Mid-afternoon Snacks at Starbucks

Starbucks turned 40 on Tuesday, and to celebrate they’ve released a line of new afternoon snacks to go along with their limited-edition anniversary Tribute Blend.

Miniature carrot cake and peanut butter cupcakes can be had for less than 200 calories each. In fact, all their treats — cake pops, whoopie pies, lemon squares, and salty caramel squares — are easy on the waistline.

They’re all delicious, but I especially like the birthday cake-flavored cake pops. The center is doughy with a nibble-y coating of frosting and sprinkles that tastes exactly like birthday cake. You don’t need a whole slice of cake after lunch, and this won’t ruin dinner later.

To extend the birthday fun, Starbucks is offering these snacks for free on March 10-12 from 2-5 p.m. with purchase of a beverage. If you can’t get there on those dates, they’re not that expensive — $1.50 each or two for $2.50. If you’re looking for a reason to pop into Starbucks, they make it hard to say no.

Free samples provided courtesy of Starbucks.