The Starbucks Latte Hack For Carrot Cake-Inspired Sips

Could your next iced latte taste like a piece of carrot cake? According to a TikTok user named Meghan, it can. In a video clip that now has nearly half a million views, a plastic Starbucks cup is filled with two pumps of chai mixture, followed by two pumps of Starbucks' toffee nut syrup, one generous pump of Starbucks' brown sugar syrup, and three blonde shots. The drink is then topped with oat milk and filled with ice. "I drink this almost daily," writes Megan. After trying the recipe for himself, Kitchn's associate food editor, Cory Fernandez, agreed, saying, "Overall, this drink was really tasty and had major carrot cake vibes."

While the viral trend is commonly seen mixed with ice, this unique flavor combination could just as easily be used to flavor hot drinks, and the creamy addition of foamed milk can add to a richer, more textured mouthfeel. Topped with whipped cream, you might just forget you're sipping — and not eating — a carrot cake treat.

If you can't be bothered directing your local Starbucks barista to try to replicate carrot cake with pumps of flavored syrups, order an actual piece of carrot cake. Or, try to create a similar carrot cake-like drink for yourself at home. Without needing to put together an actual cake to bake in the oven, you can enjoy the flavors of carrot cake, with minimal cleanup once your treat has been consumed.

Ninja Test Kitchen juices carrots, ginger, and pineapple before bringing the mixture to a slow simmer and adding steamed milk. This hot beverage can be served without caffeine or boosted with a shot or two of espresso. Topped with sprinkles of ground cinnamon or ginger, this drink could easily satisfy carrot cake cravings. Yet just as there are many different ways to make carrot cake, however, so too are there many variations on carrot cake served in drink form.

Mary's Channel makes carrot cake lattes with carrot juice, milk, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and maple syrup. The ingredients are whisked together, poured over ice, topped with espresso, and garnished with creamy foam. Heinen's uses coconut milk and dates to deliver a creamy recipe that offers delicately sweet notes, while Javy Coffee tops cups of poured lattes with whipped cream cheese for a chewier mouthfeel.

You have plenty of options if you're a carrot cake fan. Now you just need to decide which to try first.