Cherry Mocha Latte

Gift yourself a moment of decadent, fruity fun with my chocolate-covered Cherry Mocha Latte recipe. Made with just 5 basic ingredients and 5 minutes of active prep, this Starbucks copycat is the perfect blend of sweet berries, dark chocolate, creamy milk, and bold espresso. 

Starbucks specialty drinks are always a great source of coffee recipe inspiration, and the 2025 spring lineup was no exception. From this cherry mocha and iced cherry chai latte to the blackberry sage refresher and lavender crème frappuccino, fresh, fun flavors were the perfect transition away from winter.

I’m particularly fond of this cherry syrup-spiked hot mocha—it combines the tart sweetness of fruit with the deep cocoa flavor of chocolate for a cozy drink that’s reminiscent of one of my favorite Trader Joe’s candies. (But, if you’re an iced coffee person, you can totally serve it cold.)

Best of all, you only need 5 ingredients to make a cherry mocha, and it’s fully customizable. Swap in decaf espresso or cold brew, make it vegan with plant-based milk, use sugar-free syrup to make it lower-calorie, or add a fun topper like whipped cream or sweet cream cold foam for added pizzazz. When you’re the barista, anything goes!

Jump to:

• What does it taste like?
• Why You’ll Love This Starbucks Copycat Recipe
• Ingredients Needed
• Substitutions
• How To Make A Cherry Mocha Starbucks-Style
• Optional Variations & Dietary Adjustments
• Serving Suggestions
• Recipe Success Tips
• FAQs
• DIY Chocolate Cherry Latte Nutrition
• Other Hot Latte Recipes
• Cherry Mocha Latte

What does it taste like?

If you’ve ever eaten a chocolate-dipped cherry, this homemade cherry mocha will taste familiar. It has the brightly acidic sweetness of homemade cherry syrup and the decadence of dark chocolate, alongside creamy milk and rich espresso. In other words, it’s a dessert in a cup without being overly cloying—just the thing for overcoming your midday slump!

Why You’ll Love This Starbucks Copycat Recipe

• Beautifully Balanced - Chocolate is one of those ingredients that plays nicely with others, especially dark berries and cherries. Each sip is an explosion of sweet, tart, and bitter flavors in perfect harmony.
• Simple & Speedy - You only need 5 ingredients and 5 minutes to whip up this hot cherry mocha. That’s faster than waiting in the drive-thru!
• Budget-Friendly - Rather than spending $5+ for a single Starbucks drink, try making your own! This easy DIY costs just a fraction of the price but has all the flavor you love from the original—and you don’t have to tip!

Ingredients Needed

• Chocolate Chips - I prefer using semisweet chocolate chips for a darker chocolate flavor, but feel free to swap in milk chocolate or bittersweet chocolate per your preference.
• Unsweetened Cocoa Powder - If possible, reach for Dutch-processed cocoa powder which has been alkalinized—this leaves it with a smoother, less acidic, less bitter flavor. That said, conventional cocoa powder or raw cacao powder will work, too!
• Cherry Simple Syrup - My homemade version calls for only cherries, sugar, water, and an optional splash of almond extract. Feel free to swap in store-bought for convenience.
• Whole Milk - This is the standard milk choice for Starbucks lattes unless otherwise specified in the name. 
• Espresso - You don’t need a fancy espresso machine to make it—my French press espresso is proof!
• Crushed Freeze-Dried Cherries - Optional, but lovely for a garnish. Plus, they make the drink more instagram-worthy!

Substitutions

Need to make some tweaks? Not to worry. Here are some of my favorite swaps:

• Chocolate Chips & Unsweetened Cocoa Powder - Try using mocha sauce as a time-saving substitute—this is especially helpful if you prefer an iced cherry mocha. 
• Cherry Syrup - Try swapping in other flavors of homemade coffee syrup throughout the year—peppermint mochas, orange mochas, and raspberry mochas are all awesome!
• Whole Milk - Feel free to swap in any percentage of dairy milk or the plant-based milk of your choice.
• Espresso - Strongly brewed conventional coffee or cold brew can also be used.
• Crushed Freeze-Dried Cherries - Feel free to omit these, or swap in another favorite mocha garnish like whipped cream, chocolate shavings, or chocolate sprinkles.

How To Make A Cherry Mocha Starbucks-Style

You’ll love how quickly this cherry mocha latte comes together:

Step 1: Heat. Add the milk, cherry syrup, chocolate chips, and cocoa powder to a saucepan and heat over medium low.

Step 2: Mix. Whisk the chocolate cherry mixture together until all the chocolate chips have integrated into the mixture. 

Step 3: Brew the espresso into your mug of choice.

Step 4: Top with the chocolate cherry milk.

Step 5: Garnish & Serve. Sprinkle freeze-dried cherries on top (if using) and drink up!

Optional Variations & Dietary Adjustments

The great thing about making your own coffee drinks is you get to tailor them to your exact specifications—no costly add-ons needed. Here are just a few ideas to get you started:

• Iced Cherry Mocha - Make and chill the cherry chocolate milk mixture (you can speed up the process using a Hyperchiller), then mix with 8 ounces of cold brew coffee and serve over ice. Alternatively, use mocha syrup to blend into the milk without needing to heat it. 
• White Chocolate Cherry Mocha - Omit the chocolate chips and cocoa powder in lieu of white chocolate syrup for a lighter, sweeter take. 
• Decaf - Feel free to use decaf espresso for less buzz. Alternatively, go fully caffeine-free by swapping in your favorite coffee alternative (e.g. roasted chicory “coffee” or Dandy Blend). 
• Sugar-Free - Use sugar-free chocolate chips and sugar-free cherry syrup for a diabetic-friendly cherry mocha. 
• Dairy-Free/Vegan - Swap in dairy-free chocolate chips and your favorite plant-based milk. Make sure your sugar is vegan-friendly if you’re making your own cherry syrup.

Serving Suggestions

This cherry-flavored mocha latte recipe is perfectly delightful as written, but there are plenty of ways for you to customize your cup. Here are just a few ideas:

• Extra Chocolatey - Before assembling the mocha, drizzle some chocolate syrup on the inside of your clear serving glass. The dark streaks will make your drink even more social media-worthy, plus add an extra hit of chocolatey goodness.
• Terrific Toppers - I typically just add the freeze-dried cherries like Starbucks, but you’re welcome to get creative. Try adding a squirt of sweetened whipped cream, some chocolate shavings or chocolate sprinkles, or even edible gold leaf for picturesque pizzazz.
• Perfect Pairings - For an extra special coffee break, try pairing your cherry mocha with a flaky chocolate croissant or chocolate cherry cake mix brownie. Want something a little healthier? Try my chocolate oat protein cookies or chocolate chip protein muffins instead. 

Recipe Success Tips

• Use a milk frother for an airy mouthfeel and fluffy milk topper. If you opt to make a vegan version, I recommend looking for a “barista blend” of whatever type of milk you like. These blends are specially formulated for frothing so your homemade mocha will taste professional.
• Preheat your mug by filling it with boiling water while you make the mocha. This will help keep the drink nice and hot for longer—a bonus if you’re a slow sipper like me.
• Don’t scald the milk! You don’t want to heat the milk too vigorously, which can both burn the chocolate chips and unravel the milk proteins, thus making it hard to properly froth. Heat the mixture over medium-low and turn it off as soon as the milk begins to simmer. 

FAQs

DIY Chocolate Cherry Latte Nutrition

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that something as rich and dessert-like as a cherry mocha is pretty calorie-dense—you’ll get just shy of 350 calories per serving. That said, a good portion of those calories come from the whole milk, which brings 10 grams of protein and 12 grams of fat to the table. These macros will help you feel a bit full, and can help balance your blood sugar.

You’re also looking at a decent portion of your sugar budget—each serving has 56 grams of carbs, 51 of which come from sugars (mostly from the chocolate chips and cherry syrup). You’ll also get 105 milligrams of sodium per serving—not a ton, but something to keep an eye on. 

If you’re concerned about fat and calories, you have options: swap in a lighter milk, use less syrup, and/or swap in sugar-free chocolate chips and cherry syrup. You can also pair your cherry mocha with a low-calorie, high-protein meal like an egg white omelet to help balance things out.

All in all, you should be able to fit this sweet treat into your diet so long as you make smart decisions and avoid most added sugars for the rest of your day. Enjoy every sip!

Total nutritional content per serving is:

• Calories: 348 calories
• Total Fat: 12 grams
• Protein: 10 grams
• Sodium: 105 mg
• Carbohydrates: 56 grams
• Sugar: 51 grams

*This nutritional information is an estimate and calculated based on the ingredients used to create the recipe. The nutritional value of your ingredients may differ slightly. Furthermore, this food is not intended to prevent, diagnose, cure, or treat any disease.

Other Hot Latte Recipes

xoxo Megan