Life

Here’s When You Can Get Your Undead Hands On Starbucks’ Zombie Frappuccino

by Alli Hoff Kosik

Most of us have only recently recovered from both the sugar rush and the overwhelming joy that came with the Unicorn Frappuccino Starbucks debuted earlier this year. It was the pastel hit of sweet perfection of my dreams, and I'm only just now getting over it. The timing for that recovery, though, is perfect, because the 'Bux is rolling out its next long-anticipated frozen drink at last, this one in celebration of Halloween. I know you've been all kinds of anxious to find out when you can get the Zombie Frappuccino at Starbucks, and I feel like the most popular girl in school today since I get to tell you that, yes, the wait is finally over.

Participating Starbucks locations will start serving the Zombie Frappuccino on Oct. 26, which is ideal, since it will give you the chance to get a head start on Halloween celebrations. According to a press release from Starbucks, the deliciously otherworldly-looking drink is made with Frappuccino Crème infused with tart apple and caramel flavors — basically, the very best flavors of fall and Halloween. The pink topping, meant to resemble zombie brains, is really just pink whipped cream finished off with a red mocha drizzle (what, you didn't believe that it was actually a brain?).

"We thought about what you'd serve at a Halloween party, and we settled on dipped caramel apples," said Jennica Robinson from the Starbucks beverage development team in the press release. "It has a tart green apple flavor balanced with a smooth, sweet caramel." Count me in for that!

Sadly, the Zombie Frappuccino won't be available forever, which means you have even more reason to toss on your witch's hat or cat ears, head to your nearest Sbux, and order it... now. Starbucks says that their latest treat will disappear on Oct. 31. If the Zombie beverage is only available for a limited time, at least I can grab one on the way out to trick or treating. And then maybe another one on the way home from trick or treating. It feels like the perfect nightcap to finish off a full day of candy-eating, don't you think?

It's too soon to tell if we'll have the chance to get in on the Zombie Frappuccino action on a "while supplies last" basis again in 2018, of course, but it's never too soon to start crossing your fingers (do zombies have normal fingers?). Personally, I'm still holding out for the return of the drink's whimsical unicorn counterpart, but we're all still waiting for a definite answer from Starbucks on that front. Since it seems like the coffee giant is staying mum about whether or not these limited-time-only treats will be anniversaried, I guess all we can do is make the most of that short window of availability by fully embracing the Frapp magic while we can.

The Zombie Frappuccino is just one of the seasonal treats you can swoop up at Sbux this Halloween. Vanilla Mummy Cake Pops and shortbread Day of the Dead cookies will also be available in stores while supplies last this October. It joins the Franken Frappuccino and the Frappula Frappuccino — which debuted in 2014 and 2015, respectively — on the blended beverage menu. Available only from the infamous Starbucks secret menu, the Franken Frappuccino is made of green tea, peppermint, white chocolate, and mocha flavors. The Frappula Frappuccino is not so secret, but don't let the lack of mystery turn you off, because it features white chocolate, mocha, and strawberry flavors that actually sound really amazing.

"We had already invited Frankenstein and vampires to the party, so we came up with another monster that could join the bash," Robinson said of Sbux's latest addition.

I, for one, can't wait to attend.