The Classic Trader Joe’s Treat That's Finally Back on Shelves

In the spring, fans grieved the sudden disappearance of an old friend: Chocolate Joe-Joe's Chocolate Vanilla Creme Cookies. The chain's Oreo riff came in a brightly-colored box complete with a toucan. But what was on the inside counted the most: Put simply, fans bought boxes by the dozen because they were so delicious.

"RIP to the only cookie my kid will eat," wailed one commenter.

Well, go ahead and call it a comeback. Trader Joe's shoppers have taken to the Internet to spread the word that the cookies are back. It's a good thing they did, too, because the packaging is markedly different.

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"Vanilla Joe Joe’s are back in this new cute packaging," announced creator @traderjoesobsessed in an Instagram post. "Yesssss!!! They have been gone for so long."

Gone are the '90s-era neon colors and tropical backdrop. The toucan is still on the package, but the bird is now black and white. The cookies have happy faces, and there's a splash of milk. Trader Joe's has opted for a lighter blue-black-white color scheme. Instead of a box, the new-look Joe Joe's are packaged in a resealable film. One thing that's remained the same? They still cost $2.99.

But what about the inside? How do they taste? Fans weighed in on whether they're stocking up or skipping the new cookie.

Related: The 9 Discontinued Costco Food Court Items Shoppers Miss the Most

Why did Trader Joe's discontinue Joe-Joe's Chocolate Vanilla Creme Cookies?

The Joe-Joe's Chocolate Vanilla Creme cookies may have had their fans, but Trader Joe's thought they could do better. According to the website, "In recent memory, the classic Joe-Joe’s we all knew and loved simply weren’t matching our expectations. So we partnered with a long-time supplier to create a next-generation Joe-Joe worthy of the name."

One Redditor got more specific, writing, "The company got a lot of feedback about the cookies going stale too fast, so this reformulation is an attempt to address it."

That's just a rumor, but it's an interesting one nonetheless.

Related: 'It's Back!' TJ's Shoppers Celebrate the Return of a Fan-Favorite Freezer Item

Are the new Joe-Joe's good?

It depends on who you ask. Fans already have a ton of thoughts on the new Joe Joe's.

Some fans are excited.

"Great time to be on a diet," quipped one person in @traderjoesobsessed's Instagram comment section.

"Just picked that up today," said another, who added they hadn't tried it yet.

The new design is getting mixed reviews. Trader Joe's got rid of the outer box, swapping it for a resealable film to up the freshness (and perhaps keep them from going stale so quickly?).

"Super cute packaging," wrote one.

Not everyone agreed.

"I’m not a fan of this new look," said someone else. "It looks similar to Oreo packaging. The original packaging was better IMO because that’s what made them unique."

Again, though, it's what's on the inside that matters most. Some early unofficial taste testers weighed in on Reddit.

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"I’m disappointed," said one. "The cookie is thinner. The crème is too sweet, and there’s less cream. I much prefer the old recipe."

Someone else gave a more optimistic take.

"It’s more a texture change for me," said a Redditor. They seem more dense, and I don’t find they soften in milk as well. My kid is a fan. She says the creme is sweeter. They are still a tasty cookie, though!"

If you're looking for an alternative, an Instagrammer shared one on @traderjoesobsessed post.

"Have you tried the Whole Foods-brand Oreo dupes?" the person asked. "They’re like 1000 [times] better than these. Surely subjective, but taste test them, and see what you think."

I could think of worse homework assignments.