If you’re looking for sweet and indulgent, it’s hard to do better than Starbucks’ line of frappuccinos. Whether I’ve had a bad day or just need a quick pick-me-up, they’re right there and oh-so-inviting.
My two favorites, without any question, are the Strawberry Creme and the Mocha Cookie Crumble.
But there can only be one “best” – so which will it be?
Let’s dive in.
Which is healthier?
This one was a bit of a surprise. More on that in a sec…
First, how do we define “healthy” when we’re talking about frappuccinos of all things? Well – first off, I want to be clear that this is a relative measure. Frappuccinos are by definition…not super healthy. (And that’s ok! Not everything has to be good for you.) Similarly, in my book, the ideal food is full of all-natural (and hopefully organic) ingredients. However, you’re not going to find that at many chains. But within the category, there are some significant differences, as we’ll see in a moment.
While it’s not a perfect measure, I tend to think that sugar content and calories are a pretty good proxy for how healthy any particular food or beverage is. And here are the results:
| Drink | Calories | Sugar |
| Strawberry Creme Frappuccino | 370 | 51g |
| Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino | 480 | 55g |
So, Strawberry Creme Frappuccino both has fewer calories and less sugar.
Advantage: Strawberry Creme Frappuccino
Which gives you the better push to finish the workday strong?
Generally speaking, this is the sort of thing that’s pretty subjective – some coffees just hit harder and focus you more, you know? – but with these two, it’s no question. After all, the Mocha Cookie Crumble has caffeine, while the Strawberry Creme Frappuccino does not. Plus, while both sit pretty heavily in my stomach, Strawberry Creme is definitely a bit heavier. (That’s the price you pay for the creamier taste.)
Advantage: Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino
Which tastes better?
For my money, it’s the Strawberry Creme Frappuccino. Not by a lot – obviously Mocha Cookie Crumble ranks up there for me, too – but it’s the one that’s most like a milkshake (my actual favorite food in the whole world – as an aside, here’s a great shake recipe) because it’s a little thicker and creamier. Plus, I’ve always been a sucker for well-executed fruit flavors.
Advantage: Strawberry Creme Frappuccino
Which pairs best with Starbucks food?
Ok, I could spend a whole article just on all the details here. Starbucks has an expansive food menu with a bunch of different flavors, and I certainly haven’t tried every combination with these two drinks.
However – I have tried enough combos to have a pretty good idea of what works and what doesn’t. And despite my general preference for the Strawberry Creme Frappuccino, I actually think the Mocha Cookie Crumble does better when paired with food. Because it has a somewhat generic “sweet cookie + coffee” flavor profile, it just works a lot better with breakfast food. (One of my personal favorites? Pairing it with either the chicken, maple butter & egg sandwich, or one of Starbucks’ delicious egg bakes.)
Strawberry Creme Frappuccino is generally a drink best enjoyed on its own – the strong fruit flavors are just kind of a weird combination with most food, and its heaviness just means it kind of overwhelms most of their lighter sandwiches. (That’s true for all frappuccinos – they’re just all too heavy for the light Starbucks lunch sandwiches.) One thing it does go well with, in my experience, is Starbucks oatmeal – because it’s a complementary fruit flavor.
Advantage: Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino
The ultimate verdict
With each drink winning in two categories, it all comes down to the final verdict.
The tiebreaker for me is the taste – after all, why buy a drink if it’s not your favorite? So ultimately, the Strawberry Creme Frappuccino (narrowly) wins.
But hey, feel free to disagree – and let me know in the comments what your favorite frappuccino is!
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