I’ll be perfectly honest: My first thought upon hearing that Starbucks had created a fruitcake-flavored Frappuccino was a somewhat incredulous, “But… what’s in a Fruitcake Frappuccino?” I mean, when you think of the many, many things that might lend their flavor profile to a frosty Frapp, fruitcake is… shall we say, not at the top of the list. But I’ve gotta say — after reading up a bit about this new holiday menu offering, I’m intrigued.
The Starbucks Fruitcake Frappuccino debuts on Dec. 15 (that’s today!) at participating locations across the United States and Canada. A 12-ounce Tall will set you back somewhere between $4.25 and $4.95, depending on where you live; prices always vary by market. Alas, though, the Fruitcake Frapp will be as fleeting as the holiday season itself — you’ve only got through Dec. 18 to give it a shot if you, like me, find the idea strangely fascinating.
Fruitcake is frequently the butt of many a holiday joke, but maybe it’s time to rethink the dessert a bit. After all, it’s been around for simply ages; according to Smithsonian Magazine, something resembling it even existed in ancient Rome. That kind of staying power is impressive, to say the least.
So, hey, why not lead the charge with with a fruitcake-flavored Frapp? Here’s what’s in Starbucks’ take on this holiday classic:
Hazelnut Creme Frappuccino
All fancy Frappuccinos must begin with a simple Frappuccino base, and for the Fruitcake Frapp, it’s a hazelnut-flavored one. I must say, I find it fascinating how Hazelnut Frappuccinos taste so incredibly cake-like; the Birthday Cake Frappuccino also uses the flavor as its base, with a couple of pumps of hazelnut syrup getting added to a Vanilla Bean Creme Frapp. Oh, and good news for the coffee abstainers in the crowd: There’s no caffeine in this one.
Dried Fruit
You can’t have a fruitcake without the fruit. In this case, it’s blended up into the Frapp — so no, you likely won’t be encountering chunks of dried fruit throughout the drink. Good news for those of us who have weird quirks when it comes to mouthfeel.
Cinnamon
Along with the fruit, the cinnamon is blended up in the Hazelnut Frapp base. Also, cinnamon is the best. Just sayin’.
Whipped Cream
I mean, yes, you could order it without the whip on top… but why would you do that to yourself?
“Caramel Dots”
I’ll admit that I’m not totally sure what caramel dots are, but they sound delicious even so. You’ll find these intriguing little guys sprinkled across the top of your Frapp.
A Dusting Of Matcha
Along with the caramel dots, matcha — green tea powder — adorns the top of this festive Frapp. It — like everything else in this drink — sounds somewhat unexpected, but trust me: Matcha is good with everything.
The Fruitcake Frappuccino will be available from Dec. 15 through the weekend at participating locations in the United States and Canada. Act fast if you want one!
