Starbucks’ Fall Menu Leak Teases 3 New Drinks We Can’t Wait To Try

Taylor Swift Chai Sugar Cookies

I probably made these 5 times last year, and I can't wait to do it all again this season! These chai cookies, popularized by none other than Taylor Swift herself, are perfectly plump, chewy, crispy, and sweet all at once. The warm chai spice is fall's best flavor match, especially when you enjoy 'em with a hot PSL or spiked coffee. The sweet icing is non-negotiable! (via Brit + Co)

Paleo Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Pumpkin and chocolate, what more could you want?! These Paleo-approved cookies are crafted with wholesome ingredients, so you can feel good about indulging any time of day. (via Sarah Anderson for Brit + Co)

Pumpkin Pie Cookies

Crumbl, who? These copycat cookies are like a tasty hybrid between a pie and a cookie, and they couldn't be yummier. Each one is super dense, so just one will do you in perfectly this fall. (via Chahinez of Lifestyle of a Foodie for Brit + Co)

Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

Fear not, gluten-free babes. Here's a fall cookie recipe for you! These GF chocolate chip cookies are just as ooey-gooey as their non-GF counterparts, and they're super easy to whip up. Plus, you can freeze the dough in individual portions to stretch the shelf life of this recipe and have cookies on-deck all fall long! (via Brit + Co)

Spider Halloween Cookies

If you just can't wait for Halloween, these cute lil' spider cookies will help you dish up all the spooky vibes ahead of time. A Reese's cup spider sits atop an "oh-so tender" snickerdoodle cookie base, which is a total match made in Halloween dessert heaven. (via Chahinez of Lifestyle of a Foodie for Brit + Co)

Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies

Forget s'mores – these marshmallow cookies look entirely too appetizing. The chocolate cookie base is chewy and soft, complementing the melty 'mallow seamlessly. Each bite is topped off with a layer of melted chocolate to really seal the deal. Add this fall cookie recipe to your bake list, stat! (via Completely Delicious)

Bakery Style Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Oatmeal raisin cookies will always hit the spot no matter the time of year, but the warm spices and oatmeal notes they deliver seem especially perfect for eating on a cozy fall evening. This recipe emulates fresh cookies from a bakery, so you can snack on a high-quality sweet treat without ever leaving the house – or paying a premium price for a single cookie! (via Kathryn's Kitchen)

Vegan Peanut Butter Kisses

These vegan cookies are a total classic. The "tender and moist peanut butter cookie" will have you in a trance, while the "irresistible dark chocolate ganache center" will leave you craving more! (via Vanilla and Bean)

Brown Butter Pumpkin Oatmeal Latte Cookies

Brown butter is the best (and easiest) way to level up your fall cookie recipes. It adds some nuanced flavor notes that you just don't get from un-browned butter, plus a nice nuttiness that feels super fall-like. These oatmeal-packed cookies also boast pumpkin, so they'll work really well with your morning PSL. (via Half Baked Harvest)

Thumbprint Cookies

I love making thumbprint cookies because you can customize them based on the jam you have on-hand, or even make a few different varieties depending on your mood. These "buttery" shortbread cookies are complete with whatever you choose! (via Feel Good Foodie)

Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies with Cranberries and Chocolate Chunks

Talk about loaded. These fall cookies settle into the season in such a tasty way, thanks to dried cranberries and copious amounts of chocolate chunks. They're made with whole grains and no refined sugar, so they've gotta be healthy, right?! Sweetened with maple syrup and finished with a dash of cinnamon and pumpkin spice, you'll be baking these (and devouring them) every week. (via Bowl of Delicious)

Five Spice Snickerdoodle Cookies

These cookies boast star anise, cloves, Chinese cinnamon, Sichuan pepper, and fennel seeds to form their flavor. Think of them like a more complex snickerdoodle! They come together in just 30 minutes, which is definitely preferred on busy fall evenings. (via Takes Two Eggs)

One-Bowl Vegan Chocolate Chunk Cookies

One bowl and 15 minutes is all you need to create some seriously good vegan chocolate chunk cookies. The best part about this recipe in particular is it leverages wholesome ingredients, so your cookies come out healthier than most other fall cookie recipes. They're totally snack-worthy, no matter what time of day it is! (via Rachel Mansfield)

Brown Butter & Maple Chewy Pumpkin Cookies

These chewy cookies satisfy every fall craving you could possibly have: brown butter, maple, and pumpkin. Top 'em off with some chunky sea salt, and prepare to be impressed. (via Butternut Bakery)

I traveled to four of the most popular coffee chains that got ahead of the PSL game this season: Starbucks, Dunkin’, Krispy Kreme, and Dutch Bros. Not only did I set out to find the best-tasting PSL (though taste is a huge factor), I also wanted to see how they measured up in terms of price. Coffee is not always cheap these days! Scroll on to discover the best PSL you can order, according to my taste test.

Starbucks

Order: Tall hot PSL

Cost: $5.75

If there’s one thing I can count on from a Starbucks PSL, it’s comfort. Maybe it’s the nostalgia in me, but that first sip is always soothing. Starbucks’ classic PSL is perfectly sweet, but there’s not a ton of spice. I do really enjoy how creamy the pumpkin spice flavor is – likely because they use a thick pumpkin sauce as opposed to a syrup.

I ordered a hot PSL in a tall size for my taste test (because I knew my stomach couldn’t, well, stomach three more standard-sized PSLs), though I wished I had requested a grande. Larger sizes at Starbucks are crafted with more espresso, so I didn’t get a ton of coffee notes from the tall swig that only had one shot. After a solid 5-minute sip session, I have to grant Starbucks’ PSL 3.5/5 stars. The lack of a caffeinated coffee punch and a wild abundance of orange (the drink’s color is quite jarring) left me no choice but to knock off some points.

Dunkin’

Order: Small hot PSL

Cost: $5.19

Dunkin’s PSL is definitely worth skipping. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m a Dunkin’ girly through and through (their Dunkalatte is bangin’), but upon first sip of their PSL, I gagged – I can’t lie. Their PSL is way too sweet and literally just tastes like syrup. Transparently, I tasted a lot more vanilla than pumpkin flavor (and a hint of candle fragrance), which was disappointing, given the drink is literally called Pumpkin Spice Latte.

I felt like I needed to take a big breath and touch grass after drinking it. To top it off, the little espresso I detected the drink tasted very bitter and burnt. For the money I spent, I can definitively say it’s not worth it. It’s gonna be 1/5 stars for me, thanks!

Dutch Bros

Order: Small hot PSL

Cost: $4.85

Next on my taste test was Dutch Bros. I don’t often make a beeline to this coffee chain, but I was pretty loyal to them in college (for the Cocomo alone), so my hopes were fairly high. I ordered a small hot PSL – and it was definitely pumpkiny. Concerningly pumpkiny, even. Their pumpkin flavor read more savory than sweet in my opinion, which I think could offer a fun and refreshing sip when you’re tired of downing super-sweet drinks.

At this point in the taste test, I was tweaking hard from all the sugar and caffeine I had consumed, but the depth of flavor with Dutch Bros’ PSL ultimately impressed me. The best part was I wasn’t missing out on the espresso at all! The espresso was extremely prevalent even in the small-sized drink. I’m not sure I would order it again since my nearest Dutch Bros is 20 minutes from home, but it certainly earned my stamp of approval. That’s a 4/5 star rating for you, Dutch.

Krispy Kreme

Order: Small hot PSL

Cost: $2.59

@athenaspud#traderjoes#totebag♬ O Fortuna - Epic Trailer Version - Hidden Citizens

The Trader Joe’s mini tote bags first dropped at the grocer in March, and shoppers went absolutely crazy for them. Some stores were totally flooded with a frenzy of customers hoping to add one to their cart. They were sold for a limited time, and there’s since been hundreds of eBay listings marking the bags up 3 to 4 (and even 6) times their original price.

According to the Trader Joe’s website, the canvas mini tote bags are crafted from a “heavy duty” blend of 65% cotton and 35% polyester. Made to be a scaled-down version of their original canvas totes, the mini bags still boast “long, comfortable handles” to help you carry your grocery hauls comfortably.

They come in four “vibrant” colors: navy, yellow, red, or forest green, and measure about 13 inches long, 11 inches tall, and 6 inches wide. The Trader Joe’s mini tote bags also feature a single side pocket to set aside certain items. They retail for just $2.99.

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Trader Joe’s mini tote bags are rumored to return to stores on September 18, but right now, there’s really no telling if there will be another crazy customer frenzy for buying them. Based on previous drops, these limited-time items will certainly stir up some substantial hype, so if you want to snag one, it might be a good idea to stop in at your closest TJ’s the minute they open on September 18.

Many stores typically open around 8am, but make sure to check your local location’s hours beforehand. More importantly, when you arrive, act appropriately and ensure you’re respecting the workers there!