Review: Starbucks Valentine’s Day Menu

Reese Carsley and Lily Bruch • February 20, 2026

Starbucks releases their Valentine’s Day menu on Feb. 3, which typically runs until Feb. 14 or until stock runs out. Priced regularly and tasting delicious, this menu is definitely one for the books.

Starbucks released their Valentine’s Day menu on Feb. 3, which typically runs until Feb. 14 or until stock runs out. Priced regularly and tasting delicious, this menu is definitely one for the books.

White Chocolate Strawberry Cream Cold Brew

The White Chocolate Strawberry Cream Cold Brew is for coffee lovers looking to add a sweet twist to their daily caffeine fix. It is a bold, cold brew layered with a creamy white chocolate strawberry cold foam. The drink is inspired by chocolate-covered strawberries, a sweet treat we all know and love. A grande size costs $5.95, a surprisingly reasonable price for Starbucks.

Rating: 4/5

Story continues below advertisement

Strawberry Short Cake Frappuccino

Sadly, only a limited-time drink, the Strawberry Short Cake Frappuccino blends a strawberry creme base, strawberry puree and a cinnamon dolce syrup, topped with whipped cream and caramel sugar. While some may mistake this drink for ice cream and criticize its sweetness, others love its sweetness. A grande size for the frappuccino is $6.45, matching the prices of other frappuccinos that Starbucks offers.

Rating: 3.5/5

Valentine’s Day Cake Pop and Chocolate Cake Pop

A vanilla cake base mixed with buttercream, topped with red-chocolate icing and decorated with a heart design, Starbucks says this item is “full of love,” a statement we confirmed after tasting. This treat is perfect for treating oneself or giving to a loved one. It is $3.95, or 100 stars for Starbucks members, a slightly pricey number for such a small product. The Chocolate Cake pop was nothing short of the vanilla flavor, a chocolate cake mixed with chocolate buttercream and topped with chocolate icing and white sprinkles. Although it is not as festive, this flavor takes the heart of loyal chocolate lovers. It is $3.75, just 20 cents cheaper than the Valentine’s Day one.

Rating: 5/5

Cinnamon Pull-Apart

While some of the other limited-time pastries are a clear fan favorite, the Cinnamon Pull-Apart has slightly more subjective reviews. The soft, almost buttery texture is an excellent companion to a warm beverage. It also had a slight biscuit-like consistency, which was unexpected upon first bite. We recommend asking for the pastry to be warmed because it can be slightly dry at room temperature. Additionally, it was slightly lacking in the cinnamon department. When considering whether the Cinnamon Pull-Apart is a worthy companion to your drink of choice, its low price of $3.45 indulges customers to take the risk.

Rating: 3.5/5

Though the Valentine’s menu has fewer items than other popular seasonal menus, the drinks and pastries are worth branching out of your go-to order. For the month of love, these items are certainly trying to make everyone feel the sentiment.

Donate to The Falconer

Your donation will support the student journalists of Torrey Pines High School. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.

About the Contributors

Reese Carsley, News Editor

Coming back to the Falconer with fresh ideas and a foreign perspective, Reese Carsley is ready to make up for lost time! After an enlightening year studying abroad, she finds herself hoping to bring elements of what she’s learned to the newspaper and make her voice heard. After two years on the Falconer, one as a staff writer and one as a foreign correspondent, Reese is ready to step up as the News Editor. As someone who loves educating those around her and working with a team to stay up to date with current events, this position is perfect for her. She is looking forward to stirring up some change in the newsroom this year and working closely with staff writers on more investigative pieces. If Carsley isn’t editing a story on her computer, you can find her swimming at the beach with some friends, practicing morning yoga or going on a run with her dogs. She is heavily interested in her community and helping those within it, so you can find her comforting her peers or working at the crisis help line. Carsley cannot wait to kick senior year off strong, and while the Falconer is going to be one of her hardest goodbyes, she knows this year is going to be her best one yet!

Lily Bruch, Arts and Entertainment Editor

As Lily Bruch continues her dedication to the Falconer in her second—and senior—year, she steps into the role of Entertainment Editor with excitement and curiosity. With a passion for storytelling and a keen eye for the arts, Bruch is ready to bring a creative spark to the section and help shape the Falconer’s voice during her final year. Outside the newsroom, she is a physical therapy intern, where she continues to explore her interest in health and hands-on care. When she’s not writing, interning or editing pages, you can find her crafting jewelry whenever Michaels has a sale, sunset swimming in the ocean with her best friends or putting on fashion shows in her living room. Whether chasing stories or butterflies-in-the-stomach moments, Bruch is eager to make her last year on staff unforgettable.