It’s that time of year again: Fall ends, and the green starts to fade from the trees and your pockets. Yea, you’re broke AF. You begin to question how you became a struggling student. Was it the $400 textbooks (possible)? Or maybe the emergency Kraft Dinner (likely)? After all, you’ve been nothing but fiscally responsible. Well… Except for Starbucks.

But you’ve only been to Starbucks twice a week. Or maybe it was twice a day. Except for Monday; you went three times. Or was that Tuesday? It’s hard to say.

If you’re anything like me, you’re basically funding your local Starbucks. So what’s a struggling student in need of a coffee fix to do? Never fear. I have four fantastic frappuccino recipes for you.

If you’re frowning at the screen and asking yourself why I’m pretentious enough to call it a frappuccino (why can’t this girl just call it a frappe?), then there’s a simple explanation. If a frappe is your low-key outfit for a night at the bar, then a frappuccino is your best dress for a runway premiere: it pulls out all the extras. Sprinkles, whipped cream, extra syrup; you name it. The works. Plus, the word “Frappuccino” is a registered trademark of Starbucks. You can’t get more authentic than that.

Here’s what you have to look forward to:

Pumpkin Pie Frappuccino – Okay, okay, you’re probably sick of pumpkin by now. You’ve been force fed pumpkin lattes, pumpkin brownies, pumpkin cheesecake, and pumpkin pumpkin (say what?). But have you tried a pumpkin frappuccino? No? I rest my case.

Chai Latte Frappuccino – A chai latte is like your first celebrity crush — you’ll never give up on it. No matter what other drinks come between you, a chai latte is always your basic backup. And now it’s looking better than ever. You’re welcome.

Gingerbread Frappuccino – Is it ever too early to get in the holiday spirit? Unleash the Christmas fever with this festive frappe. You can even top it with a bit of candy cane sprinkled on the rim. I don’t judge.

Vanilla Bean Frappuccino – Nothing says cozy better than Netflix, fuzzy slippers, and a vanilla bean frappuccino. Plus, vanilla is known as the universal scent, so it’s guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser at study group. Einstein’s Theory of Relativity never tasted so good.

Pumpkin Pie Frappuccino

  • Prep Time:5 minutes
  • Cook Time:2 minutes
  • Total Time:7 minutes
  • Servings:3
  • Easy

    Ingredients

  • 1 cup semi-skimmed milk
  • 3/4 can pumpkin
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 3 tablespoon mixed spice
  • 2 cup ice
  • Whipped cream
  • Cinnamon
Photo by Jody Brimacombe
  • Step 1

    Pour 1/2 cup boiling water into small bowl. Stir in 1/2 cup brown sugar to form a syrup, then refrigerate.

  • Step 2

    Add milk, pumpkin, mixed spice, and ice to blender.

  • Step 3

    Once cool, add syrup mixture to blender. Blend until desired consistency.

  • Step 4

    Garnish with dollop of whipped cream and dash of cinnamon.

Chai Latte Frappuccino

  • Prep Time:5 minutes
  • Cook Time:2 minutes
  • Total Time:7 minutes
  • Servings:2
  • Easy

    Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 4 chai tea bags
  • 2 cup ice
  • 3/4 cup semi-skimmed milk
  • Whipped cream
Photo by Jody Brimacombe
  • Step 1

    Pour 1/2 cup boiling water into a small bowl. Add 4 chai tea bags and 1/2 cup sugar. Stir.

  • Step 2

    After 10 minutes, remove chai tea bags from bowl. Refrigerate mixture of flavored water and sugar until cool.

  • Step 3

    Pour milk, ice, and chai tea mixture into blender. Blend until desired consistency.

  • Step 4

    Top drink with whipped cream.

Gingerbread Frappuccino

  • Prep Time:5 minutes
  • Cook Time:2 minutes
  • Total Time:7 minutes
  • Servings:2
  • Easy

    Ingredients

  • 1 cup semi-skimmed milk
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoon dark treacle
  • 2 cup ice
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
  • Instant coffee
  • Whipped cream
Photo by Jody Brimacombe
  • Step 1

    Pour milk, sugar, dark treacle, ice, cinnamon, ground ginger, and instant coffee into a blender.

  • Step 2

    Blend until desired consistency.

  • Step 3

    Garnish with whipped cream.

Vanilla Bean Frappuccino

  • Prep Time:5 minutes
  • Cook Time:2 minutes
  • Total Time:7 minutes
  • Servings:2
  • Easy

    Ingredients

  • 2 cup semi-skimmed milk
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup ice
  • Instant coffee
  • Whipped cream
Photo by Jody Brimacombe
  • Step 1

    Pour milk, maple syrup, vanilla extract, salt, ice, and instant coffee into blender.

  • Step 2

    Blend until desired consistency.

  • Step 3

    Top drink with whipped cream.