These Are The Starbucks Frappuccinos That Are Gluten-Free

Are you the gluten-free friend in your foodie crew? We feel you. Having a gluten-free diet can be a challenge when going out to a restaurant. While your gang should know by now that you prefer going places with a solid GF menu, there are luckily plenty of restaurant options for today's gluten-free eaters. But what about coffee chains like Starbucks?

Going out to a coffee shop is a favorite pastime of GF customers and gluten eaters alike, and though it's sometimes tricky to track down a gluten-free pastry option, coffee is always a safe bet. Most coffee and espresso drinks are gluten-free, so ordering a pour-over cup of coffee, americano, or cappuccino is a good option. When it comes to more ingredient-heavy Starbucks options like a Frappuccino, however, you need to be more careful. 

Unfortunately for GF patrons, Starbucks employees can't always guarantee that a menu item is completely gluten-free. As Verywell Fit confirmed with representatives from the company, cross-contamination is possible in many scenarios. Some things are for sure: If you're gluten-free, you should avoid the Java Chip Frappuccino since java chips have wheat, as well as anything containing pumpkin spice, as there have been some reports of the seasonal caramel sauce containing traces of gluten. But don't worry, when you have a hankering for a Frappuccino but can't risk any gluten, you still have a long list of options.

The number-one key when ordering a gluten-free Frappuccino, besides looking at the menu and asking Starbucks staff members, is avoiding any ingredients that typically contain gluten, like java chips, sprinkles, or flour in any form. Chocolate Cookie Crumble Crème Frappuccino? No can do. 

Instead, PureWow recommends ordering a Frappuccino (or any coffee drink) with gluten-free flavored syrups, like vanilla, caramel, hazelnut, cinnamon dolce, peppermint, coconut, mocha, or white mocha. Be careful not to confuse the caramel syrup with caramel drizzle, as the latter topping can have gluten and often tops drinks like the caramel macchiato. 

As for Frappuccinos specifically, Taste of Home says its safe for GF customers to order both several coffee Frappuccinos — like the chocolate, peppermint mocha, and cafe vanilla kinds — and coffee-free Fraps, such as white hot chocolate, strawberry creme, and green tea creme. Plus, you can order whipped cream on top as it is usually gluten-free as well. This all means you can still enjoy a thrilling visit to the Starbucks drive-thru for a deliciously frosty coffee treat. Or, if you want to avoid the trouble altogether, you could simply go to the convenience store and grab a gluten-free bottled Starbucks Frappuccino.