Heavy whipping cream, Whole Milk & Vanilla Extract– These are the base for cold foam. This comes together pretty fast using an immersion blender. This step is optional, but will give you the authentic feeling of a real Starbucks coffee and make you feel extra fancy. If you are short on time, just give the cup a hefty spoonful of whipped cream and call it a day.
• Toppings– More chocolate sauce, caramel or a sprinkle of cinnamon- all are good choices.

How to Make a White Chocolate Mocha

There are a few steps, but after you’ve made this once you’ll see how easy it is.

1. Line the Glass. Drizzle the white chocolate in to the bottom of a large and tall glass.
2. Add Espresso & Milk. Pour in the espresso and milk into the cup, stir well.

3. Add Ice. Add crushed ice about 3/4 of the way full (enough to leave room for the cold foam topping).

4. Make Cold Foam Topping. In a separate bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, milk, and vanilla. Alternately, you can use a milk frother or immersion blender to infuse with a generous amount of air.
5. Garnish. Top your glass with your homemade vanilla cold foam and drizzle with caramel sauce or whipped cream.
6. Enjoy from the comfort of your own home. Please be mindful this is a copycat recipe- our best attempt at making this. We did not get it from a Starbucks employee, we just made it up.

Full, printable directions are below. A delicious white chocolate mocha without having to trek to the local coffee shop.

How to Make it Warm

This is one of those coffee drinks that tastes great hot or cold.

Instead of using cold ingredients, use warm milk and hot espresso. Milk can be heated in a small saucepan over low heat or just in the microwave. Top with cold foam or froth using a milk steamer. A sweet mocha latte perfect for the colder months or holiday season.

What is Espresso?

Espresso is a type of strong, full-bodied coffee beverage made from finely ground coffee beans that are brewed under pressure with hot water. It has a higher concentration of caffeine and a distinctive crema (foamy layer) on top.

Espresso is typically served in small shots, accompanied by a bit of sugar, cream, or both. Its intense flavor and smooth, velvety texture make it a popular favorite for coffee drinkers around the world.

How to Make Espresso Without a Machine

Listen, I wish I had one of those fancy built-in espresso maker with a whole coffee station, but I don’t. Here are a few ways to achieve the robust flavors of an Italian espresso without a machine.

• Strong Coffee Function – If you have a Keurig or something similar, then you have a little but that says “strong”. Make the smallest volume possible and use the “strong” button for something in the middle of a standard cup of coffee and a real espresso. Make sure it is strong black coffee, you’ll be adding in the sugar and cream later.
• Cold Brew– Cold isn’t just coffee, in fact, it is much stronger. Regular coffee is 1:16 to 1:20 parts coffee to water. Cold brew concentrate ranges from 1:4 to 1:8. It is literally a concentrated coffee drink and is much stronger with a higher caffeine content making it an excellent swap for espresso.
• Instant Espresso– The last option makes coffee connoisseurs cringe a bit, but is acceptable in a world where LIFE is present and you just need a fancy cup of coffee and few minutes to yourself. And that is instant powdered espresso. I always have some on hand in my pantry for coffee flavored desserts or to add to chocolate desserts (coffee bring out natural cocoa flavors).

White Chocolate Mocha Topping Ideas

This tasty iced coffee drink can be topped with the signature cold foam, but also a variety of other items. Feel free to leave the cold foam off and just give it a dollop of whipped cream instead or try one of these ideas. White chocolate fans might just want more white chocolate!

Questions About Your Coffee Drink

More Coffee Drink Recipes

• Thai Milk Tea
• Copycat Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino
• Irish Cream Cold Brew