As temperatures drop and rain begins to fall, Trader Joe’s says farewell to autumn snacks and welcomes new seasonal treats to take their place, just in time for the holidays. While some snacks are questionable, the majority of the launch is delicious and perfect for the holiday season.
Starting off strong, Trader Joe’s Candy Cane Joe Joe’s are a must-have this holiday season. These knockoff Oreos are the perfect mix of crunchy chocolate cookie and refreshing minty cream, making them nearly impossible to put down. The cream is filled with crisp candy cane pieces, adding a festive twist to the beloved cookie. At just 3.99 dollars, you cannot miss these when shopping at Trader Joe’s. With neither the chocolate nor peppermint flavor being too overpowering, the Candy Cane Joe Joe’s earn five out of five feathers.
A classic delicious treat, the Peppermint Bark, also successfully balances rich chocolate and refreshing mint flavors. The bark has two thin layers of dark and white chocolate sprinkled on top with candy cane. The only downside of this sweet is the density, with the chocolate almost unbreakable due to its thickness. Despite this, Trader Joe’s Peppermint Bark is still worth adding to your cart, earning four out of five feathers.
Unfortunately, the Lebkuchen Cookies, Trader Joe’s take on ginger cookies, do not meet expectations. The cookies’ flavor and texture are both unpleasant, the crust’s texture similar to styrofoam, with an overly moist center. The flavor is bland as well, monotonously sweet. The cookies are filled with ginger chunks that make their interiors even more unappetizing and not worth the price of 2.69 dollars, leaving them with a rating of one out of five feathers.
Jingle Jangle Pretzel Twists combine sweet and salty elements into a festive treat, with each pretzel generously coated with peanut butter then topped off with mini dark chocolate gems and crushed Joe Joe’s pieces. The pretzel offers a satisfying crunch quickly overtaken by salty peanut butter flavor and topped with the sweetness of the small chocolate bits. Although the variety and mix of different flavors and textures bring excitement with each bite, the large size of the pretzels makes them hard to eat and often messy. For only 3.99 dollars for a box of six, this Trader Joe’s snack receives three out of five feathers and is still worth trying out.
The Scandinavian Tidings gummies put a holiday twist on the beloved Trader Joe’s classic, Scandinavian Swimmers. Shaped like Christmas trees, stars, and ornaments, each gummy shape has different flavors: sour apple, sparkling grape, and berry. Although the gummies have a soft and enjoyable texture, it was difficult to decipher the flavors, leaving them without any stand-out qualities. If you want to up your holiday snack game, these seasonal gummies at Trader Joe’s might not meet your expectations due to their lack of flavor and overall holiday spirit. For the price of 3.49 dollars, they receive a rating of three out of five feathers.
Although the 2024 Trader Joe’s holiday launch included some debatable choices, the snacks were well-executed overall and encapsulated the holiday spirit. Many of the snacks are perfect to pair with a cup of hot chocolate while cozying up on the couch with a blanket, while others are best left on the shelves this holiday season.
