The Double Chocolate Chip Frappuccino is one of those Starbucks drinks that looks simple on the menu but tastes like it has something more going on.
Adding white mocha sauce is what takes it from a basic blended chocolate drink to a layered one, where you get rich cocoa upfront and a sweet, vanilla-like creaminess underneath.
I tested this at home a few times before I was happy with the ratio.
Also, I did some experiments, like adding too much white mocha so the chocolate was buried. And when I add a little, I lose the whole point of the twist.
So, the version below is balanced, and I will also tell you exactly where to adjust it for your own taste.
Remember: This drink does not have coffee in it by default; the original Starbucks version is crème-based, not coffee-based. I will cover the espresso add-in option separately so you can make that call yourself.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup whole milk (almond or oat milk works fine; Oatly Barista gives the best texture of the non-dairy options)
- 1.5 cups ice (crushed or cubed, both work)
- 1/4 cup white chocolate sauce or white mocha syrup (Ghirardelli White Chocolate Sauce is the go-to; Torani White Chocolate Syrup is also good)
- 3 tbsp dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips (mini chips blend more evenly; Ghirardelli or Callebaut are worth it here)
- 2 tbsp chocolate syrup (for blending and drizzling; Hershey’s works, Monin or Ghirardelli if you want a step up)
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract (optional but rounds things out)
- Whipped cream for topping
Optional
- 1 shot espresso or 2 tbsp cold brew (only if you want caffeine; the drink works without it)
Ingredients Substitutes
- No white mocha sauce: Melt 1/4 cup of white chocolate chips with 1 tbsp of heavy cream, stir until smooth, and let it cool slightly before blending. It tastes very close.
- Chocolate chips: Chop a dark chocolate bar into rough pieces. Lindt 70% or Ghirardelli Intense Dark both work well.
- No chocolate syrup: Melt a small handful of chips with a teaspoon of water and a pinch of sugar, then stir until pourable.
How to Make Double Chocolate Chip Frappuccino
Add Everything to the Blender
- Add the milk, ice, white mocha sauce, chocolate chips, chocolate syrup, and vanilla extract to a blender. If you are adding espresso, add this too.
- Use a full-size blender if you have one.
- An immersion blender can work in a pinch, but it will not get the same thick, slushy texture because it struggles with ice.
Blend, But Not Too Long
- Blend on high for 20 to 30 seconds; you want it thick and slushy, not completely smooth.
- If your blender is powerful (Vitamix, Ninja, etc.), watch the timer closely; 20 seconds is usually enough.
Check and Adjust
Too runny: add a small handful of ice and blend again for 5 to 10 seconds.
Too thick: a splash of milk; blend again briefly.
It should be thick enough that when you pour it and add whipped cream, the cream sits on top rather than sinking.
Pour and Top It
Pour into a chilled glass or jar; the colder the glass, the longer the drink stays thick.
Top with a generous swirl of whipped cream, drizzle chocolate syrup over that, and scatter a few extra mini chips on top if you want the visual.
Optional: a small drizzle of white mocha sauce over the whipped cream adds another layer and looks good.
Tips for a Better Texture
The ratio of ice to liquid makes or breaks the texture, and it shifts depending on your blender power and how you measure the ice.
If you are using a weaker blender, crushed ice is better than cubes because the blender does not have to work as hard, and you get a more even texture. If you are using a high-powered blender, whole cubes are fine.
If you consistently end up with a runny frappuccino regardless of how much ice you add, stir 2 tbsp of instant vanilla pudding mix into the milk before blending.
It thickens the whole drink and holds the texture even as it starts to warm up.
Although it’s not in the original, it works well; I’ve tried it.
Does This Drink Have Coffee in It?
No, not by default. The standard Starbucks Double Chocolate Chip Frappuccino is cream-based, which means no coffee.
The white mocha version follows the same base.
If you want caffeine, add one shot of espresso or 2 tbsp of cold brew before blending.
It adds a slight bitterness that plays well against the sweetness of the white mocha.
My Starbucks cold brew recipe covers how to make that at home if you want to keep the whole drink homemade.
How to Order a Double Chocolate Chip Frappuccino (and What It Costs)
This is not a printed menu item; the white mocha version is a customization of the regular Double Chocolate Chip Frappuccino, officially called the Double Chocolaty Chip Creme Frappuccino on the Starbucks menu.
To order it, ask for a Double Chocolate Chip Frappuccino and request that the mocha sauce be swapped for white mocha sauce.
Baristas can do this without issue since it is just a sauce substitution, not a separate recipe.
As of now, a tall run about $5.45 and a grande about $5.95, though pricing shifts by location and state.
Swapping in a white mocha doesn’t change the price since it’s a one-to-one substitution, not an extra add-in.
If you want both flavors, ask for half mocha sauce and half white mocha, which keeps the price the same and gives you a true blend of the two rather than picking one over the other.
If your local Starbucks is out of white mocha sauce or chocolate chips, which happens a lot during busy seasons, this homemade version is the easiest replacement.
You control exactly how much of each chocolate goes in, so you are not stuck waiting for a restock.
Cost: Home vs. Starbucks
At home, the cost per drink using standard grocery store ingredients works out to roughly $1.20 to $1.80 depending on which brands you use.
If you use Ghirardelli sauces and high-end chips, you are closer to $2.50, still well under half the Starbucks price for either size.
Customizations You Can Try
- Caramel chocolate chip: Add a spoon of caramel sauce into the blender and drizzle more on top. Pairs well with the white mocha base.
- Minty mocha chip: One small drop of peppermint extract before blending. One drop only; it is much stronger than it seems.
- Spicy mocha: A pinch of cinnamon and a very small pinch of cayenne, which sounds odd, work well against the sweetness.
- Extra coffee: Replace the milk with cold brew and add an espresso shot; this turns it into a proper caffeinated drink.
- Vegan: Oat milk (Oatly Barista), dairy-free chocolate chips, coconut whipped cream. The Ghirardelli white mocha sauce contains milk, so for a fully vegan version, use Torani White Chocolate Sauce instead, which is dairy-free.
What to Pair With Your Homemade Frappuccino
This homemade white mocha double chocolate chip frappuccino drink is complete on its own, but I personally recommend you pair it with something.
However, it will increase the calorie intake:
Sweet Bites
- Chocolate muffins, brownies, or doughnuts (For inspiration, try these Bakery-Style Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins or a sweet bite with these Dunkin Dubai Chocolate Donuts.)
- White chocolate cookies or chocolate-dipped biscotti. (I especially recommend the chewy Crumbl Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chip Cookies to go alongside this drink.)
- Cream puffs, eclairs, or any pastry with a vanilla-chocolate combo.
Savory Contrast
- Salted pretzels or cheese crackers—salty-sweet combo, both work great. (If you love the salty-sweet pairing, try this crunchy and fun snack idea: Chocolate-Covered Pretzel Rods.)
- Mini grilled cheese sandwiches or cheese croissants.
- Roasted almonds with sea salt.
Light Options
- Fresh fruits like bananas, strawberries, or raspberries.
- Oat bars or energy bites.
- Yogurt with a sprinkle of cocoa nibs.
Nutrition (Approximate, Per Serving)
Based on the recipe above using whole milk and standard brands, without toppings:
- Calories: 350 to 420 kcal
- Sugar: 30 to 35g
- Fat: 18 to 22g
- Protein: 6 to 8 g
- Caffeine: 0mg without espresso; around 60 to 80mg if you add a shot
To lighten it, use low-fat milk, reduce the white mocha sauce to 3 tbsp, skip the whipped cream, and go light on the drizzle.
Final Thoughts
This white mocha double chocolate chip frappuccino recipe is one of those drinks worth making at home, not just because it costs less, but because you can control the ratio.
Want more white mocha? Add another tablespoon, and if you want the chocolate chips to come through more? Cut the sauce back slightly and use darker chips.
So this Starbucks version is good, and this is adjustable, which makes it better for your specific taste.
If you want to explore more homemade Starbucks-style drinks, my Starbucks dark chocolate mocha recipe is the next logical step for anyone who wants to go full chocolate.
FAQs
Does the white chocolate mocha frappuccino have coffee in it?
The standard version does not; Starbucks makes it as a crème frappuccino, which is their term for a blended drink without coffee.
You can add espresso or cold brew if you want caffeine, but the base drink is coffee-free.
What is a double chocolate chip frappuccino at Starbucks?
The official name is the Double Chocolatey Chip Creme Frappuccino. It is blended milk, ice, mocha sauce, and chocolate chips, topped with whipped cream.
No coffee in it, the white mocha version is a secret menu customization where you swap the regular mocha sauce for white mocha sauce.
Is the double chocolate chip frappuccino discontinued at Starbucks?
It has been periodically pulled from regional menus and moved between permanent and seasonal status. As of the last check, it is still available in the US as a permanent crème frappuccino, but availability varies by location.
Making it at home means you are never stuck waiting for it to come back.
What is the difference between a white mocha and a regular mocha at Starbucks?
Regular mocha sauce is dark chocolate-based, slightly bitter, and quite rich.
White mocha sauce is sweeter, creamier, and more vanilla-forward.
Using white mocha in this frappuccino softens the edge of the chocolate chips and makes the overall drink taste smoother and more dessert-like.
Is white chocolate mocha good with almond milk?
Yes, and it works better than you might expect. Almond milk is naturally a bit nutty and less sweet than whole milk, which balances the white mocha sauce nicely instead of making the drink taste flat.
The texture is thinner than whole milk gives you, so if you want it just as thick, use a little less almond milk than the recipe calls for or add an extra splash of ice.
How is this different from a Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino?
The Mocha Cookie Crumble uses crushed chocolate cookie pieces blended in along with mocha sauce, which gives it a grittier, cookie-forward texture.
This white mocha double chocolate chip version uses actual chocolate chips instead of cookie crumbles, so the texture is smoother with small melty pockets of chocolate rather than cookie grit.
Both are good; they just hit differently depending on whether you want cookie texture or pure chocolate chip texture.
White Mocha Double Chocolate Chip Frappuccino Starbucks Recipe
Ingredients
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup whole milk or almond, oat, coconut milk
- 1.5 cups ice crushed or cubed
- 1/4 cup white chocolate sauce or white mocha syrup
- 3 tbsp dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips mini chips preferred
- 2 tbsp chocolate syrup for blending and drizzle
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract optional
- Whipped cream for topping
- Optional: 1 shot espresso or 2 tbsp cold brew
Instructions
Add milk, ice, white mocha sauce, chocolate chips, chocolate syrup, and vanilla extract to a blender.
- Add espresso or cold brew now if using.
- Blend on high for 20 to 30 seconds
- Leave some small chip pieces for texture. Do not blend until completely smooth.
Check consistency
- Too runny, add more ice and blend 5 to 10 seconds. Too thick, add a splash of milk and blend briefly.
Pour into a chilled glass.
- Top with whipped cream, drizzle with chocolate syrup, and scatter extra mini chips on top.
- Add a drizzle of white mocha sauce over the cream for an extra layer.
Notes
I’m a self-taught home cook who turns everyday ingredients into comforting, café-style recipes. I test everything in my own kitchen (sometimes more than once), tweak flavors how I like them, and share only what I actually enjoy.
Most of my recipes are chocolate-based or have a creative twist, and I keep them preservative-free, beginner-friendly, and fun to make.
If you love cozy drinks, healthier desserts, or bold flavor combos — you’re in the right place. [Read full story]
