The $3 Trader Joe’s Snack I Buy Just for Me

Trader Joe's fans are an enthusiastic bunch. They wax poetic about Unexpected Cheddar, go from store to store in search of limited edition tote bags and share photos of the TJ's products they open as soon as they get to the car.

And although I haven't been guilty of the first two, I will say that the third category—the car snack—is definitely my jam. You've got to reward yourself for your great haul, right? For me, the Trader Joe's Trail Mix Crackers are the ultimate car snack. Let me explain why.

What Are Trader Joe's Trail Mix Crackers?

True to their name, this snack is a cracker-trail mix combo. But that doesn't mean that the trail mix is baked into the crackers. The trail mix ingredients—mung beans, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, cashews and raisins—are arranged on top of each rectangular cheese cracker.

I've found these tasty snackers in several different spots in the store. Depending on your TJ's location they might be above the freezer section, over by the chips or near the checkout, which is how they always end up in my cart. I've seen them priced at $2.49 and $2.79.

What's So Great About Trader Joe's Trail Mix Crackers?

Where do I start? These crackers are cheesy, crunchy, sweet, savory and just really fun to eat. The combination of textures and flavors definitely keeps you coming back for more. And this might sound silly, but they also look really fun, which makes them tastier, in my opinion. Each cracker is covered in a unique pave of seeds, nuts and dried fruit, which I find charming. (It's the little things, people!)

The cheese cracker base is cheesy but not too cheesy, lending a grounding savory flavor to the snack. It's also a little on the thicker side, which makes sense because it's supporting a lot of toppings.

Speaking of, the sesame and pumpkin seeds add a mild nutty flavor, the raisins do their raisin thing, the mung beans bring a nice earthiness, and then the cashews come in with their sweet-savory-creamy notes. Are cashews the perfect nut? I think so, but that's a conversation for another time.

Unlike most crackers, which are a vehicle for other things, these crackers are a snack in and of themselves. It's like having a cheese plate on a cracker, though I will say that these pretty crackers are also a great addition to a cheese plate.

Because they have so much going on, these crackers force you to pay attention, which is a challenge for many of us these days. When I eat them I look at them first, even if I'm snacking on them in my car in the TJ's parking lot. What arrangement of fruit and nuts is on this one? How many sesame seeds are going to end up on the floorboard? How in the world do these taste so good? What's a mung bean again? It's a snack and a meditation—and I'm 100% here for it.