As we get closer to the winter season, we look forward to seeing the new winter snacks, especially the peppermint flavors. So, we picked six seasonal snacks from Trader Joe’s to try and find something that is actually worth your money.
Peppermint Joe-Joe’s
Joe-Joe’s are sandwich cookies with a vanilla creme filling similar to Oreos. However, these festive Peppermint Joe-Joe’s are covered in dark chocolate and peppermint pieces. They also include a peppermint creme filling.
Maddy’s Take: I loved the fact that these were coated in chocolate and peppermint pieces; it made it so much more enjoyable to me than a normal Joe-Joe. The cookie was solid and crisp and had an amazing peppermint flavor, giving it a flavor perfect for sharing around the holidays. I would definitely repurchase these.
Rating: 5/5
Arin’s Take: I liked the Joe-Joe part more than the peppermint flavor. I have not been a huge fan of peppermint for a while, but the first bite was really tasty. I don’t think I would get this again.
Rating: 3/5
Dark Chocolate Dipped Candy Cane Marshmallows
These fluffy marshmallows are covered in dark chocolate and sprinkled with crushed candy cane pieces.
Maddy’s Take: I really enjoyed the density of the marshmallow along with the rich coating of the dark chocolate and the crunch of the peppermint. I would enjoy these as a treat, but they don’t make for an amazing snack because of how big they are.
Rating: 3.5/5
Arin’s Take: Again, there was a hint of peppermint, but less than the Joe-Joe’s. I enjoyed the chocolate part, but I’m not a huge fan of marshmallows. It has a chewy texture and minty flavor.
Rating: 2.7/5
Mini Peppermint Meringues
These peppermint meringues are classic meringues with a twist. They are light and airy with crushed peppermint candy canes. These meringues melt in your mouth.
Maddy’s Take: I am not a huge fan of meringues in general, but these sounded like they would have a festive and flavorful twist. Unfortunately, they did not have the amount of minty flavor I would have liked in a peppermint meringue.
Rating: 2/5
Arin’s Take: The peppermint flavor in the meringue was very subtle, which I liked; however, the meringues themselves were very sweet. I would get this again only if I am craving something on the sweeter side.
Rating: 3.2/5
Sleigh Ride Cookies
The Sleigh Ride Cookies are made with sugar cookie dough, crushed candy canes, and Joe-Joe’s. It’s a combination of sweetness, mint, and chocolate.
Maddy’s Take: I really enjoyed the fact that these cookies had sandwich cookies mixed in to the regular dough, almost like a cookies and cream cookie. It had a nice peppermint flavor from the peppermint cream in the sandwich cookie and also had a nice crunch, which makes the cookie perfect for dipping in milk.
Rating: 4/5
Arin’s Take: The Sleigh Ride Cookies are my favorite item by far. The peppermint on this was very subtle, which I enjoyed, and the cookies themselves had a nice chocolatey flavor.
Rating: 4.5/5
Candy Cane Baton Wafer Cookies
These Candy Cane Baton Wafer Cookies are filled with peppermint cream. They are crispy and have red dots from beetroot powder.
Maddy’s Take: I strongly disliked the flavor of these baton cookies. I wished there was more peppermint flavor, as it was very subtle and barely tasteable. It was almost like they mixed vanilla and peppermint, which I didn’t find enjoyable. I would not recommend these.
Rating: 2/5
Arin’s Take: I love vanilla baton wafers, so this item did not disappoint. As I said with the Sleigh Ride Cookies, the peppermint is not very strong, which I enjoyed. However, these baton wafers are on the sweeter side of snacks, so you need to be in the mood for them.
Rating: 3.9/5
Peppermint Pretzel Slims
These Peppermint Pretzel Slims are thin and crispy. They are covered with white chocolate and crushed candy canes. It balances the saltiness from the pretzel and the sweetness from the chocolate.
Maddy’s Take: I loved the mix of the thin pretzel paired with the slim layer of crunchy white chocolate and candy canes. These are good for an everyday kind of festive treat.
Rating: 4/5
Arin’s Take: This snack was the perfect balance of sweet and salty. The peppermint pieces contrasted the saltiness of the pretzels, while the chocolate balanced everything out. There was nothing too special about it, but they make for a good classic.
Rating: 3.5/5
The Final Verdict
Here are our top picks:
Maddy’s Must-Buy: Maddy’s favorite snack was the Peppermint Joe-Joe’s with a perfect rating of 5/5.
Arin’s Must-Buy: Arin’s favorite snack was the Sleigh Ride Cookies with a high rating of 4.5/5.
Whether you’re stocking up or you just want a fun treat, we hope this list helps you find your new favorite holiday snack.
