Raspberry Mocha Latte

Scratch your sweet tooth itch with this deliciously decadent Raspberry Mocha Latte recipe! Just 5 ingredients and about 5 minutes of effort are all that stand between you and chocolatey berry bliss. 

Did you ever try a Starbucks raspberry mocha? Sadly, they don’t carry them anymore (the raspberry syrup was discontinued in early 2023), but boy were they tasty! All that intense dark chocolate flavor, amplified by espresso, and contrasted with the zesty, bright flavor of berries? It was an experience I still treasure. 

Now that we’ve turned the corner on winter and the days are starting to get warmer, I’m starting to crave the Starbucks spring lineup. But, rather than get sad or angry about not being able to order my favorite raspberry chocolate latte, I decided to whip up my own. And, friends? This one just might be better than the original.

With a double-whammy of semisweet chocolate chips and cocoa powder, there’s no shortage of Willy Wonka vibes here. Then we add the real magic in the form of homemade raspberry syrup—this gorgeous garnet liquid brings seriously juicy vibes to your latte. Drink it straight, top it with whipped cream, or sprinkle on some freeze-dried fruit—it’s delicious no matter what. 

Jump to:

• What is a raspberry mocha latte?
• What does it taste like?
• Why You’ll Love This Homemade Mocha Recipe
• Ingredients Needed
• Substitutions
• How To Make Starbucks Raspberry Mocha At Home
• Optional Variations & Dietary Adjustments
• Serving Suggestions
• Recipe Success Tips
• FAQs
• DIY Dark Chocolate Raspberry Mocha Nutrition
• Other Mocha Recipes
• Raspberry Mocha Latte

What is a raspberry mocha latte?

If you all remember, a mocha is simply a flavored latte—in addition to steamed milk and espresso, chocolate is mixed in. Here we take that flavoring to a new level of nom by stirring in some raspberry simple syrup, adding a sweet-tart contrast to the deep, dusky tones of espresso and cocoa.

What does it taste like?

On one of our first dates, my hubby and I went to a fancy French restaurant. For dessert, we ordered a flourless chocolate cake with raspberry coulis—it was a fudgy, fruity delight. This DIY Starbucks drink brings me some seriously nostalgic vibes with every sip. It’s super chocolatey, but with a bright, tart raspberry undertone that’ll keep you coming back for more.

Why You’ll Love This Homemade Mocha Recipe

• Flavor for Days - If your tongue is in need of a little titillation, you can’t do better than this chocolate raspberry coffee drink. You have the acidity from real berries, sweetness from chocolate, and bitter notes from cocoa powder and espresso, all enveloped in a creamy, dreamy, milky package. Delightful!
• Simple & Natural - All you need are 5 ingredients to make one (or 6, if you still need to make your raspberry simple syrup), and they’re all real, identifiable foods—no artificial nonsense here!
• Raspberry Mocha Resurrection - If you were bummed when Starbucks did away with their raspberry drink lineup, it’s time to turn your frown upside-down! This copycat raspberry mocha recipe has all the chocolatey berry goodness of the original.

Ingredients Needed

As promised, we’re keeping our ingredients list short and sweet:

• Whole Milk - Starbucks’ go-to milk for lattes, unless otherwise specified in the title (e.g. oat milk latte). If possible, reach for organic, grass-fed, and/or A2 milk for the best nutrient makeup.
• Raspberry Simple Syrup - While you’re welcome to use store-bought, my easy recipe calls for just sugar, water, and raspberries.
• Chocolate Chips - I recommend using semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips for the most intense chocolate flavor.
• Unsweetened Cocoa Powder - If possible, try using Dutch-process or black cocoa powder for the smoothest, chocolatiest, least acidic flavor. 
• Espresso - Because we all need a little Go Juice, amirite?
• Crushed Freeze-Dried Raspberries - These are optional, but beautiful and yummy as a garnish. 

Substitutions

Need to make some ingredient swaps? Not to worry! I’ve got you covered:

• Whole Milk - Feel free to use any variety of dairy or plant-based milk you prefer. 
• Raspberry Simple Syrup - Strawberry syrup would also be good for a chocolate dipped strawberry vibe!
• Chocolate Chips - You can swap in finely chopped bar chocolate if you don’t have chips.
• Unsweetened Cocoa Powder - While it’s a bit more bitter, raw cacao powder is a nutrient powerhouse. (The flavor should be balanced out by the sweetness of the milk and simple syrup, so it’ll still be yummy!)
• Espresso - Try using strong, freshly brewed coffee or cold brew instead—just note that you’ll need a bit extra to get the same oomph.
• Crushed Freeze-Dried Raspberries - Feel free to omit these extras, or swap in the latte topper(s) of your choice—whipped cream, mini marshmallows, or mini chocolate chips would all be great!

How To Make Starbucks Raspberry Mocha At Home

Step 1: Mix. Add the milk & raspberry syrup to a small saucepan.

Step 2: Simmer. Add the chocolate chips and cocoa powder and heat the milk mixture over medium-low heat. 

Step 3: Whisk frequently until the chocolate is melted and everything is well combined and smooth. Remove the raspberry chocolate milk from the heat and froth with a milk frother if desired. Set aside.

Step 4: Brew your espresso or coffee into a mug. 

Step 5: Top the espresso with the frothed raspberry chocolate milk and garnish as desired. Drink up!

Optional Variations & Dietary Adjustments

The best part about being your own barista is you can make this raspberry mocha exactly to your specifications. Here are just a few ideas to get you started:

• Simple Shortcut - Use 2 tablespoons of homemade mocha sauce in place of the cocoa powder and chocolate chips. Not only will you have fewer things to measure, the chocolate will mix into the milk without heating so you can make an iced raspberry mocha without having to turn on the stove or waiting for your milk to cool!
• Added Sugar-Free - Use sugar-free chocolate chips (or make sugar-free mocha syrup) and sugar-free raspberry syrup to reduce the glycemic index and cut way back on calories. 
• Dairy-Free/Vegan - Use the plant-based milk of your choice (preferably a “barista blend” for the best texture), make sure your chocolate chips are dairy-free, and opt for organic sugar when making your raspberry syrup. 
• Raspberry White Chocolate Mocha - Use 2 tablespoons of white chocolate syrup in place of cocoa and chocolate chips for a sweet, creamy treat!

Serving Suggestions

This DIY Starbucks mocha raspberry latte is a treat no matter how you serve it. But, if you’re looking to make your coffee break extra special, here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Garnished & Gussied - Add a pillowy cloud of whipped cream or a homemade egg white marshmallow for a stark color contrast between the deep chocolate base and the vibrant freeze-dried fruit. A little sprinkle of edible glitter is fun, too.
• Mom & Daughter Time - I like to double up on the chocolate raspberry milk mixture whenever I make this as my afternoon pick-me-up. I take my (extra) caffeinated raspberry mocha for the car line, then surprise my kiddo with a raspberry hot chocolate of her own.
• Coffee & Dessert - This V-Day, I’m making my own version of that fudgy chocolate cake with raspberry sauce for Tommy and I to eat at home while my parents watch the kids. I’ll definitely be serving these raspberry mochas to double down on that crave-worthy flavor combo.
• Girl’s Night In - I may be beyond my Red Bull vodka years, but I’m definitely not over the whole caffeinated cocktail vibe. These fruity mochas are awesome with a tipple of fun—try framboise, chocolate liqueur, or raspberry vodka for an adults-only treat. 😋

Recipe Success Tips

• Whisk it real good! Since we’re using actual chocolate in our recipe, it’s essential to really mix it in. While chocolate dregs at the bottom of the mug are delicious, I like getting all that fudgy yum in every sip.
• Brew Fresh. Espresso has a relatively short shelf-life—a friend who used to work at Starbucks told me baristas are trained to dump any that’s over 10 seconds old. While that might be a little bit extreme for our home café, note that your drinks will taste their best if you wait to brew the coffee until *right before* assembly.

FAQs

DIY Dark Chocolate Raspberry Mocha Nutrition

There’s no doubt about it—this raspberry-flavored mocha is a dessert in a cup. Each serving contains 319 calories, 12 grams of fat, and 48 grams of carbs (43 of which are sugars). For anyone counting, that’s about the same as a bowl of ice cream. If you want to tone those numbers down, consider swapping in lighter milk and/or making the sugar-free variation.

That said, this mocha isn’t all naughty—the 12 grams of fat and 10 grams of protein should fill you up a bit. (You can also mix in some collagen or protein powder for extra staying power!) Plus, the milk is a great source of vitamin D and calcium, both of which are important for bone strength. 

All in all, as long as you’re balancing out the rest of your day with high-protein, high-fiber, low-sugar options, you can go ahead and enjoy every sip without an ounce of guilt. Cheers!

Total nutritional content per serving is:

• Calories: 319 calories
• Total Fat: 12 grams
• Protein: 10 grams
• Sodium: 118 mg
• Carbohydrates: 48 grams
• Sugar: 43 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 Mocha Recipes

xoxo Megan