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Copycat Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha Recipe

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Espresso is beautifully complemented by smooth and creamy white chocolate to create an indulgent white chocolate mocha that's perfect for a cold winter's day – and it's ready in 5 minutes! This easy copycat recipe Starbucks white chocolate mocha recipe will save you money and let you stay inside in your pajamas.

White chocolate mocha topped with whipped cream and white chocolate syrup in a clear mug on top of a wooden platter

Stephanie said: “Turned out tasting great! Used your measurements with the ingredients & it turned out tasting exactly like the Starbucks drink without spending the money. Thank you for the recipe!⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I'm always looking for ways to save money. And in saving money, that means saying bye-bye to Starbucks drinks. If you feel the same way, I've got you!

This copycat Starbucks white chocolate mocha recipe is simple to make with any dairy or non-dairy milk and includes instructions with storebought white chocolate sauce as well as making your own.

Make a Starbucks white chocolate mocha at home

Let me tell you why making your own coffee is way better than going to Starbucks:

  • You save money on your morning coffee
  • You know exactly what's going into your drink at home
  • If you have to walk/drive/commute to a Starbucks, you're saving yourself time not making that trip
  • You don't have anyone handing you a cup that has your name wildly and hilariously wrong written on it
  • And it gives you an opportunity to try your hand at another coffee recipe!
Close up shot of a white chocolate mocha topped with whipped cream and white chocolate syrup in a clear mug

My standard Starbucks coffee drink order used to be a Venti Skinny Vanilla Latte, but on occasion, I get a killer white chocolate craving and I splurge on the extra calories found in their White Chocolate Mocha.

It's so creamy, white chocolate-y, and just plain delicious. It's a treat, and definitely not something I would get every day.

Honestly, I almost treat it like it's my dessert for the day over being my coffee. I think the whipped cream is really what does it for me.

What is in a white chocolate mocha?

  • Milk – Or non-dairy milk of choice. Cashew milk works great, for the record!
  • White chocolate syrupTorani's White Chocolate Sauce is perfection, but you could try making your own with this recipe from Mom Makes Dinner.
  • Espresso – A “double shot” from your espresso maker is ideal, but you could also use extra strong brewed coffee if you don't have espresso.
  • Whipped cream – Totally optional, but… is it really? ;) Try my mascarpone whipped cream, or try the homemade whipped cream recipe below.

How to make a white chocolate mocha

You'll need:

  • The ingredients above (milk, white chocolate syrup, espresso)
  • A mug
  • A way to froth the milk and white chocolate sauce together

We have an espresso machine (aff link) that I can use the steam wand for, but you can also use a little milk frothing wand (aff link), or an electric milk frother (aff link) –  whatever works for you. You'll pick one of the methods below to start:

Option 1) Making it in a small saucepan

Combine milk and white chocolate sauce and heat over low heat, whisking occasionally, until bubbles start to form along the top sides of the mixture.

Option 2) Making it with a milk frother

Combine milk and white chocolate sauce and heat according to the frother's instructions. 

Option 3) Make it using an espresso machine steam wand

In the milk pitcher that came with your espresso machine, heat milk with the steam wand until the mug is hot to the touch (test with the palm of your hand). Add white chocolate sauce to the steamed milk and whisk to combine.

Brew your espresso

From here, you'll brew your espresso in your preferred manner, pour the milk mixture into your mug, then pour in your brewed espresso. You can also use strong brewed coffee if you need to.

Top with whipped cream and drizzle with more white chocolate sauce, if desired.

If you're in the market for an espresso maker, we've had a Breville Barista Pro for years and we LOVE it.

What kind of milk should I use in a white chocolate mocha?

Personally, I love the flavor that cashew milk brings and the way the taste complements the white chocolate. But really, you can use whatever dairy or non-dairy milk you prefer.

Other options include whole milk, 2% milk, almond milk, oat milk, macadamia milk, and hemp milk. FWIW, I like pretty much anything made by Elmhurst 1925.

Torani white chocolate sauce

Like I said – I don't treat myself to this often, but when I do I adore using the storebought Torani White Chocolate Sauce (aff link) – it's thick and so flavorful!

Because it's so concentrated, you don't need to use much for each serving which is always a good thing because the bottle will last you quite a while.

I will warn you though – it's extremely tempting to just squeeze the bottle directly into your mouth. Try really, really hard not to do it. 

Easy homemade white chocolate sauce recipe

If you don't have any Torani white chocolate sauce (aff link), you can make your own! It takes me all of 5 minutes to throw this together, and I feel pretty good about the time and money I’m saving making my own.

Chopped white chocolate on a cutting board

Step 1: You'll need chopped high-quality white chocolate bars (I don't recommend using white chocolate chips).

Heavy cream in a small saucepan

Step 2: In a small pot over low heat on the stove, heat heavy cream until it is bubbling around the edges of the saucepan.

Chopped white chocolate, butter and heavy cream in a small saucepan

Step 3: Remove from heat and use a whisk to stir in white chocolate and butter until combined and smooth.

A whisk lifting white chocolate sauce out of a small saucepan

Tada! Transfer to a heat-proof container and store in the fridge to cool.

White chocolate mocha with whipped cream and white chocolate syrup in a clear mug

How to make your own whipped cream

We don't always have whipped cream in the house since I greatly prefer making my own. My go-to is my mascarpone whipped cream recipe because it is stabilized and holds its shape, but you can also make your own classic whipped cream using this simple recipe:

  • 1/2 cup cold heavy cream or heavy whipping cream
  • 1 Tablespoons confectioners’ sugar or granulated sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  1. Using a hand mixer, whip the heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla extract on medium-high speed until medium peaks form.
  2. Transfer to a piping bag for topping your drinks, or spoon it on top. Cover the rest in an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 24 hours.

How do I make an iced white mocha?

Lucky for you, I have a recipe post dedicated to exactly that!

Check out my recipe for a copycat Starbucks iced white chocolate mocha.

Serving Suggestions

FAQs

How do you make whipped cream like Starbucks makes it?

If you have a whipped cream canister/dispenser, you can just add the ingredients for typical whipped cream into the container and dispense it like they do at Starbucks.

What is the difference between white mocha and mocha?

“Mocha” means chocolate and coffee together in a drink. So a “white mocha” uses white chocolate sauce instead of chocolate sauce.

How many calories are in a white chocolate mocha?

The recipe I came up with ends up having fewer calories than Starbucks – but not by a lot. Obviously, it can vary based on the kind of milk you use, the amount of whipped cream you use, and if you use more white chocolate sauce as a topping.

What kind of milk should I use in a white chocolate mocha?

Personally, I love the flavor that cashew milk brings and the way the taste complements the white chocolate. But really, you can use whatever dairy or non-dairy milk you prefer, such as whole milk, 2% milk, almond milk, oat milk, macadamia milk, and hemp milk.

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Copycat Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha Recipe

4.62 from 13 votes
Espresso is beautifully complemented by creamy, smooth white chocolate to create an indulgent white chocolate mocha that's perfect for a cold winter's day – and it's ready in 5 minutes! This Starbucks copycat white chocolate mocha recipe will save you money and let you stay inside in your pajamas.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 1 serving

Ingredients
 

Instructions

Start with one of these options:

  • Small saucepan:
    Combine milk and white chocolate sauce and heat over low heat, whisking occasionally, until bubbles start to form along the top sides of the mixture.
    8 ounces (226 ⅘ g) (1 cup) milk or non-dairy milk of choice
    2 Tablespoons Torani White Chocolate Sauce (aff link)*
  • Milk frother:
    Combine milk and white chocolate sauce and heat according to the frother's instructions. 
    8 ounces (226 ⅘ g) (1 cup) milk or non-dairy milk of choice
    2 Tablespoons Torani White Chocolate Sauce (aff link)*
  • Espresso machine (aff link) steam wand:
    In the milk pitcher that came with your espresso machine (aff link), heat milk with the steam wand until the mug is hot to the touch (test with the palm of your hand). Add white chocolate sauce and whisk to combine.
    8 ounces (226 ⅘ g) (1 cup) milk or non-dairy milk of choice
    2 Tablespoons Torani White Chocolate Sauce (aff link)*
  • Brew your espresso in your preferred manner.
    2 ounces (56 ⅔ g) espresso
  • Pour milk mixture into mug, then pour in your brewed espresso.
  • Top with whipped cream and drizzle with more white chocolate sauce, if desired. Serve immediately and enjoy!
    Whipped cream

Video

Notes

  • To heat your milk, you can use the steam wand of an espresso machine (aff link), use a milk frothing wand (aff link), or an electric milk frother (aff link).
  • For the espresso, start with whole beans and freshly grind them for the best flavor. Pre-ground espresso can also be used if necessary, but may not have the same bold flavor.
  • To make your own white chocolate sauce, see the recipe in the body of the post!
  • To make your own whipped cream:
    • 1/2 cup cold heavy cream or heavy whipping cream
    • 1 Tablespoons confectioners’ sugar or granulated sugar
    • 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    1. Using a hand mixer, whip the heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla extract on medium-high speed until medium peaks form.
    2. Transfer to a piping bag for topping your drinks, or spoon it on top. Cover the rest in an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 24 hours.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 498kcal | Carbohydrates: 71g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 145mg | Potassium: 2388mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 29g | Vitamin A: 376IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 395mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutrition Disclaimer

The provided nutrition information is generated by an automatic API and does not take variations across specific brands into account. This information is provided as a general guideline and should not be treated as official calculations. Learn more here.

Recipe created by Leslie Kiszka

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20 Comments

  1. I didn’t even try this recipe cuz I have a much better one of my own that taste just like Starbucks. Fontana white chocolate sauce, espresso, & steamed milk in my espresso machine! 4 pumps chocolate 2 shots espresso for a grande

    1. I’m glad you have a recipe you already like, but I’d like to encourage you not to put down recipes that you’ve never tried. There’s no rule that one recipe being delicious doesn’t mean another can’t be as well <3

  2. Coffee is life. I cannot start my day in the morning without a cup of coffee.

  3. 5 stars
    First try using the Starbucks expresso store bought, the Starbucks white chocolate mocha creamer, whole milk, & a tiny bit of sugar.( used the ingredients I already had, minus the store bought expresso) just to give it a try. Turned out tasting great! Used your measurements with the ingredients & it turned out tasting exactly like the Starbucks drink without spending the money. Thank you for the recipe!

  4. 5 stars
    It took me a while to find the syrup but I did and I made this over the weekend. Such a nice treat on a cold Sunday morning!

  5. 5 stars
    Thank you SO much for this recipe! White chocolate mocha is my favorite. Since I live in the sticks, the nearest Starbucks is 30 miles away. Ugh. I have played with this recipe a bit & actually prefer this version to the actual Starbucks recipe.
    *No espresso machine or milk frother? No problem, neither do I (and I have zero room for anymore kitchen gadgets). Just warm (microwave) the milk in a large mug. It semi-froths up on its own, although it doesn’t keep the froth, I use really strong coffee in place of the espresso. Perfect. Thanks again!

  6. I use the sugar free white chocolate syrup (2tbs) 1 cup half and half and 1/2 cup very strong coffee to make it low carb and its AMAZING ?

  7. Awesomeness in a cup! I can now make this anytime I want! I have been so disappointed that this is the one flavor that nobody sold. Now I don’t have to spend $5 a pop to get my white chocolate mocha latte! Thanks four the recipe guide. I modified to fit my taste and it’s perfect.

  8. Just thought I would point this out. Walmart Marketplace is now selling the Torani white chocolate sauce. You can find it in their coffee aisle. Was surprised to see it there and is planning to get one to make my own white chocolate mocha frappuccino!

  9. I’ve been trying to make these at home and have been using dark chocolate torani, because I can’t find the white chocolate at the grocery store I go to. I’ve resorted to melting white chocolate every morning. where do you get this white chocolate sauce?!

    1. Oh my goodness – that’s dedication! I found it last year at my local grocery store as part of a Torani holiday set (white chocolate, caramel and peppermint). I’m not sure where you live, but if you have a World Market nearby I usually see it there. Good luck!