Additional Coverage:
- I tried 24 seasonal fall snacks from Trader Joe’s, and I’d buy at least 16 of them again (businessinsider.com)
Fall has arrived, and so have the seasonal treats at Trader Joe’s! I sampled a whopping 24 autumn-themed snacks to give you the lowdown on what’s worth buying and what’s not. (Editor’s Note: Prices and availability may vary.)
The Hits:
- Pumpkin Spice Teeny Tiny Pretzels: These yogurt-covered pretzels sprinkled with pumpkin seeds are a delightful mix of sweet, salty, and subtly spiced. Forget other yogurt pretzels – these are the best!
- Maple Leaf Cookies: These large sandwich cookies have a delicate maple flavor and buttery shortbread texture perfect for dunking in coffee or milk.
- Pumpkin Spice Joe-Joe’s: A classic for a reason!
These crisp, buttery cookies are filled with a generous amount of creamy pumpkin spice filling.
- Apple Cider Hand Pies: The combination of earthy pumpkin and sweet apple filling is a winner.
While a touch more spice would be ideal, these hand pies are still a tasty treat.
- Teeny Tiny Apple Pies: These mini pies are a delightful surprise.
The buttery crust and sweet apple filling make for a perfect midday snack, especially when warmed up.
- Apple Shortbread Cookies: Crispy and light with a fresh apple flavor, these cookies are perfect for enjoying with a cup of tea.
- Pumpkin Spice Batons: These rolled wafers are a must-try. The light, crisp texture gives way to a creamy pumpkin spice center.
- Mini Maple Marshmallows (Vegan): Don’t let the beige color fool you; these chewy marshmallows have a pleasant maple flavor.
- Honeycrisp Apple Granola: Delicious on its own or with yogurt, this granola features crunchy clusters and chewy dried apple pieces.
The natural apple flavor is a standout.
- Pepita Salsa: This medium-spiced salsa has a thick texture ideal for chips, tacos, or burritos.
The pepita flavor adds a unique twist.
- Fall Harvest Salsa: A unique blend of sweet and savory, this salsa features butternut squash, apples, and a hint of honey.
- Pumpkin Tortilla Chips: Surprisingly delicious! These chips have a hint of sweetness that balances the salt and pairs perfectly with the Fall Harvest Salsa.
- Maple-Walnut Biscotti: These crunchy biscotti are perfect for dipping in a hot beverage. The walnut flavor truly shines when paired with coffee.
- Pumpkin Biscotti: Though not as visually appealing as the maple-walnut variety, these biscotti offer an authentic pumpkin flavor that’s also delicious with coffee.
The Misses:
- Maple Fudge: While the maple aroma is enticing, the fudge itself is crumbly and hard, not the smooth, chewy texture one would expect.
- Maple Spiced Nut Mix: This savory mix features almonds, pecans, cranberries, and pumpkin seeds, but the promised maple and rosemary flavors are disappointingly faint.
- Honeycrisp Apple Cinnamon Greek Yogurt: The flavor is decent, but the extremely thick texture is off-putting. Adding granola helps, but it’s not a must-buy on its own.
- Pumpkin Greek Nonfat Yogurt: This yogurt’s earthy, savory flavor is unexpected and not particularly enjoyable.
- This Pumpkin Walks Into a Bar Cereal Bars: Both the flavor and dry texture are disappointing.
Other flavors might be better, but skip this one.
- Ghost and Bat Shaped Crispy Potato Snacks: While fun in shape, these crisps lack flavor and are too fragile to enjoy with dips.
- Leaf Shaped Corn Tortilla Chips: These chips are essentially regular tortilla chips in a fun shape. Good with salsa, but nothing special.
- Petite Pumpkin Spice Cookies: While the combination of pumpkin spice and yogurt-covered cookies is interesting, the pumpkin spice flavor is too subtle.
- Pumpkin Cranberry Crisps: These crisps taste surprisingly like stuffing.
While not bad, they’re not something I’d regularly snack on.
From sweet to savory, Trader Joe’s has a wide variety of fall snacks to choose from. This guide should help you navigate the aisles and pick the treats that will make your autumn taste buds sing!
Read More About This Story:
- I tried 24 seasonal fall snacks from Trader Joe’s, and I’d buy at least 16 of them again (businessinsider.com)