Another year has gone by without a vegan update to the iconic Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL). It exists in the United Kingdom and some European countries (ahem, so we know it’s possible), but the American arm of this international coffee chain has yet to adopt the dairy-free pumpkin spice sauce. In the meantime, you can still create some semblance of fall cozy by ordering one of these 12 autumnal, vegan Starbucks fall drinks.
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Is Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte vegan yet?
It’s been 21 years since Starbucks introduced its seasonal Pumpkin Spice Latte and changed fall drinks and snacks forever. Don’t believe us? Check out our guide to vegan pumpkin spice products. It’s practically everywhere—except for Starbucks.
Sure, you can get a vegan PSL in the UK, where Starbucks doesn’t even charge for dairy-free milk anymore. But here in the US, more than two decades after its debut, the PSL sauce still contains dairy. It’s fine. We’ll be patient.
Starbucks
Thankfully, Starbucks’ other fall beverages are usually made vegan with just one or two modifications and you can choose oat, almond, soy, or coconut milk instead of cow’s.
Vegan by default seasonal drinks are also becoming a reoccurring thing on the coffee chain’s menu. The summery Dragon Drink is shaken with coconut milk, so you don’t even have to ask for a modification. The Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso—which made this list—is also vegan by default. Check out our general guide to ordering vegan drinks at Starbucks for more options.
The essential guide to Starbucks vegan fall drinks
Here are the autumnal, dairy-free concoctions that you can order now.
1Iced Honey Apple Almondmilk Flat White
Debuted just this year, the Iced Honey Apple Almondmilk Flat White might not be the first drink you consider when ordering at Starbucks. After all, it contains “honey” in the name—however, there’s good news. To make this drink vegan, ask your barista to omit honey. You’re left with a delicious drink topped with a non-dairy apple crisp cream cold foam.
Barista tip: Stick to the default, non-dairy milk here. This goes for all of the non-dairy drinks.
2Iced Caramel Apple Cream Latte
This drink is another new fall launch from Starbucks. Make this vegan by simply requesting your favorite plant milk and swapping the salted caramel cream cold foam for the non-dairy cold foam or omitting altogether.
Barista tip: Double the apple flavor by requesting the non-dairy apple crisp cream cold foam used in the Iced Honey Apple Almondmilk Flat White.
Starbucks
3 Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
Notice an apple trend? This apple-pie flavored drink made its debut just last year. It’s made with the chain’s Blonde espresso, apple-flavored brown sugar syrup, and a splash of oat milk. This iced drink brings together the best of fall and summer, so you can enjoy a taste of autumn as you say goodbye to beach days and ease into a new season.
Barista tip: Whether you prefer soy, almond, or coconut milk, you’ll want to stick with oat milk when ordering this new fall bev, as it compliments Starbucks’ Blonde Espresso the best.
Starbucks
4 Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato (hot or iced)
When it comes to vegan fall drinks (without modifications, that is), Starbucks is leaning into apples heavily. This drink is a returning concoction from 2021’s fall menu launch. In 2022, the chain made the oat milk-based version the default beverage on the menu. This seasonal latte features flavors of apple, cinnamon, oats, and brown sugar with the coffee chain’s Blonde Espresso. It’s all topped with a spiced apple drizzle.
Barista tip: For an extra boost of autumnal flavors, ask for extra drizzle.
5Apple Crisp Oatmilk Frappuccino
If you prefer to get your caffeine fix in the form of a slushie, opt for the Apple Crisp Oatmilk Frappuccino. It’s perfect for the early fall days, when the summer heat still lingers. Just remember, order without the whip as it contains dairy.
Barista tip: Keep an eye out for the launch of Oatly whipped cream at Starbucks. Scheduled for earlier this year, there has been a minor delay.
6
Cinnamon Dolce Latte (hot or iced)
This item never leaves the menu, but the warming cinnamon spices beckon feelings of fall. Easily transform this drink into a vegan-friendly option by swapping in your favorite plant milk and asking for no whipped cream or cinnamon dolce topping (it contains dairy).
Barista tip: Feeling the weather effects of global warming? Order this over ice or as a blended Frappuccino.
Starbucks
7Iced Hazelnut Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
Hazelnuts are a bit more wintery than fall, but if you’re one of those people who start playing Christmas music in September, ring in the season early with this comforting drink. It’s made with the chain’s Blonde Espresso roast, hazelnut syrup, and oat milk by default.
Barista tip: Hazelnut syrup is available year round, so feel free to ask for pumps of this sweet syrup in a drink of your choosing for a fall (or winter) flavor boost any time of year.
8 Caramel Macchiato (hot or iced)
This classic may be on the Starbucks menu all year round, but its rich, caramelly flavor just screams “fall” to us. Make it vegan in two steps: first, swap the dairy milk with our personal recommendations, oat or soy milk, both of which have a creamy texture that complements the sweetness of the caramel. Next, ask for it without the drizzle of caramel sauce topping. Unfortunately, it contains butter and heavy cream.
Barista tip: Order it with half caramel syrup and half toffee nut syrup for something that tastes like a candy bar. Remember: the caramel syrup is vegan, the caramel sauce is not.
@sasha_vegan_eats/Instagram
9 Flavored Mocha (or hot chocolate)
Gussy up a basic caffeinated hot chocolate (that’s what a mocha is) with the flavors of fall. Ask for a (insert your favorite dairy-free milk here) mocha with either hazelnut, cinnamon dolce, caramel, or toffee nut syrup, and hold the whip.
Barista tip: Skip the White Chocolate Mocha—it’s made with white chocolate sauce that contains dairy.
10 Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
This chilled beverage was introduced during the summer of 2021, but anything with brown sugar and cinnamon deserves to be included on a fall menu. This richly sweet and creamy drink is vegan as-is and is topped with cinnamon, which makes it taste like a sweet, sugary baked good at a fall farmer’s market. It doesn’t get any better than that.
Barista tip: A grande comes with four pumps of brown sugar syrup, so ask for half of that if you’re in need of something less cloying in flavor.
@spicyvegan_/Instagram
11 Butterbeer Latte
Brought to you by our VegNews resident Starbucks barista—aka Editorial Director Richard Bowie—here’s how to hack your way to Hogwarts: order a tall soy latte with one pump each of caramel, toffee nut, and cinnamon dolce syrup plus extra foam and sea salt topping. The result is a delightful potion even Snape would award points to.
Barista tip: This beverage is best served hot. If you want an iced drink, save the butterbeer for another time.
12Nutmeg London Fog Tea Latte
Trick out your typical tea latte by asking your barista to top your drink with a sprinkle of nutmeg. The warm spice will bring out the vanilla flavors of this mixed drink and add a layer of warm fuzzies to your morning.
Barista tip: This tastes exceptional with oat milk.
For now, these are the official vegan fall drinks that you can get at Starbucks, with a couple of our favorite custom orders thrown into the mix. We’re still holding out for that dairy-free PSL.
For more vegan ordering guides, read:
Tanya Flink is a Digital Editor at VegNews as well as a writer and runner living in Orange County, CA.
