With fall in full swing, Trader Joe’s is one step ahead. With an assortment of salty and sweet fall treats to satisfy customers’ pumpkin spice cravings, we’ll let you know if these options deserve a spot on your shelf this spooky season.
No. 6: Pumpkin Spice Teeny Tiny Pretzels
The most pumpkin-flavored items out of the bunch are the Pumpkin Spice Teeny Tiny Pretzels, but they aren’t the best. These tiny pretzels have a waxy orange chocolate coating that tastes more like a pumpkin spice candle than a cozy homemade treat. The saltiness of the pretzels was the only thing that made them bearable to eat, as the overpowering artificial quality of the coating takes away from the snack’s overall potential. These tiny flavor-packed pretzels earn three out of five feathers.
No. 5: Glazed Pumpkin Spice Donut Holes
Although the spices could be stronger, the Glazed Pumpkin Spice Donut Holes offer a subtle pumpkin flavor and a classic glaze satisfying the palate. Not to mention, these donut holes are gluten and dairy-free, making them accessible for more Trader Joe’s shoppers. The donut holes have a cakey texture and a balanced pumpkin flavor. However, the donuts tend to be somewhat dry and have basic flavoring, earning them three out of five feathers.
No. 4: Coffee Cake Muffins
If you’re more interested in the cinnamon side of fall than pumpkin, be sure to try the fluffy, popular bakery item, Coffee Cake Muffins, which make for the ideal morning treat. Despite being gluten-free, the texture and taste of the muffins stand out due to the treats’ blasts of brown sugar and coarse crystal sugar topping. The cinnamon swirls mixed throughout the muffin offer a comforting aroma when biting into one. Overall, these muffins deserve four out of five feathers due to their delicious flavor; however, their sugar coating can be a bit overwhelming.
No. 3: Maple Leaf Stuffed Cookies
With maple being a popular fall flavor, Trader Joe’s provided the Maple Leaf Stuffed Cookies. The Maple Leaf shortbread cookies had a delectable maple cream filling in the middle that tastes like a warm pancake, filling yet addictive, with the homey taste of the shortbread cookies your grandma would make, earning these cookies five out of five feathers.
No. 2. Maple and Sea Salt Kettle Corn
Transitioning into a salty and sweet option, Trader Joe’s Maple and Sea Salt Kettle Corn is hard to resist. This versatile snack is the perfect treat to feast on while watching a movie or to pack with lunch. While it’s not exactly in the pumpkin spice category, the sweet caramelized popcorn definitely fits the cozy fall category requirements, making it a must-have in your household this season. Overall, Maple and Sea Salt Kettle Corn deserves five out of five feathers, hitting both sweet and salty cravings.
No. 1: Pumpkin Spice Mini Sheet Cake
Ending on a high note with the Pumpkin Spice Mini Sheet Cake, this cake will satisfy your sweet tooth. The cake has a moist pumpkin base with decadent cream cheese frosting, the perfect flavoring for fall. Bursting with pumpkin, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg flavors, this cake is everything you could want, thanks to the pumpkin puree in the batter. Overall, Trader Joe’s pumpkin spice cake is a great seasonal treat, earning five out of five feathers.
These seasonal Trader Joe’s items are available for a limited time, so get them while you can. The Pumpkin Spice Sheet Cake is a must, but you can steer clear of the glazed donuts. Make sure to grab these new and returning flavors this fall season that will leave you with a memorable maple, cinnamon, and pumpkin flavor as a great way to kick off fall.
