I Tried a Bunch of Trader Joe’s Fall Foods — These Are the 10 You Have to Get
If you’re anything like me, you look forward to Trader Joe’s seasonal items like little kids look forward to gifts from Santa on Christmas morning. Fall is a particularly exciting time in the grocery store’s aisles, as it has a reputation for delivering the best of the best when it comes to autumnal specialties. This year has been no exception, so naturally, I had to sample some of the most exciting fall treats on the shelves of Trader Joe’s, and of course, I had to rank them to help you decide which ones to try and which to skip. These are ranked by most favorite to least, so buy accordingly!
Pumpkin Cheesecake Croissants
When I first removed these pastries from their packaging I was skeptical, but Trader Joe’s did not disappoint. These Pumpkin Cheesecake Croissants were everything I’d hoped they would be and more — just the right amount of sweet, mildly cheesy, flaky, and delicious. If there’s one fall item you try before the season ends, may it be the Pumpkin Cheesecake Croissants. They are more than worth the 26 minutes you have to wait for them to bake.
Honeycrisp Apple Cinnamon Greek Yogurt
Honeycrisp Apple Cinnamon is undeniably the Greek yogurt flavor I never knew I needed. It’s just a little sweet and has the perfect amount of cinnamon spice. I wish this were a flavor Trader Joe’s offered all year round because it might be my all-time favorite. If yogurt didn’t have an expiration date, I would buy every single-serving cup in the refrigerated section of my nearest Trader Joe’s.
Honeycrisp Apple Granola
Trader Joe’s Honeycrisp Apple Granola is the perfect addition to plain Greek yogurt and is also delicious as a standalone cereal. It has a mildly sweet flavor with little pieces of dried apple mixed throughout, and while I likely never would have thought of putting dried apples in granola, I find myself wondering why we haven’t been doing it all along.
Organic Vermont Maple Syrup
Maple syrup is a must on pancakes, and that goes double in the fall. Trader Joe’s Organic Vermont Maple Syrup is bourbon-barrel aged and tastes like fall in a bottle. If you’re having a hard time getting into the autumnal spirit, pour a little of this syrup on your waffles!
Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
Until my first bite of Trader Joe’s Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese, I never knew mac and cheese could taste like autumn, but the addition of butternut squash and thyme really transformed the classic dish into a seasonal favorite. If mac and cheese is your jam, you’ll definitely want to give this item a try, so don’t skip the frozen food aisle on your next trip to Trader Joe’s.
Pumpkin Sticky Toffee Cakes
Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Sticky Toffee Cakes come out of the oven looking exactly like the photo on the box, which was impressive in and of itself, and the cake itself is quite delicious. The combination of pumpkin, toffee, and just the right amount of spice makes this cake the perfect dessert for a cozy fall evening.
Organic Fall Zucchette Pasta
Made with butternut squash, Trader Joe’s Organic Fall Zucchette Pasta is shaped like adorable little pumpkins. I couldn’t bring myself to cover them up with tomato sauce, so I dusted the pumpkin-shaped pasta with a little Pecorino Romano and butter, and it was delicious. Who says novelty pasta shapes are just for kids?
Pumpkin Cranberry Crisps
A unique blend of spicy and sweet flavors, Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Cranberry Crisps taste the way the fall season feels. Not quite a cracker but certainly not a cookie either, these crunchy bite-sized crisps pair perfectly with mild cheeses, like Brie or goat cheese, and creamy dips. They also make a tasty little standalone snack.
Maple Flavored Fudge
If you’ve ever wished that you could bite into maple syrup, Trader Joe’s Maple Flavored Fudge gives you the opportunity. Each box includes roughly fifteen perfectly shaped cubes of super sweet maple fudge, which taste as if they came fresh out of a maple tree. The flavor is strong, but if you’re a big fan of maple syrup, this fudge might be your new favorite treat.
Fall Leaf Corn Tortilla Chips
I’m not exactly sure what I expected when I put these in my cart. While Trader Joe’s Fall Leaf Corn Tortilla Chips are undeniably cute and festive, they are essentially just regular tortilla chips shaped like leaves. Their autumnal colors encapsulate the spirit of the season but there’s nothing particularly exciting about this fall item. They’re still great with some Trader Joe’s salsa, though.
This article originally published on The Kitchn. See it there: I Tried 10 Trader Joe’s Fall Foods — These Are the Ones You Have to Get