If you love Starbucks Christmas drinks, this one’s a must-try!
This easy homemade Eggnog Frappuccino tastes just like the Starbucks holiday favorite — you can make it in about three minutes with just a handful of ingredients. It’s creamy, festive, and full of rich coffee and sweet eggnog flavor, topped with whipped cream and a dusting of nutmeg.
This recipe was tested and fine-tuned with help from my daughter, who worked as a Starbucks barista for over ten years.
Together, we figured out the secret ingredient that gives homemade frappuccinos their signature creamy texture and coffeehouse taste. It’s a total game-changer for at-home frappuccinos, especially this festive eggnog coffee version.
So grab your blender (and maybe your red or green apron) and become your own barista for the day. Whip one up for yourself, or blend a few for a holiday party treat that’ll steal the show.
Why You’ll Love This Starbucks Eggnog Frappuccino
- Creamy and thick – thanks to the little bit of xanthan gum that keeps it smooth.
- Festive holiday drink – perfect for Christmas coffee lovers.
- Uses leftover eggnog – finally, another reason to open that carton.
- Non-alcoholic – great for the whole family or afternoon sipping.
- Budget-friendly – make it for a fraction of coffee shop prices.
- Only five ingredients – plus whipped cream and nutmeg for the topping.
- Quick and easy – blend everything together and it’s ready in minutes.
Want to enjoy eggnog and coffee in a cozy hot version? Try my Starbucks Eggnog Latte Copycat Recipe – it’s creamy, spiced, and perfect for mornings by the tree.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Eggnog
- Cold brew coffee concentrate or espresso
- Agave or another liquid sweetener
- Xanthan gum
- Ice cubes
- Whipped cream
- Freshly grated nutmeg (or ground nutmeg)
- Optional festive toppings like crushed candy cane
Ingredient Notes for the Best Eggnog Frappuccino
Eggnog – Use a carton of non-alcoholic eggnog. Any brand you like works.
Coffee – This is key. You want a lot of bold coffee flavor using as little liquid as possible. Starbucks cold brew concentrate is perfect, but you can also use a shot of espresso that’s cooled down.
Strong brewed coffee doesn’t cut it because it takes too much liquid to get enough flavor, and then your frappuccino won’t blend up thick.
Sweetener – I use agave syrup because it’s what I usually have on hand and it doesn’t add any extra flavor. Feel free to use simple syrup or your favorite sweetener.
Xanthan Gum – The secret to that real Starbucks texture. It keeps the frappuccino smooth and prevents separation. You only need a tiny bit, but it makes a big difference.
Look for it in the baking aisle near the flour and sugar. (The cheapest bag I found was at Walmart.)
Love Starbucks-Style Frappuccinos? Try my Chocolate Covered Strawberry Frappuccino or Chai Frappuccino next. Both use this same secret ingredient for that perfectly smooth, coffeehouse-style texture.
Ice – Use ice cubes, not crushed ice. A Starbucks grande uses about two cups of cubes. Crushed ice packs too tightly and melts faster, which makes the drink watery.
Toppings – Whipped cream and nutmeg are a must.
I always use freshly grated nutmeg because the flavor is so much better. Just grab a whole nutmeg and use the fine side of a box grater or a small plane grater.
Crushed candy cane sprinkled on top is a fun, festive touch too.
Another delicious way to enjoy eggnog: Try my Iced Eggnog Chai Latte. It combines cozy chai spices with creamy eggnog for a festive twist you can sip all holiday season.
How to Make a Starbucks Eggnog Frappuccino at Home
Detailed recipe and instructions are in recipe card at bottom of post.
- Add everything to the blender. Pour in the cold brew concentrate, eggnog, sweetener, xanthan gum, and ice cubes.
- Blend until smooth. Blend for at least one full minute. Even if it looks smooth sooner, keep going so all the ice breaks down and the xanthan gum can do its job.
- Serve it up. Pour the frappuccino into a glass, top with whipped cream, and dust with freshly grated nutmeg.
- Optional holiday touch. Add a sprinkle of crushed candy cane for an extra festive look.
Tips for the Perfect Homemade Frappuccino
Use concentrated coffee – The less liquid you use, the thicker your frappuccino will be. That’s why Starbucks uses a concentrated frappuccino roast or a cooled down shot of espresso.
Blend a full minute – Give it time to fully mix the xanthan gum and crush every bit of ice.
Stick to ice cubes – If you use crushed ice, start with less (about half) or the drink will turn watery.
Use chilled ingredients – The colder everything is, the thicker your drink stays. I like to chill my bottle of cold brew before using it.
Use a blender that can handle a lot of ice – A Vitamix blender does a fantastic job, but my Ninja Professional Blender worked just as well.
How Starbucks Measures a Frappuccino
If you’ve ever ordered a Frappuccino and watched the barista make it, you’ve probably noticed how little coffee actually goes in the cup. It’s surprising — but that’s the secret to its strong flavor without being too thin.
Here’s how it works:
- The barista fills the cup with Frappuccino roast to about the first bump in the cup.
- The remaining liquid ingredients go to the first black line.
- Everything gets dumped into the blender with a big scoop of ice, and that’s it.
When you make it at home, cold brew concentrate does the same job as that roast base.
To match Starbucks texture and flavor:
- Use cold brew concentrate instead of regular coffee.
- Add sweetener (since their base already includes it).
- Blend in a tiny pinch of xanthan gum for that signature creamy, thick consistency (also in their base).
Keep in mind, you don’t need to measure with an actual Starbucks cup (I give you the real life measurements in the recipe card below), but I wanted to demonstrate it to you.
More Holiday Drinks to Try
- Starbucks Eggnog Latte – Classic hot version combining espresso and eggnog.
- Starbucks Eggnog Chai Latte – A cozy mix of chai and eggnog.
- Iced Eggnog Chai Latte – No brewing needed, just stir and sip.
- Homemade Eggnog Coffee Creamer – Perfect for turning any cup of coffee into a holiday treat.
- Dutch Bros Christmas Morning Chai – Creamy and spicy with white chocolate.
- Iced Gingerbread Oat Milk Chai Latte – Non-dairy and full of holiday spice.
Eggnog Frappuccino (Starbucks Copycat)
Enjoy Starbucks holiday flavors at home with this easy Eggnog Frappuccino recipe. It’s rich, creamy, and full of festive eggnog and coffee flavor. Blend it up in minutes for a delicious Christmas drink that rivals Starbucks.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce cold brew coffee concentrate (or cooled espresso)
- 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon eggnog
- 2 cups ice cubes
- 2 teaspoons agave syrup (or another liquid sweetener)
- 1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum
- Whipped cream, for topping
- Freshly grated nutmeg, for garnish
Instructions
- Add cold brew concentrate, eggnog, sweetener, xanthan gum, and ice cubes to a blender.
- Blend for at least one full minute, until smooth and creamy.
- Pour into a glass and top with whipped cream and freshly grated nutmeg.
- Optional: sprinkle with crushed candy cane for a festive touch.
Notes
- Use concentrated coffee – The less liquid you use, the thicker your frappuccino will be. That’s why Starbucks uses a concentrated frappuccino roast.
- Blend a full minute – Give it time to fully mix the xanthan gum and crush every bit of ice.
- Stick to ice cubes – If you use crushed ice, start with less (about half) or the drink will turn watery.
- Use chilled ingredients – The colder everything is, the thicker your drink stays. I like to chill my bottle of cold brew before using it.
- Use a blender that can handle a lot of ice – A Vitamix blender does a fantastic job, but my Ninja Professional Blender worked just as well.
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