A round-up of Trader Joe’s fall items
A trip to Trader Joe’s this fall is a must for any pumpkin spice enthusiast. Find out which seasonal favorites are worth stocking up on for autumn.
Photography by Alina Wang/The Barnard Bulletin
October 18, 2024
When autumn rolls around, it’s not only the leaves and weather that change. This new season of cozy sweaters and spooky decorations signals the arrival of a slew of fall drinks, foods, and snacks at Trader Joe’s. The iconic warm flavors of apple, cinnamon, and pumpkin spice make TJ’s products essential for the fall season. The plethora of options may seem overwhelming—especially for a college student on a budget. Since this is arguably the best time of year to step into the store (cue the smell of their cinnamon broomsticks), I took it upon myself to try out this year’s most anticipated fall products and find which ones are actually worth it.
Coffee Essentials
One of the products that I was most excited to try was the brown sugar oat creamer. This nondairy milk option is smooth and creamy, perfect for stirring into your morning coffee. The brown sugar flavor is sweet, not overpowering, and tastes amazing mixed with cold brew. This creamer has multiple uses—“It tastes great mixed with chai!” (Carly Betz, BC ‘28)—and is a new staple for me. 10/10 recommend.
If brown sugar isn’t up your alley, there is also a cinnamon bun oat creamer. This smells exactly like the frosting on top of a cinnamon roll. Unfortunately, this product fell flat. When I tried mixing it with coffee and tea, something about the flavor didn’t connect with how it smells. The delicious scent of cinnamon frosting got my hopes up, yet the flavor was muted and too sweet. The flavor may be too far on the artificial side for my liking.
As for coffee itself, TJ’s has released a pumpkin-spice flavored cold brew coffee concentrate. This limited-time drink uses the classic flavors of clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger, with a hint of orange peel. When I made my coffee, I used one part concentrate with two parts milk. I would definitely recommend this if you are a pumpkin-spice enthusiast! It’s a delicious and easy option for making coffee at home—it makes it super convenient to whip up an iced coffee in my dorm. Keep in mind that it is not sweetened, so you may opt to add a sweetened creamer or syrup to combat the bitter taste.
Snacks and more snacks!
The fall-themed snacks are most definitely a highlight at Trader Joe’s. I absolutely loved the Pumpkin Spiced Teeny Tiny Pretzels, which perfectly capture the pumpkin-spice flavor with orange pumpkin yogurt, cinnamon, and crushed pumpkin seeds. These are the perfect balance between sweet and salty, and the extra crunch and kick of cinnamon make them an amazing sweet snack.
The new Maple & Sea Salt Kettle Popcorn would make the perfect addition to a spooky season movie night. The popcorn is salted and sweetened with a light maple sugar glaze. Although I didn’t find the maple flavor to be super noticeable, it is still present. It is not only a solid kettle corn, but a great fall snack for those who don’t want everything to be consumed by pumpkin spice.
One of my favorite items was the autumn twist on the classic TJ’s cereal bar. The aptly named “This pumpkin walked into a bar…” cereal bars are absolutely delicious. The best way I can describe them is the taste of fall in every bite. They’re soft, with flavors reminiscent of pumpkin and apple pie. “They don’t really taste like pumpkin, just fall vibes,” Isobel Milne-Pott (BC ‘28) said. These are a great quick and easy breakfast option, and I recommend grabbing yourself a box!
Sweet Treats
If you’re a Trader Joe’s fan, you’ve most likely had their iconic Joe-Joe’s, their version of Oreos. The seasonal edition, pumpkin-flavored Joe-Joe’s, are vanilla wafer cookies sandwiched together with a pumpkin crème filling. While these aren’t bad, I don’t think they’re anything special. The pumpkin flavor was mediocre in my opinion, I found them weak and boring. I would honestly go for the classic Joe-Joe’s instead unless you want to be festive.
I was able to taste-test two different types of maple cookies. The Mini Maple Walnut Biscotti exceeded my expectations. They are crispy and buttery, with flavors of maple and brown sugar and the crunch of chopped walnuts. These would be great paired with coffee and were a hit with my friends. I didn’t think the Maple Pancake Snaps were quite as good as the biscotti, but they were still tasty. They are crunchy and crumbly, with a texture similar to gingersnaps and taste like maple syrup. Both of these are perfect for maple-lovers.
If you are looking for a festive treat to bring to a fall party or picnic, Trader Joe’s has got you covered. I tried out the Chocolate Mousse Pumpkins, which are adorable mini chocolate cakes filled with silky mousse. They may be shaped and colored to look like pumpkins, but they are not pumpkin-flavored. These are not only incredibly cute, but they taste delicious! I found that they have the perfect ratio of mousse and cake.
The Pumpkin Blondie Brownies looked very promising, but I would say they are mislabeled. They are much more like pumpkin bread or cake, with an incorporation of pecans and white chocolate chips. They taste pretty good, but not like blondie brownies.
Miscellaneous Fall Food
When I saw it in the frozen aisle, I knew I had to test out the fall product that has been all over the internet: butternut squash mac & cheese. I have always loved TJ’s single-serve frozen items, especially due to the convenience of quickly heating my meal in the microwave. I was very excited to try out this mac and cheese, and I wasn’t disappointed. The sauce is thick and cheesy, and the butternut squash, thyme, sage, and nutmeg make this feel very autumnal. I would say that the nutty, slightly sweet flavor profile makes it a little bit on the richer side. This is a great find if you are looking for a quick and comforting meal to make when you’re in a pinch.
Pumpkin butter is a fan-favorite of the TJ’s fall lineup, so I needed to try it for myself. Contrary to the name, this product does not actually contain butter. It does have a butter-like consistency and is a decadent blend of pumpkin puree, sugar, honey, and spices. The taste is very reminiscent of pumpkin pie, but not quite as sweet. I tried spreading the pumpkin butter on the new Fall Leaf Tortilla Chips – which are classic tortilla chips, but colorful and shaped like fall leaves – and I really enjoyed it. The flavor is perfect for fall, and it's very versatile. It would be delicious in coffee or chai, spread on toast or a bagel, in yogurt, or even incorporated into savory food like soup or sandwiches.
Trader Joe’s never disappoints with their seasonal selection. If you found any of the above items intriguing, you should definitely plan a Trader Joe’s run this fall. The stores closest to campus are at 72nd Street and Broadway; 93rd Street and Columbus; and 125th Street and Malcolm X. Not only are there even more options than I have described, but I have found that a trip to TJ’s is a great way to get in the fall spirit.