The Starbucks Secret Menu Drink That's Inspired By A Classic Fall Treat

Few things usher in fall's arrival like warm donuts and crisp cider, which always seem to hit the spot amid the chillier weather. Fans of Starbucks are used to headliners like the pumpkin spice latte each fall, but a secret menu Cider Donut drink combines the best seasonal flavors and makes you feel like you're enjoying an afternoon at your local orchard.

Starbucks' fruity Cider Donut drink attempts to replicate the flavors of a cider donut in a cup. It starts with an Iced Chaider to create a fruity base or a chai latte as an option for those who want to try it warm — albeit with a milky base. The rest of the drink depends on what additions a specific Starbucks location has on hand. To round out the cider and donut flavors, ask for apple brown sugar syrup or brown sugar syrup and cinnamon dolce syrup, which will give the drink a cinnamon-sugar donut-like taste. 

A little bit of caramel syrup can enhance the flavor as well. To give the drink the mouthfeel of a freshly made rich donut, ordering whole milk or oat milk (for the warm version) is recommended and then topping it off with whipped cream (or cold foam) and sprinkles of cinnamon and sugar.

An iced version of the Cider Donut drink is a little simpler. After starting with an Iced Chaider, ask for brown sugar syrup and cinnamon dolce syrup and have the whole thing shaken or stirred. The number of pumps for each syrup depends on the size of the drink: Two for tall drinks, three for grande and four for venti. Mixed together, it's a fruity, flavorful drink that tastes like fall on a crisp sunny day. 

Depending on your location, there's a good chance that your barista may not know exactly what the Cider Donut drink is if you ask for it by name. But with a few modifications, ordering it is easy in person and it can also be done on the app, where you can control how much or how little of a particular kind of syrup goes into the drink.

It may be true that the Cider Donut or Starbucks' other secret menu drinks don't have a permanent spot in the lineup just yet. But for those who love the tastes of fall, the familiar flavors of fruit, cinnamon, and caramel combined with warm milk or poured over ice bring all the deliciousness of the season right to the palm of your hand. It's certainly a fun way to switch up the usual pumpkin spice routine.