Starbucks offers a wide variety of syrups and sauces that can be added to drinks for extra flavor. One of their most popular options is the toasted vanilla syrup, which has a delicious warm, toasted vanilla flavor. But how many calories does the toasted vanilla syrup add to your Starbucks drink? In this article, we will break down the calorie count and nutrition information for Starbucks’ toasted vanilla syrup. Keep reading to learn more!
What is Toasted Vanilla Syrup?
Starbucks’ toasted vanilla syrup is a sweet, thick syrup that is used to add flavor to coffee and espresso drinks. It has a rich vanilla flavor with notes of caramel and toasted nuts. The syrup contains real vanilla extract to provide an authentic vanilla taste.
Unlike regular vanilla syrup, which has more of a raw sugar flavor, the toasted vanilla syrup is designed to have a warm, roasted taste. Starbucks roasts the vanilla beans before making the syrup to develop the toasted nuances. This gives the syrup a deeper, more layered vanilla flavor.
The toasted vanilla syrup pairs especially well with Starbucks’ espresso roast. The bittersweet espresso complements the sweet, robust vanilla notes. The syrup is a popular addition to lattes, cappuccinos, macchiatos, and iced coffee. It can also be added to the hot chocolates or Frappuccinos at an additional cost.
Nutrition Information for Toasted Vanilla Syrup
Starbucks provides the complete nutrition information for their menu items on their website. Here are the key nutrition facts for their toasted vanilla syrup:
Serving Size
– 1 teaspoon (5 ml)
Calories
– 45 calories
Total Fat
– 0 g
Sodium
– 15 mg
Total Carbohydrates
– 11 g
– Sugars: 11 g
Protein
– 0 g
As you can see, just 1 teaspoon of the toasted vanilla syrup contains 45 calories, all of which come from carbohydrates in the form of sugars. There is no fat, protein or sodium in the syrup.
Calorie Count for Full Serving of Syrup
Most Starbucks drinks that include syrups or sauces do not use a full teaspoon of the syrup. According to Starbucks, their syrups and sauces are added in the following amounts:
– Short/Small (8 oz): 1.5 pumps (about 0.75 tsp)
– Tall (12 oz): 2 pumps (about 1 tsp)
– Grande (16 oz): 3 pumps (about 1.5 tsp)
– Venti (20 oz): 4 pumps (about 2 tsp)
So the calorie count of toasted vanilla syrup would be:
Short/Small Drink
– 0.75 tsp syrup
– 45 calories per tsp
– 0.75 tsp x 45 calories = 34 calories
Tall Drink
– 1 tsp syrup
– 45 calories per tsp
– 1 tsp x 45 calories = 45 calories
Grande Drink
– 1.5 tsp syrup
– 45 calories per tsp
– 1.5 tsp x 45 calories = 68 calories
Venti Drink
– 2 tsp syrup
– 45 calories per tsp
– 2 tsp x 45 calories = 90 calories
As you increase the drink size, the amount of syrup and calories increases. A short drink only has 34 calories from the toasted vanilla syrup, while a venti has 90 calories from the 2 teaspoons of syrup.
Calories with Full Dose of Syrup
While the standard Starbucks drink recipes do not use a full teaspoon of syrup, some customers may request an extra dose of syrup be added. If a full teaspoon (5 ml) of toasted vanilla syrup is added to a drink, it would contain 45 calories, regardless of the size.
For example, if you added a full teaspoon of toasted vanilla syrup to a:
– Tall latte – it would contain 45 calories just from the 1 tsp of syrup
– Grande mocha – it would have 45 calories from a full teaspoon of syrup
– Venti iced coffee – a full tsp would add 45 calories
So no matter what size drink you choose, a full teaspoon of toasted vanilla syrup always contains 45 calories. Keep this in mind if you ask for extra pumps of syrup!
Calories in Popular Drinks with Toasted Vanilla Syrup
To further illustrate the calorie content of toasted vanilla syrup in Starbucks drinks, here are some popular options with the syrup added:
Tall Caffe Vanilla Latte with Toasted Vanilla Syrup
– 2 pumps (1 tsp) toasted vanilla syrup – 45 calories
– 2% milk – 90 calories
– Espresso – 0 calories
– Total: 135 calories
Grande Caramel Macchiato with Toasted Vanilla Syrup
– 3 pumps (1.5 tsp) toasted vanilla syrup – 68 calories
– 2% milk – 120 calories
– Espresso – 0 calories
– Caramel drizzle – 60 calories
– Total: 248 calories
Venti Iced Coffee with Toasted Vanilla Syrup and Cream
– 4 pumps (2 tsp) toasted vanilla syrup – 90 calories
– 3 oz half and half cream – 80 calories
– Total: 170 calories
Tall Hot Chocolate with Toasted Vanilla Syrup
– 1.5 pumps (0.75 tsp) toasted vanilla syrup – 34 calories
– Steamed 2% milk – 150 calories
– Mocha sauce – 50 calories
– Whipped cream – 50 calories
– Total: 284 calories
As you can see, the toasted vanilla syrup adds 45 calories per pump used in the drink recipe. Pay attention to the number of pumps your barista uses to determine the calories from just the syrup.
Tips for Ordering with Toasted Vanilla Syrup
Here are some tips to keep in mind when customizing your Starbucks drink order with toasted vanilla syrup:
Ask for Less Pumps of Syrup
To reduce the calorie count of your toasted vanilla flavored drink, ask for fewer pumps of the syrup. For example, get just 1 pump in a Tall or 2 pumps in a Grande drink. This cuts the calories almost in half!
Request Sugar Free Syrup
You can ask for sugar free vanilla syrup instead of the regular toasted vanilla syrup. The sugar free version has under 5 calories per pump, saving you calories and sugar.
Add Syrup to Low Calorie Drinks
Order an unsweetened coffee or tea and add just a couple pumps of syrup for flavor. This prevents excess calories from milks and sweeteners.
Avoid Extra Syrup
Turn down offers for extra pumps of syrup, as more will ramp up the calorie count. Stick to the standard recipe to control your syrup calories.
Use Nonfat Milk
Pair your toasted vanilla drink with nonfat milk instead of higher calorie dairy options like 2% milk, half and half or heavy cream.
High Calorie Syrup Swaps
While toasted vanilla is a lighter syrup choice, some other Starbucks syrups are significantly higher in calories:
| Syrup | Calories per pump |
|---|---|
| White chocolate mocha sauce | 52 calories |
| Caramel sauce | 20 calories |
| Pumpkin sauce | 20 calories |
| Peppermint syrup | 40 calories |
Compared to these options, the toasted vanilla syrup at 45 calories per pump is a better choice if you are watching your calorie intake.
Low Calorie Syrup Options
Some lower calorie Starbucks syrup alternatives include:
| Syrup | Calories per pump |
|---|---|
| Sugar free vanilla | 4 calories |
| Sugar free cinnamon dolce | 0 calories |
| Skinny mocha sauce | 10 calories |
Choosing one of these lower calorie syrups or sauces can save you 30+ calories per pump compared to toasted vanilla.
Other Ways to Reduce Calories in Drinks
Aside from syrup choice, there are other easy ways to cut calories in your Starbucks orders:
Ask for fat free or low fat milk
Nonfat milk has about 35-40 fewer calories per 8 oz than 2% milk. Each step up in milk fat adds more calories.
Request fewer pumps of base syrup
Many Starbucks drinks are pre-sweetened with a simple syrup base. Ordering less pumps saves significant calories.
Choose small sizes
Stick to tall or small sizes instead of grandes or ventis to limit your portion and calorie intake.
Avoid whipped cream
Whipped cream can add 50+ calories on top of your drink. Skip it if watching your weight.
Ask for light ice
More ice dilutes the drink and gives you less actual liquid. Light ice gives you more drink for the calories.
Skip flavored syrups
Drink your coffee or tea black with no syrups or sweeteners for the lowest calorie options.
Conclusion
Starbucks toasted vanilla syrup adds a delicious toasted vanilla flavor but also increases the calorie content of drinks. Each pump of syrup contributes 45 calories. In a typical tall Starbucks drink, this means 1 teaspoon or 2 pumps of vanilla syrup adds 45 calories. Ordering your drink made with nonfat milk, fewer pumps of syrup, and smaller sizes can help keep your toasted vanilla drink relatively low in calories. Being mindful of your customizations and syrup choices can make a big difference in your daily calorie intake!
