Fall is here! Bring on the foliage, Halloween festivities, and—most importantly—Trader Joe’s seasonal products. To celebrate the season, Valley Echo editors and writers taste-tested various TJ’s fall foods. Here’s what they thought!
The Pumpkin Ginger “Hold the Cone” Mini Ice Cream Cones are a Trader Joe’s classic, and the product many look forward to when fall comes around. The pumpkin-ginger ice cream has such a unique flavor, but it works so well. The white confectionary coating tastes very similar to white chocolate and balances out the stronger spices of the ice cream for a perfect sweet treat. The mini cones are adorable and a great size for a small, after-school ice cream fix.
Another TJ classic, the JoeJoe’s Sandwich Cookie, gets a fall makeover. They offer two kinds of fall JoeJoe’s: pumpkin and pumpkin spice. The Pumpkin JoeJoe’s are some of the best sandwich cookies on the market. They stick true to the JoeJoe design with a creamy pumpkin-flavored cream sandwiched between two classic vanilla wafer cookies, making the perfect blend of vanilla and pumpkin in each bite. There is a distinct hint of fall species including gingerbread, which adds a unique warmth to the cookie. To sweeten up this treat, Trader Joe’s offers these cookies on another level: the Pumpkin Spice JoeJoe. Don’t let the subtle name change trick (or treat) you into thinking these are the same cookie. Trader Joe’s has taken its fall favorite and added yet another level by dipping the cookies in a sweet, pumpkin-spiced yogurt coating and topping them with sea salt. While this option is pumpkin on pumpkin in a cookie, the dipped cookie is quite sweet, making it just a little harder to polish off a box in one sitting.
The box of 12 Ready-to-Bake Mini Pumpkin Ginger Scones is the ultimate baking life hack for busy people. The scone dough is already made and pre-shaped in adorable triangles, so all you have to do is simply pop them in the oven. This concept allows the scones to be eaten fresh and hot out of the oven as if they were homemade. As a bonus, they provide your house with a delicious pumpkin aroma. Although categorized as mini scones, they are about two inches tall and are perfect for a quick, light breakfast before school. The flaky treats have just the right amount of pumpkin taste, so they do not overwhelm your taste buds first thing in the morning. The ginger taste is subtle but adds a pleasant freshness to each bite.
For real pumpkin fanatics, the Gluten-Free Pumpkin Streusel Muffins may be the best purchase. The package comes with 4 large muffins, which have a strong pumpkin presence. The muffins are fluffy and soft, and I didn’t even realize they were gluten-free. I think that chocolate chips would be a great addition to the muffin, but they still tasted complete without them! If anything, the lack of other ingredients allow the pumpkin to be the star of the show.
Additionally, Trader Joe’s offers a sweet and seasonal breakfast option with its limited edition Pumpkin Bagels. As 6 bagels are only $2.69, I can positively say these bagels will give you a run for your money. They also sell a pumpkin cream cheese, which pairs perfectly with a freshly toasted pumpkin bagel by enhancing that cozy fall feel with every bite. Alternatively, you can also enjoy a nice slice of toast slathered with some buttery, pumpkin-spiced cream cheese. Even if cream cheese isn’t your vibe, the bagels make for a great breakfast, snack, or lunch. The aroma of this treat will leave you nostalgic for a slice of pumpkin pie, setting you up for the fall season approaching.
For another fall breakfast, Trader Joe’s has the perfect Pumpkin Muffin Baking Mix to make your morning just that much sweeter. Just add water, oil, and two eggs to make 12 days worth of a delicious muffin breakfast. They are nice to enjoy with a cup of coffee on the weekend or to take to-go before a busy day at work or school. The taste of these muffins is the perfect mix of pumpkin and fall spices without tasting like a candle. The nutmeg and clove in the mix pair perfectly with the pumpkin flavor and make the muffins the perfect balance of warm and sweet that is so unique to the fall flavors we know and love.
Looking for a quick breakfast bar or something good on the go? Try the “This Pumpkin Walks Into A Bar Cereal Bar.” It is quite similar to most traditional cereal bars, the pumpkin flavor takes it up a notch.
The Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese is an interesting take on the American staple, macaroni and cheese. The flavor is absolutely delectable. The squash meshes perfectly with the creamy parmesan, gouda, and cheddar cheese sauce. Additionally, the convenience of this item is great. This macaroni and cheese can be found in the freezer aisle, so all you have to do is pop it in the microwave before you enjoy.
If you are not a fan of pumpkin, the Cinnamon Roll Blondie Bar Baking Mix with Mini Maple Flavored Marshmallows is a great option. Although sold separately, the two products complement each other perfectly. The Cinnamon Roll Blondies are made from an extremely user-friendly baking mix, complete with blondie base, cinnamon sugar filling, and powdered sugar icing. After placing the blondie base on your baking sheet, you swirl the cinnamon sugar filling throughout it for an incredible mix of autumnal flavor. Placing the maple marshmallows on top adds an ooey-gooey texture upon cooking, while still matching the flavor profile of the dessert. They came out incredibly, and everyone should try it!
