Although sitting in Starbucks with your favorite drink and snack is no longer an option because of COVID-19 shelter-in-place restrictions, these food and drinks can still be made from home. These recipes are dupes for the food and drinks found at Starbucks that I have taste-tested.

Flavorful Food

Chocolate Cake Pops

Yield: 36 cake pops

Ingredients:

• Chocolate cake (premade cake can be used)
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup white granulated sugar
  • 1/3 cup cocoa powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup boiling water
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 9 x 9 inch pan
• Chocolate buttercream (premade buttercream can be used)
  • 1 stick unsalted butter (1/2 cup)
  • 1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup cocoa powder
  • Pinch of salt
• 2 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (Merckens Candy Melts work as well and dry faster)
• White sugar sprinkles
• 36 cake pop sticks
• Cake pop stand (makeshift stands can be made by poking holes in styrofoam)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Combine the flour, sugar, cocoa powder and salt in a large bowl.
3. Whisk eggs, oil and vanilla in a separate medium bowl.
4. Add the wet ingredients to the larger bowl of dry ingredients and mix together with a large spoon.
5. Add boiling water and whisk until everything is evenly combined.
6. Pour the batter on a greased 9 by 9 inch pan, and bake for 25 minutes. (The cake is fully baked when an inserted toothpick comes out clean.)
7. While the cake is cooling, start making the buttercream.
8. Beat the softened stick of butter until creamy.
9. Gradually add in the powdered sugar, cocoa powder and salt.
10. Once combined, add in the heavy cream and vanilla extract.
11. Let the buttercream sit, and crumble the chocolate cake in the pan.
12. Add the crumbled cake to the buttercream, and combine until the mixture is moist and can form balls.
13. Make about 36 balls and place on a tray, refrigerating for one hour.
14. Melt 2 1/2 cups chocolate chips by microwaving for three minutes in 30-second intervals, stirring in between.
15. Dip the tip of the cake pop stick into the chocolate and insert into the cake balls, and let the chocolate harden.
16. Dip the cake balls into the chocolate until fully covered, and set upright using a cake pop stand to cool.
17. Add sugar sprinkles to the top of the cake pop.
18. Let the chocolate harden for about one hour and enjoy.

Turkey and Basil Pesto Sandwich

Yield: 1 sandwich

Ingredients:

• 2 slices turkey deli meat
• 2 slices provolone cheese
• 2 tablespoons basil pesto
• 2-3 dry red roasted peppers
• 2 slices ciabatta or sourdough bread

Instructions:

1. Spread two tablespoons of pesto on the two slices of bread.
2. Place the dry sides of the bread on a pan, and heat at medium on a stove.
3. Add the slices of cheese and turkey to one of the slices of bread.
4. Once the cheese starts melting, add the dry roasted peppers on the cheese.
5. Place the other bread on top, and continue heating the bread until it is golden brown.
6. Flip and allow the other side to become golden brown as well.
7. Cut in half and enjoy.

Spinach, Feta, and Egg White Wrap

Yield: 1 wrap

Ingredients:

• 2 egg whites
• 1/4 cup spinach
• 1 teaspoon feta cheese
• 1/2 tomato diced
• Whole wheat tortilla or wrap

Instructions:

1. Separate two egg yolks from the egg.
2. Cook the egg whites in a pan on medium-high heat.
3. Once the eggs are almost fully cooked, add the tortilla/wrap on top.
4. Flip the tortilla/wrap and continue cooking for one to two more minutes.
5. While the tortilla/wrap is browning, add the spinach and tomatoes to another pan on medium-high heat.
6. Cook until the spinach is wilted.
7. Add the spinach and tomatoes to the egg-side of the tortilla/wrap.
8. Add feta cheese and fold like a burrito.
9. Cut in half and enjoy.

Confetti Sugar Cookie

Yield: 16 large cookies

Ingredients:

• Sugar cookie mix, such as Betty Crocker
  • 1 stick softened butter
  • 1 egg
• 2 cups white chocolate chips
• Colored sugar sprinkles

Instructions:

1. Prepare the sugar cookie as instructed on the package.
2. Place larger balls, about 2 tablespoons, on the tray and bake according to the package.
3. Let the cookies cool fully, about 45 minutes.
4. Melt the white chocolate chips by microwaving for three minutes in 30-second intervals, stirring in between.
5. Dip half the cookie in the white chocolate, and add the sprinkles.
6. Let the chocolate harden and enjoy.

Delicious Drinks

Caramel Frappuccino

Yield: 16 ounces, equivalent to a grande

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup cold coffee
• 1/2 cup of milk
• 1 cup of ice
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1-2 tablespoon sugar or sweetener
• 2 tablespoons caramel syrup
• Whipped cream

Instructions:

1. Add the ice, milk, cold coffee, vanilla extract, sugar and caramel to a blender.
2. Blend on high for two minutes until smooth.
3. Add to a glass and top with whipped cream and caramel syrup.

Caramel Apple Spice

Yield: 16 ounces, equivalent to a grande

Ingredients:

• 2 cups apple juice
• 1 cinnamon stick
• Whipped cream
• Caramel sauce

Instructions:

1. Heat two cups of apple juice in the microwave for two minutes on high.
2. Add the cinnamon stick to the juice, letting them soak for five minutes.
3. Add whipped cream and caramel sauce and enjoy.

Iced Chai Tea Latte

Yield: 16 ounces, equivalent to a grande

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cup black tea
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 cloves
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/2 cup ice

Instructions:

1. Boil 1 1/2 cups water and add a black tea bag once the water is boiled.
2. Remove the tea from heat to a glass.
3. Add the cinnamon and cloves, letting them soak for three minutes.
4. Once room temperature, remove the cloves, cinnamon and teabag.
5. In a larger glass, add ice, milk and the tea.

Iced Peach Green Tea Lemonade

Yield: 16 ounces, equivalent to a grande

Ingredients:

• 1/2 peach
• 1 cup green tea
• 1 cup lemonade
• 2 tablespoons sweetener
• 1/2 cup ice

Instructions:

1. Boil 1 cup of water, add a green tea bag once the water is boiled.
2. Add slices from the peach and sweetener, letting them soak for three minutes.
3. Remove the tea from heat and let it cool.
4. Once room temperature, remove the peach slices and teabag.
5. In a larger glass, add ice, lemonade and green tea.