COFFEE chain Costa have unveiled this year's Christmas menu - which includes Terry's Chocolate Orange Muffins, an expanded vegan range, and its iconic festive cups.

The coffee shop's Christmas menu, which launches next month, will see the arrival of a new Irish Velvet range - with cappuccinos, lattes, hot chocolates and ice blended drinks, Frostino's.

Fans of spice will also have their Christmas wishes granted this year, with the introduction of a new festive spiced cappuccino, seasoned with cinnamon, nutmeg and star anise.

The new festive showstoppers join much-loved returning fan favourites, including black forest and cream hot chocolate, plus gingerbread and hazelnut praline, all available as lattes or hot chocolate.

Launching for the first time is the limited edition Christmas tea, a blend of Sri Lankan tea leaves and aromatic winter spice. The hot spiced apple is served with a slice of lemon for added winter zest.

A tantalising range of sweet treats have also been added to the menu.

New this year is the Terry's Chocolate Orange Muffin, filled with chocolate orange sauce and topped with a segment of the iconic chocolate orange, along with a black and white forest wreath cake, a salted caramel yule log, and a Clementine and mascarpone loaf cake.

Traditional mince pies are also re-joining the line-up.

Coffee bosses say last year's raved-about British pigs and blankets with mac and cheese, British beef and caramelised onion baguette plus brie, bacon and cranberry panini are all back with new and improved recipes.

An extended range of vegan options have also been unveiled.

They include a veggies under vest sandwich, filled with falafel and parsnip stuffing, carrot, cranberry sauce, vegan mayonnaise and fresh spinach.

Among the vegan sweet treats are a vegan and gluten free mince tart, a vegan rocky road, plus gluten free and vegan rich fruit Christmas cake slice.

Eric Tavoukdjian, commercial marketing director at Costa Coffee said: “Christmas is always such a magical time of year at Costa Coffee and we’re incredibly excited to launch our best menu to date.

"The new Irish Velvet family is sure to be a big hit and the Terry’s Chocolate Orange Muffin will be making thousands of Chocoholics wishes come true.

"We hope families and friends are inspired to come together and enjoy a Christmas treat in-store this season.”

The Christmas menu will be available in stores nationwide from Friday, November 1.