Frozen Pineapple Coconut Bars, Raspberry Donuts, and More: The Best New Trader Joe’s Groceries for August

This year, I asked my friends to dress in a style I called “Subtle Floridian” for my birthday party. I don’t go back to my home state often, so I thought it would be fun to bring the humidity and citrus to Los Angeles, where I currently reside. Even though Trader Joe’s was not necessarily on my invite list, it seems like the grocer got the memo when it came to the new items this month. 

So many of the new groceries hitting shelves felt like they had teleported straight from a few of my hometown haunts. Think: your favorite theme park dessert (without the line and knee sweat), a beachy canned cocktail, and a tropical pastry just begging to be paired with a cafecito. Of course, not every new item can be a winner. 

Of the 25 I tried, there are five I’ll be adding to my list of TJ’s staples next time I want to eat some Subtle Floridian flavors. Plus, one you’ll want to leave in the cooler.

If there is a Fresh Market around, I’m probably inside getting my two ol’ reliables: rotisserie chicken salad and a free half-dozen of buttery croissants. I’m no less than 2500 miles away from this beloved southeastern grocery chain, so this Trader Joe’s pre-made Chicken Salad Croissant Sandwich is really scratching the itch. The croissant also held up super well (no soggy bottoms) considering it’s loaded with mayo-coated chicken (which also is folded with bits of carrot, green onion, and celery) and a perky green bed of lettuce. 

Buy a few of these and you’re halfway to a picnic. Are we finally approaching Affordable Grab & Go Sandwich Democracy? I think so!

These bars are like a certain theme park favorite, but way more refreshing. Cutting a bit of the sweetness (but maintaining the tropical pineapple tartness), these frozen bars feel like a major upgrade. Sure, they might not have a creamy center, but the coconut-y addition makes this feel a bit more tropical. 

They’re obviously perfect right out of the box. I could also see these being a fun ‘n’ flirty little addition to your favorite glass of bubbly for a casual spritz-mosa situation.

I’ve yet to be disappointed with the Everything But The Bartender series of canned cocktails Trader Joe’s has rolled out and these bittersweet, tart palomas just might be the best of the bunch. For someone who likes the taste of alcohol, these cans manage to have that full-proof tequila flavor of a bar-made cocktail. Combine that with the fresh-tasting grapefruit, and I truly think you could pour these over ice and dupe everyone that you’re an expert mixologist.

Ever the cheese nerd, I’ve long had a running list entitled “Why Doesn’t Trader Joe’s Offer This Cheese Yet” with paneer solidly at the top. But! The time is now; it finally happened. You now can get paneer cheese at Trader Joe’s and not just via the frozen Indian dinners! 

And no duh, it’s excellent and such a steal. I usually have to make a whole separate grocery stop (and spend twice as much) to get a solid block of salty, tangy paneer. No more! I now can make palak paneer and grilled paneer skewers and paneer sandwiches and … and … and … there’s no end to the opportunities, really.

Proust had his madeleines. I had my raspberry donuts at Gooding’s, a long-closed Orlando grocery store. Sometimes you just have a vivid food memory that never leaves your mind and those bright and fruity, not-too-sweet, light, and fluffy donuts have haunted me for years. 

Somehow Trader Joe’s managed to make a nearly identical replacement that more than nails all the best parts of a donut (okay, these are way more cute and pink). Plus, they only need a quick two-hour defrost before they’re ready. Imagine a light, sugar-dusted beignet mixed with a classic yeasty fried jelly donut that’s then shrunken down to a slightly-bigger-than-donut-hole size, and you’ll have a very good idea about how good these donuts are. 

Look, I am no minimalist. More usually means more! But in the case of this new ice cream (that’s loaded with candy-coated pretzels, chocolate sandwich cookies, rainbow sprinkles, a peanut butter swirl, and mini peanut butter cups), it’s all just WAY too much. Like, we could have stopped at the peanut butter swirl and the sandwich cookies and sprinkles and been more than fine here.

I found this to be cloyingly sweet and a bit off-the-rails in terms of the flavors — almost as if I let my six-year-old nephew make a Cold Stone-style creation without thinking of the end result (what is the vision here?!). Plus, the ice cream could stand to be creamier to hold up to all the candied bits. I said what I said. 

Which new Trader Joe’s item are you most excited about? Tell us in the comments.

This post originally appeared on The Kitchn. See it there: A Delicious $4 Croissant Sandwich, Fluffy Donuts, and More: The Best New Trader Joe’s Groceries for August