How many pumps of cinnamon dolce syrup are in a Starbucks Cinnamon Dolce Latte?

Starbucks uses 3 pumps for a Tall (12 oz), 4 pumps for a Grande (16 oz), 5 pumps for a hot Venti (20 oz), and 6 pumps for an iced Venti (24 oz). Each pump of cinnamon dolce syrup delivers slightly more calories than standard syrups — approximately 25 calories and 6g of sugar per pump (vs. 20 cal / 5g for plain vanilla). A Grande gets 4 pumps (about 2 tablespoons), contributing 100 calories and 24g of added sugar from the syrup alone. The whipped cream adds roughly 70 more calories. If you want the drink less sweet, asking for 3 pumps cuts one serving's worth of added sugar.

Does Starbucks still have a sugar-free Cinnamon Dolce Latte?

No. Starbucks permanently discontinued its sugar-free Cinnamon Dolce Syrup in 2021. At that time it was one of only a few sugar-free syrup options at Starbucks, alongside sugar-free vanilla and sugar-free peppermint mocha. All three were removed from most stores. Today, Starbucks offers sugar-free vanilla syrup as essentially the only sugar-free flavoring option at the vast majority of U.S. locations — there is no sugar-free version of the Cinnamon Dolce Latte available in-store. For a lower-sugar alternative, order a plain latte with 2 pumps cinnamon dolce syrup instead of 4 (cuts sugar by ~12g) or ask for half-sweet. At home, you can make a sugar-free approximation with a cinnamon-infused simple syrup using a zero-calorie sweetener (erythritol or allulose work best — avoid sucralose, which turns bitter when simmered).

What is the difference between a Cinnamon Dolce Latte and a Pumpkin Spice Latte?

The Pumpkin Spice Latte is seasonal (typically late August through November/December) and uses Starbucks' proprietary Pumpkin Spice sauce — a blend of pumpkin, spices, and sugar with actual pumpkin puree as an ingredient. The Cinnamon Dolce Latte is year-round and uses a simpler cinnamon-sweetened syrup with no pumpkin component. Both come standard with whipped cream and a flavored topping (PSL gets pumpkin spice topping, CDL gets cinnamon dolce sprinkles). The PSL is more complex and warmly spiced (cinnamon + nutmeg + ginger + clove together); the CDL is cleaner — purely cinnamon-sweet without the layered spice blend. If you want the PSL feeling in July, the CDL is the closest year-round equivalent. At home, the CDL is also significantly easier to replicate — the PSL sauce requires canned pumpkin and multiple spices; CDL syrup is just brown sugar, white sugar, water, and cinnamon.

Does the Cinnamon Dolce Latte always come with whipped cream?

Yes — whipped cream is part of the standard build, not an add-on. Unlike many Starbucks lattes where you have to ask for whip, the Cinnamon Dolce Latte comes with whipped cream and cinnamon dolce topping (the cinnamon-sugar sprinkle) automatically. If you don't want it, you need to specifically ask for 'no whip.' At home, this matters because the topping-first-sip is part of the drink's character — you taste cinnamon sugar, then the whipped cream sweetness, before the latte itself. Skipping the whip and sprinkles gives you a perfectly fine cinnamon latte; it just lacks the layered texture the drink is designed around.

What is cinnamon dolce topping and how do I make it at home?

Starbucks' Cinnamon Dolce Topping is a proprietary spiced sugar blend containing sugar, cinnamon, salt, butter extractives, and natural flavor. The 'butter extractives' create a faint buttery-warm note that distinguishes it from plain cinnamon sugar. At home, the closest version: 1 tablespoon granulated sugar + 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon + a tiny pinch of salt. For the buttery note, add a drop of pure butter extract or a tiny splash of vanilla extract to the mix and stir. The topping should be dry enough to sprinkle — if your sugar clumps after adding any liquid, let it dry on a plate for 10 minutes before using. Alternatively, a jar of cinnamon sugar (the kind you already use for toast) works fine as a straightforward substitute, just without the butter depth.

Is there a Cinnamon Dolce Frappuccino?

Not as a current standard menu item. Starbucks offered a Cinnamon Dolce Crème Frappuccino in the past — a coffee-free blended version — but it's been removed from the core menu. The closest current custom order: ask for a Coffee Frappuccino with cinnamon dolce syrup substituted for (or added to) the standard coffee base. Alternatively, a Cinnamon Dolce Latte can be ordered 'extra ice, blended' off the secret menu, though that's a personalized order the barista may handle differently. At home, blend 1 cup ice + 2 shots cooled espresso + 2 tbsp cinnamon dolce syrup + 1/2 cup whole milk + 2 tbsp vanilla ice cream for a version that approximates the original Cinnamon Dolce Crème Frappuccino. Top with whipped cream and cinnamon dolce sprinkles.

How many calories are in a Starbucks Cinnamon Dolce Latte without whipped cream?

A Grande Cinnamon Dolce Latte made with 2% milk, no whipped cream is approximately 270 calories, with about 9g fat, 40g carbs, 37g sugar, 12g protein, and 150mg caffeine. The standard build with whipped cream is 340 calories — the difference is almost entirely the whip (~70 cal). Nonfat milk, no whip: approximately 200 calories. Whole milk, no whip: approximately 300 calories. With oat milk and no whip: approximately 260 calories. These figures reflect the current official Starbucks nutrition data for the hot version; the iced version is slightly lower because ice displaces some milk volume.

Copycat Starbucks Cinnamon Dolce Latte

Name: Copycat Starbucks Cinnamon Dolce Latte
Prep time: 8 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 13 min
Yield: 1 drink (Grande / 16 oz)
Ingredients: Espresso:; 2 shots espresso (2 oz; or 4 oz very strong brewed coffee as a fallback); Cinnamon Dolce Syrup (4 pumps / ~2 tbsp for Grande — see sizing table below):; Option A — store-bought: 2 tbsp Torani Cinnamon Dolce Syrup or Monin Cinnamon Syrup; Option B — homemade (below): makes ~1.5 cups, stores refrigerated 3 weeks; For homemade cinnamon dolce syrup:; 1/2 cup granulated white sugar; 1/2 cup packed brown sugar (light or dark); 1 cup water; 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon; 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (optional but rounds out the butter-spice note); Milk:; 10 oz whole milk or 2% milk (for hot: to steam); 10 oz cold 2% or oat milk (for iced: poured directly over ice); Toppings (standard at Starbucks):; 2 tablespoons heavy cream + 1 tsp powdered sugar, whipped to soft peaks (or canned whipped cream); Cinnamon Dolce sprinkles: 1 tbsp granulated sugar + 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon + tiny pinch of salt, mixed; For iced version:; 1 cup ice cubes

The Pumpkin Spice Latte gets its own annual countdown. The Cinnamon Dolce Latte is available every single day of the year and consistently underrated. It is one of Starbucks’ best permanent lattes — a warm, brown-sugar-cinnamon drink that builds on the same espresso-and-milk base as a Vanilla Latte, adds a richer, more complex syrup, and finishes with whipped cream and cinnamon-spice sprinkles that hit first at every sip.

A Grande at Starbucks runs about $5.50. At home: under $1, with a syrup that takes 15 minutes to make and lasts 10–12 drinks in the fridge.

TL;DR

Combine 1/2 cup each granulated sugar and brown sugar with 1 cup water and 1 tbsp ground cinnamon. Simmer 5 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer (required — removes cinnamon sediment) and cool. Add 2 tbsp of syrup to your cup first, pull 2 espresso shots directly over it, steam 10 oz of 2% milk to 150°F and pour over. Top with whipped cream and cinnamon-sugar sprinkles. For iced: no steaming — cold milk over ice, same layering sequence.

The Cinnamon Dolce Syrup — What Makes It Different

The Cinnamon Dolce Latte is a spiced simple syrup drink, not a flavored coffee. The syrup is the entire character — the espresso and milk are the same base as any other latte.

Starbucks’ proprietary syrup contains sugar, water, natural flavor, citric acid, and potassium sorbate. The key difference from a plain cinnamon syrup: the natural flavoring gives it a faint caramel-butterscotch quality underneath the cinnamon. That’s what you’re trying to replicate at home.

Home syrup — two-sugar method: Using half brown sugar and half granulated white sugar is the closest approximation. Brown sugar’s molasses component adds the caramel-butterscotch warmth that white sugar alone can’t produce. Use a 1:1 ratio of each.

Cinnamon sediment: Ground cinnamon does not dissolve in water — it suspends, then sinks. If you skip straining, you get a gritty residue at the bottom of your cup that looks and tastes like you brewed cinnamon tea wrong. A fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth removes it. This single step is why home CDL versions taste clean or don’t.

Calorie difference from vanilla syrup: Cinnamon dolce syrup at Starbucks delivers approximately 25 calories and 6g of sugar per pump — slightly more than standard syrups like vanilla, which run ~20 cal / 5g sugar per pump. A Grande (4 pumps) adds 100 calories and 24g of sugar from the syrup alone before accounting for milk or the whipped cream.

Best store-bought alternatives: Torani Cinnamon Dolce Syrup is the most widely available match. Monin Brown Sugar Cinnamon Syrup is a close second. Both are sold at Target, Amazon, and most kitchen stores for $8–12 per 750ml bottle.

The Topping — Not Optional at Starbucks

The Cinnamon Dolce Latte comes standard with two toppings that are part of the drink, not extras:

Whipped cream. Unlike a plain Vanilla Latte (where whip is an add-on you request), CDL always comes with whipped cream unless you ask for it removed. This adds roughly 70 calories and 3g of fat to the drink. At home, a spoonful of softly whipped heavy cream or canned whipped cream works fine.

Cinnamon Dolce Topping. The sprinkle that goes over the cream. Starbucks’ version is a proprietary blend: sugar, cinnamon, salt, butter extractives, and natural flavor. The butter extractives create a subtle warm depth that plain cinnamon sugar lacks. At home: 1 tbsp granulated sugar + 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon + a pinch of salt. Optional but worthwhile: stir in a drop of pure butter extract or vanilla to add that same warmth. This topping is a primary flavor note — you taste cinnamon spice and sweet cream at the first sip, before the latte itself. Skipping it produces a noticeably different experience.

Hot vs. Iced — Key Differences

Hot Cinnamon Dolce Latte: Espresso dissolved in syrup, steamed milk (140–160°F) poured over, whipped cream and sprinkles on top. The warmth amplifies the cinnamon and sweetness — the drink tastes richer and more spiced than the iced version.

Iced Cinnamon Dolce Latte: Cold milk over ice, same pump counts. Chilled temperatures suppress sweetness perception, so the iced version will taste less sweet than the hot even with identical syrup amounts. If you’re switching from hot to iced and find it tastes flat, the fix is half a pump more syrup — not more milk. The whipped cream and sprinkles still go on the iced version.

Sizing the Recipe

Size	Espresso shots	Cinnamon Dolce syrup	Milk
Tall (12 oz)	1 shot	3 pumps / 1.5 tbsp	8 oz
Grande (16 oz)	2 shots	4 pumps / 2 tbsp	10 oz
Venti hot (20 oz)	2 shots	5 pumps / 2.5 tbsp	14 oz
Venti iced (24 oz)	3 shots	6 pumps / 3 tbsp	12 oz cold

The iced Venti uses 3 espresso shots rather than 2 — the larger volume and ice dilution require the extra shot to maintain the coffee-to-milk balance. All sizes get whipped cream and cinnamon dolce topping as standard.

Sugar-Free: Discontinued in 2021

Starbucks removed the sugar-free Cinnamon Dolce Syrup from most stores in 2021. There is no replacement. As of mid-2026, the only sugar-free flavoring option widely available at U.S. Starbucks locations is sugar-free vanilla syrup — not CDL.

Lower-sugar strategies that still work:

Ask for 2 pumps instead of 4 — halves the added sugar from the syrup (from ~24g to ~12g) while keeping the cinnamon character.
Half-sweet — barista will use 2 pumps for a Grande.
Skip the whipped cream — removes ~70 cal and about 3g of added sugar from the topping.
At home: use erythritol or allulose as the sugar substitute in the homemade syrup. Both hold up to simmering without bitterness. Avoid sucralose-based sweeteners for cooked syrups — the heat activates a bitter aftertaste.

Milk Options

2% milk (Starbucks default): The baseline. Steams well, produces stable microfoam, and is what the official nutrition figures reflect.

Whole milk: Richer foam, about 300 calories (no whip) versus 270 for 2%. Better if you want a more indulgent, dessert-leaning result.

Oat milk (Oatly Barista or Califia Barista Blend): The most popular dairy-free option. Oat milk has a natural cereal sweetness that pairs well with cinnamon — many people reduce the syrup to 3 pumps with oat milk and find the balance better. About 260 calories per Grande (no whip), significantly lower in protein than dairy.

Almond milk: Lightest in calories, nuttier flavor. The almond note is detectable alongside the cinnamon but not distracting. Produces almost no foam, so the drink is thinner in texture.

Nonfat milk: ~200 calories (no whip). The foam is airier and dissipates faster. Flavor holds fine; texture suffers slightly.

Blonde Espresso Variant

You can order any Starbucks latte with Blonde Espresso instead of Signature (dark roast) at no extra cost. Blonde Espresso is a lighter roast — milder, slightly sweeter, with marginally more caffeine per shot. For the Cinnamon Dolce Latte, the Blonde version tones down any bitterness and lets the cinnamon sweetness lead more cleanly. Worth trying if you find the standard version too intense or edge-bitter.

Cost Breakdown

Ingredient	Amount	Cost
Espresso (ground coffee)	2 shots	$0.25
2% milk	10 oz	$0.35
Cinnamon dolce syrup (homemade)	2 tbsp	$0.08
Heavy cream + cinnamon-sugar topping	per serving	$0.12
Total		$0.80

Compare to $5.25–5.75 at Starbucks — save about 85%

The homemade syrup batch (1.5 cups) costs roughly $0.80–1.00 in ingredients and makes 10–12 drinks’ worth.

Copycat Starbucks Cinnamon Dolce Latte