A White chocolate mocha, light brown coffee drink in a clear cup topped with whipped cream and toasted coconut flakes.
Photography, Stacey Brandford. Styling, Heather Shaw. Prop styling, Jemima Sutherland.

White Chocolate Mocha

This delightfully sweet drink is the ultimate Starbucks dupe.

This perfectly sweet white chocolate mocha can bring a special touch to your holiday entertaining. It only takes 10 minutes to make, so you can whip up this Starbucks dupe to warm up the whole family after a long day outside in the cold.

This white chocolate mocha also only requires three components. The versatile white chocolate sauce, which features white chocolate chips and 1-2 shots of espresso, can be drizzled on top of other holiday treats, like Gingerbread Bundt Cake. Frothy and light, you can use the coconut whipped cream on your regular hot chocolate or coffees too.

About this recipe

What is a mocha?

A mocha (sometimes called a caffè mocha or mocha latte) is a coffee drink that blends espresso, steamed milk and chocolate. It’s essentially a chocolate-flavoured latte. (Or a coffee-flavoured hot chocolate depending on how much coffee you include?

What makes a mocha a mocha?

  • Espresso – the coffee base
  • Chocolate – usually chocolate syrup, cocoa powder or a chocolate sauce
  • Steamed milk – usually dairy, but you can use plant-based milk as well
  • Whipped cream (optional) – common in café versions

Why is it called “mocha”?

The name comes from Mocha, Yemen, an old port city famous for exporting coffee beans with naturally chocolate-like notes. Over time, the term “mocha” evolved to mean coffee and chocolate.

White Chocolate Mocha vs. Classic Mocha

A classic mocha is made with espresso, steamed milk, and chocolate—usually dark or milk chocolate syrup or cocoa—giving it a rich, cocoa-forward flavour.

A white chocolate mocha, on the other hand, replaces the dark chocolate with white chocolate, which is made from cocoa butter rather than cocoa solids. Because of this, a white chocolate mocha drink tastes:

  • Sweeter and creamier
  • More vanilla-forward
  • Less bitter or cocoa-heavy

The base is the same (espresso and milk), but the flavour profile is lighter, silkier and more dessert-like –ljust like our White Chocolate Macadamia Coconut Cookies.

 

A White chocolate mocha, light brown coffee drink in a clear cup topped with whipped cream and toasted coconut flakes.

Better-than-Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha

Soo Kim
This homemade white chocolate mocha is a true Starbucks dupe, made with real white chocolate, steamed milk, and fresh-brewed espresso for a rich, creamy sweetness without any artificial syrups. It comes together in minutes and delivers a smoother, more luxurious flavour than the café version.

Ingredients

Coconut Whipped Cream

  • ½ cup 35% cream
  • 1 tbsp icing sugar
  • ¼ tsp coconut extract

White Chocolate Sauce

  • ¼ cup white chocolate chips
  • tsp coconut oil
  • 1-2 shots espresso
  • pinch salt

Mocha

  • 1 cup whole or dairy-free milk

Garnish

  • 4-5 coconut chips or toasted coconut chips

Instructions
 

Coconut Whipped Cream

  • In small bowl, whisk cream, icing sugar and coconut extract until almost-stiff peaks form. Refrigerate.

White Chocolate Sauce

  • In microwave-safe mug, combine chocolate and coconut oil. Microwave in 20- to 30-second intervals, stirring, until melted. Stir in espresso and salt.

White Chocolate Mocha

  • Heat and froth milk using frother or microwave. Pour over white chocolate sauce mixture, stirring until combined. Top with coconut whipped cream and garnish with coconut chips.
Keyword coconut, coconut cream, coffee, coffee drinks, cream, festive drinks, white chocolate

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