It’s that time of year! Starbucks is finally releasing their Christmas menu on November 8th. They are adding 8 new drinks and 5 bakery items.

The standout drinks include the return of the iconic Peppermint Mocha, along with the Caramel Brûlée Latte, which has a sweet, buttery twist perfect for winter days. The Chestnut Praline Latte is also back, bringing a cozy, nutty flavor to the mix. Starbucks is also introducing new holiday pastries, including a rich and flaky Cinnamon Swirl Brioche. Whether you’re in the mood for a comforting classic or something new, the menu has plenty to make your season a little brighter.

What I’m looking forward to trying are their Penguin Cookie and Snowman Cakepop. Last year, they had the Snowman Cookie and Reindeer Cakepop. I loved them both and mostly got the Snowman Cookie each time I went.

After visiting a couple of times, I tried most of the new items, except for those involving coffee. I did try the new sweets, and I would approve of both—they were on par with last year’s items. However, I’d probably prefer last year’s offerings simply because they had more chocolate, and that’s not my favorite. As for the drinks, I tried the Iced Gingerbread Oat Chai, Holiday Cold Foams, and New Cran-Merry Orange Refreshers. I’m not the biggest fan of most of these flavors, but they all turned out pretty good. I would probably get the Cold Foams again, but I’m not sure about any of the other drinks.

I interviewed Alyssa Belloso last week. I tried two of the drinks and the cookie. Overall, I liked them all, but the best drink I’ve tried so far is the Sugar Cookie Mocha. The food they offer is also pretty good, but I mostly go to Starbucks for their drinks, so I don’t always get their food.

I’m excited to see what they come up with for the upcoming holidays!