Copycat Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha Recipe

Name: Copycat Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 8 ounces (1 cup) milk or non-dairy milk of choice; 2 Tablespoons Torani White Chocolate Sauce* (plus more for topping, optional); 2 ounces espresso (a "double shot"); Whipped cream

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 copycat 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

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 syrup – Torani’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 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 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.

White chocolate syrup being poured on top of white chocolate mocha topped with whipped cream in a clear mug

Overhead shot of a white chocolate mocha topped with with whipped cream on a wooden platter with white chocolate squares

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 (I don’t recommend using white chocolate chips).

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

Using a hand mixer, whip the heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla extract on medium-high speed until medium peaks form.
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.

Side shot of a white chocolate mocha with whipped cream and white chocolate syrup in a clear mug

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

Sip on your mocha while you enjoy some baked egg bites
Indulge in your drink and a homemade cranberry bliss bar
This also pairs beautifully with a homemade vanilla bean scone

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.

After you’ve made this recipe, please consider coming back to share your experience with others by leaving a comment below with a star rating!