The Most Sugary Starbucks Pastries, Ranked
A Starbucks drink alone will not always cut it. Sometimes you need a snack to go with your hot or iced Starbucks drink. Whether it's a breakfast coffee or an afternoon tea, many people turn to the chain's food case to find something to compliment their drink. Certain customers may prefer savory treats like Starbucks' Impossible Breakfast Sandwich. But for those with a sweet tooth, there are even more options.
There are tons of sweet treats inside Starbucks' bakery case. Pastries sold will typically be the same at every location, allowing regulars to find their favorite cookies, muffins, or loaves. But before you make eating one of these treats a habit, you should take note of its nutritional content. Many of Starbucks' pastries contain surprisingly high amounts of sugar. According to the American Heart Association, adult women should consume at most 25 grams of sugar per day, and men should consume at most 36 grams of sugar daily. Several Starbucks pastries meet or exceed this amount.
Our ranking includes the most sugar-filled pastries sold at Starbucks. Each of these items contains at least 20 grams of sugar (a lot, according to health professionals). But we're not here to cancel these goodies. Some of these treats are tasty. To help you decide, we've ranked them based on flavor, texture, freshness, and drink compatibility. Here are the most sugary Starbucks drinks, ranked.
14. Chocolate Chip Cookie
Starbucks' Chocolate Chip Cookie is a baked good that contains 31 grams of sugar. By the American Heart Association's standards, that is more than the daily recommended amount for adult women, and nearly the entire amount for adult men. By anyone's standards, this is one sugary cookie. Unfortunately, it doesn't have a reputation for tasting very good, either.
This treat doesn't taste anything like a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie. Instead of being chewy and soft, it's usually crunchy and dry. This is in part due to freshness. But in the end, it's not just a texture problem. The flavors aren't there, either. There is a huge lack of complexity, we think from the absence of spices. None of this is unexpected for a fast-food cookie, but it's not desirable, either.
Starbucks fans disapprove. One unenthusiastic Reddit user described the cookie as just "okay." Even the chain's employees don't like them, with one person saying they "no longer trust" them after their treat caught on fire in the microwave. They were not alone in this unfortunate experience. There isn't much to like about this sugary Starbucks pastry.
13. Snowman Cookie
The Snowman Cookie is a seasonal Starbucks treat that you can find during the holidays (via Starbucks). It may not be available at every location, according to the coffee chain. But to us, that is not bad news. We could take or leave this cookie. At 25 grams of sugar, this is an extra sweet treat. But since it's pretty much lacking in the flavor, texture, and freshness categories, sweetness is all that the Snowman Cookie has going on.
According to one Reddit user, it's at least a little better than the Chocolate Chip Cookie. But that isn't saying much, since none of the cookies at Starbucks are particularly good. Per Brand Eating, the issues with this cookie are its dryness, possibly coming from its lack of freshness. It seems that cookies just don't keep as well as the other pastries sold at Starbucks. For this reason, we'd recommend choosing a different type of dessert.
12. Pumpkin Scone
During the fall, everything at Starbucks gets pumpkin-ized. One of those things is the bakery case. The chain rolls out a series of pumpkin-flavored pastries, with the Pumpkin Scone, Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin, and Pumpkin Loaf all available for purchase. If you have to pick one of the three, don't go with the Pumpkin Scone. Per Starbucks, it has 46 grams of sugar. That's far more than the amount of sugar you're supposed to eat every day.
Many of this dessert's failings come from the fact that it is a scone. Starbucks scones don't have a good track record. They tend to come out too dry or too bread-like. Per Brand Eating, the problem with the Pumpkin Scone is the latter. Additionally, the website criticized the pastry for having two different colors of icing that taste identical to one another, as well as being too sweet. Since the treat is composed of only two components — a scone and an icing layer — and both are said to be pretty bad, we can't recommend it. Stick to other scones and other pumpkin-flavored treats.
11. Blueberry Scone
Starbucks' Blueberry Scone is a step up from the Pumpkin Scone in terms of flavor. It's a step down in terms of sugar content. It contains 22 grams of sugar, which is less than half of its fall counterpart. This means if it's the very end of the day, and you haven't had any sugar yet (somehow), you could eat a Blueberry Scone from Starbucks without exceeding your daily recommended sugar content. But we don't recommend it. Like other scones sold at Starbucks, it has issues.
One Tripadvisor review complained of the pastry's textural problems, saying it was completely dry. Other reviews found the same problem, including one on ChickAdvisor. However, the saving grace of this pastry is that it is reportedly improved upon heating. That's more than can be said of the Pumpkin Scone. You can't even heat that one, as it's covered in moldable icing. For this reason alone, we think the Blueberry Scone is better than its seasonal cousin.
10. Lime Frosted Coconut Bar
The Lime Frosted Coconut Bar, a Starbucks pastry that contains 21 grams of sugar, is a newer addition to the bakery case. The chain released the Lime Frosted Coconut Bar in 2022, according to a company press release. It came out in the summer, which fits some of the flavor notes of the treat. As the name mentions, there is both lime and coconut in it. So you can eat it all up. But when you do, it may not be the most satisfying treat. Customers have complaints about this Starbucks item.
Size is the biggest issue. One Reddit user expanded upon this, writing that it was tasty but felt like a scam given its minuscule size. An employee responded to them, that the Lime Frosted Coconut Bar was overpriced. We don't deny that this item tastes good. But for how small and overpriced it is, we can't rank this item any higher.
9. Cranberry Bliss Bar
The Cranberry Bliss Bar is a Starbucks seasonal item that's offered during the holidays. When it's available, you'll find it alongside treats like the Snowman Cookie. But unlike the Snowman Cookie, the Cranberry Bliss Bar has a fan base. Even though it has 28 grams of sugar, people keep coming back to this treat.
"Cranberry bliss bar is blissful," wrote one person on Facebook. "My favorite has returned," said another person on the social media platform. However, we don't think this bar is for everyone. As Brand Eating points out, this dessert is slightly tangy. The tanginess comes from the dessert's cream cheese topping. Due to this aspect of the treat, we don't think it's universally beloved. It has an audience, but it may be a more niche one than other baked goods from the chain. Other sugary Starbucks pastries are more accessible, in our opinion.
8. Glazed Doughnut
The Glazed Doughnut is a lesser-known Starbucks item. At 30 grams of sugar and nearly 500 calories, it's not exactly light. But lightness is not really what you would expect for a traditional glazed doughnut. It's what we like about it. This fluffy-yet-crunchy, savory-yet-sweet dessert is a classic. At a normal donut shop, it's amazing. At fast-food donut chains like Dunkin', it's still pretty good. At Starbucks, it's a little worse. However, this donut is still better than the chain's cookies, scones, and some of its other pastries.
According to some, the Starbucks Glazed Doughnut is harder to find. One Reddit user explained that some Starbucks do carry donuts, though pastry offerings can vary somewhat by location, so you might not find it at your local store. Because it's more difficult to get your hands on, we have to rank it lower than some other sugary goodies sold by Starbucks.
7. Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin
Starbucks' Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin has 34 grams of sugar. It also has an interesting design. The core is a normal muffin made with pumpkin spices. The exterior is topped with pieces of spiced pepitas (also known as pumpkin seeds). But putting nuts and seeds on a fall-flavored muffin is not exactly unexpected. The weird part is this muffin's filling. The top of the muffin opens up to reveal a filling of sweet cream cheese.
Some people appreciate this unique design. "They are simply divine!! It has that yummy cinnamon, pumpkin flavor that you love in the fall time, and the cream cheese filling is so good," wrote one person. But to other people, it's too indulgent. "The muffin just tastes like the pumpkin loaf with a wad of goo in the middle," shared one of the muffin haters. We have to agree with the detractors. We don't need cream cheese on, or in, a muffin. Stick with higher-ranked baked goods if you want to have a better experience at Starbucks.
6. Blueberry Muffin
The Blueberry Muffin is a standard breakfast pastry at any establishment. At Starbucks (where it contains 29 grams of sugar) it's also a common sight. Per the chain, it consists of a blueberry-filled treat also laced with a hint of lemon and topped with large pieces of crunchy sugar. These small touches do not go unnoticed. When these small things are admired by fans, you know you have a winning pastry on your hands.
"Had blueberry muffin from Starbucks today, scrumptious 10/10 very moist and wasn't dry," said one of the baked goods' many fans. "Can't resist Starbucks blueberry muffin," shared another Blueberry Muffin supporter. However, someone complained that there weren't enough blueberries. "I couldn't really taste blueberries, but still it tasted overall good and it was so soft," said one person on abillion. This isn't what we want from a muffin. For this aspect influencing both flavor and texture, we don't think it's the best sweet treat to get from Starbucks.
5. Banana Walnut & Pecan Loaf
Starbucks' Banana Walnut & Pecan Loaf contains 28 grams of sugar. It is essentially a slice of banana bread with pecans and walnuts mixed into it. As with all of the loaves available at Starbucks, this one is a winner. It seems that this category of dessert simply keeps better than scones, muffins, cookies, and some bars. When you pick up a Banana Walnut & Pecan loaf from Starbucks, it will probably taste somewhat fresh. This means it will also have a good texture, and maybe even a good flavor.
Some customers seem to think so. "Banana & nut bread was delicious," wrote one person on Tripadvisor. Other people think that the quality of the loaf has decreased over the years. One person who's been eating these loaves for a while noted that "it just doesn't have the flavor or texture it used to have. I had it warmed and not warmed, and it just still tastes bland like regular bread but with nuts." Even if this isn't true and the loaf is the same as it's ever been, we still don't think it's the best loaf flavor at Starbucks.
4. Pumpkin & Pepita Loaf
The Pumpkin & Pepita Loaf contains 38 grams of sugar. It is also slightly better in flavor than the Banana Walnut & Pecan Loaf. This is because it comes with pumpkin flavoring. Not only is this a more unique flavoring than banana bread (as you'll find in the prior pastry), but it's also more fitting for Starbucks, a chain known for its pumpkin products. If you wanted to, you could even have this with a Pumpkin Spice Latte. Try to forget what season it is while doing that. You won't be able to. That's also because both items are only offered at Starbucks during the fall.
"The pumpkin and pepita loaf is soooo good," wrote one person on Twitter. They were far from the only fan of the pastry. We would take this Starbucks dessert over many others with a high amount of sugar since it's a loaf with an interesting flavor. However, it's still not the best baked good at the coffee chain.
3. Cinnamon Coffee Cake
Starbucks' Cinnamon Coffee Cake is a classic dessert. It would be for any coffee house. But at Starbucks, it has stood the test of time. Since it's not exactly a health food — with 21 grams of sugar and 15 grams of fat per serving — we can only attribute this thing's lasting success to its taste.
"Why is the cinnamon coffee cake so good...I've been addicted to them lately, it's bad. I wish we could buy a box of them," wrote one person on Reddit. They were not alone in their appreciation for Starbucks' coffee cake. "It's super popular," said someone who claimed to work at Starbucks. This comment explains why another user asked: "Any idea why the classic coffee cake is sold out 95% of the time?" Any dessert that's in such high demand has to be good. With that extra coffee flavor to boot, we bet that this sugary pastry will go great with most Starbucks beverages.
2. Double Chocolate Brownie
With some of our highest-ranked pastries at Starbucks, we have little to no criticism. The Double Chocolate Brownie is one of those baked goods. It has 37 grams of sugar and 480 calories in it, but we can't complain. This dessert is appropriately decadent and extremely chocolatey. It even has large chocolate chunks in it, which are larger than traditional chocolate chips. We like that. If you try this treat once, we bet you will be extremely tempted to get it again. It's that good.
We needn't say more, since this dessert basically speaks for itself on every level. But the reviews of many happy Starbucks customers prove our point. One person even said the pastry was better than any of Starbucks' beverages. "Forget the coffee, go for the brownie," they wrote. If you're going to Starbucks and want something sugary, do yourself a favor and get the delicious Double Chocolate Brownie.
1. Iced Lemon Loaf
It's not lost on us that the highest-ranked Starbucks pastries also have some of the highest levels of sugar. We are aware that the Iced Lemon Loaf has 40 grams of sugar — well more than the daily recommended daily intake — and we rank it first anyway. But there are reasons for this. In texture and flavor, it hits it all out of the park. The flavor is sweet and tangy. The texture of the loaf is soft and moist. The icing, meanwhile, is slightly crunchy and set. On top of that, it's bright-tasting enough to go with many of Starbucks' drinks in which coffee adds a slight bitterness.
People are committed to this item. "I will be buying the lemon loaf for the rest of my life," wrote someone on ChickAdvisor. "Citrus flavours are so refreshing. This is my go-to treat to go with my morning coffee," said another person on the same website. This is just as we expected. It deserves its place in the No. 1 position.