We Tasted A Bunch Of Exciting New Fall Trader Joe's Items, And We've Got A Whole Lot Of Thoughts
If you live for PSLs, apple picking, flannels, and fall in general, autumn is probably your favorite time of year to shop at Trader Joe's. Come September, the aisles are flooded with seasonal products flavored with pumpkin spice, cinnamon, apple, and more. So, if you're curious what fall items are worth trying, we've got you covered. We tried a handful of exciting new products, and we're here to give you the lowdown.
Pumpkin Spiced Teeny Tiny Pretzels
Hannah: These are essentially mini yogurt-covered pretzels with a fall twist. The label ain't lying. These really are quite teeny tiny, and the pretzels depicted on the back are, in fact, true to size. They're so small, you could easily go through half a bag of these in one sitting.
My favorite thing about chocolate- or yogurt-covered pretzels is that delicious mixture or salty and sweet. With these, you're really getting more sweetness than saltiness. But between the pumpkin-infused yogurt and the crushed pumpkin seeds, you also get a hint of spiciness, which is delightful. I thoroughly enjoyed these and they're a perfect seasonal treat to satisfy your sweet tooth. I only wish they were a little bit saltier.
Worth the purchase: Yes.
Pumpkin Alfredo Sauce
Farrah: I love Alfredo sauce, so I was really eager to try this as it's a new Trader Joe's product this season. I whipped up some of their quinoa pasta to pair with it and added a bit of the unexpected cheddar cheese on top. My first thought was, wow! This is really creamy! It definitely has the Alfredo consistency people crave (I am people) and the pumpkin is extremely subtle — not too overpowering — which I enjoyed! Overall, this was a win. I would buy again!
Worth the purchase: Yes.
Pumpkin 4 Cheese Greek-Style Yogurt Dip
Hannah: I am generally a huge fan of Trader Joe's party dips and spreads, especially if they contain cheese. When I first saw this product on shelves, I was skeptical about Trader Joe's idea of combining pumpkin, yogurt, and cheese. In theory, I enjoy all of these ingredients separately. But together, I'm not quite sure it's working. First of all, the dip contains random shreds of Monterey Jack and/or cheddar cheese, which IMO should really be blended. Here, they just add a sort of strange flavor and texture. As for taste, I just couldn't really figure out what was going on here. It isn't super cheesy, and it isn't super pumpkin spice-y. It's more on the bland side, like plain Greek yogurt with a savory kick. Also, the label says to consume it within three days of opening, which will be tricky unless you're planning on serving this to a crowd (and TBH, I wouldn't recommend).
Worth the purchase: No.
Butternut Squash Mac 'n' Cheese Bites
Farrah: I am admittedly a big fan of Trader Joe's regular mac 'n' cheese balls, so when they announced they were doing BUTTERNUT balls? Count me in. I put this in my air fryer at 350°F for 5 minutes, though it could have used 2–3 more minutes. You get a ton of filling, which is the only good thing about this. Personally, I wasn't a big fan. It maybe would have been better if I had marinara here, but it wasn't super cheesy and a bit too plain for my taste. Unfortunately, I won't be buying this one again.
Worth the purchase: No.
Pumpkin Spread
Hannah: Every autumn, Trader Joe's comes out with a bunch of jellies, jams, and spreads, from pumpkin butter to apple pie jelly. This pumpkin spread was the newest addition. At first, I wasn't exactly sure how to use it. Do I spread it on a pumpkin bagel or cinnamon raisin toast? Or should I try it with yogurt? But then I noticed the label says it's the perfect cheese board accompaniment, which seemed like a good idea.
Based on the label, which reads "sweet and savory and lightly spiced," I was expecting way more complexity from this spread. But ultimately, it was almost cloyingly sweet with very little savory element or spice to be found. In a way, it would almost be easy to confuse it with orange marmalade (my least favorite of the jelly family). If you like sweet spreads, you'll probably enjoy this pumpkin version. But if you're looking for the spicy/savory flavor, you won't find it here.
Worth the purchase: Yes, if you prefer sweet spreads.
Pumpkin Empanadas
Farrah: I haven't met an empanada I didn't like...until this one. To be fair, I think people who LOVE pumpkin pie will love this little treat. I am not one of those people. I put it in my air fryer at 350°F for 5 minutes and it cooked perfectly. I thought the pumpkin was nicely flavored. It had a hint of cinnamon and maybe nutmeg. But it was still too PLAIN for my liking. I think I would have enjoyed it more if it had been paired with some cream cheese frosting dip or even ice cream. Also, my photo looks as though there isn't a lot of filling, but once you get to the middle, there is a ton. So don't let that fool you!
Worth the purchase: Yes, only if you are a fan of pumpkin pie.
Pumpkin Spice Hummus
Hannah: When I first saw pumpkin spice hummus on the shelves at my local Trader Joe's, my first impression was that someone decided to take things way too far. Pumpkin spice hummus?! Come on now. That's almost as bad as chocolate hummus. But boy let me tell you, I was so wrong. The name is misleading because as hummus implies, you might expect this to be a savory spread. But it essentially tastes like creamy, spreadable pumpkin pie filling. A more apt description would be pumpkin pie spread.
I sort of hate how much I liked this stuff. My dog, too, wouldn't stop eating it. And I couldn't believe that there are actually chickpeas in here. In any case, I would avoid pairing this spread with the things you might dip into traditional hummus (carrots and celery, for example, would be a major yuck). I would definitely try it with pretzels, graham crackers, cookies, or really anything that could benefit from a little sweetness. In any case, I'd definitely buy this again.
Worth the purchase: Yes.
Petite Pumpkin Spice Cookies
Farrah: I am a cookie monster. They are my favorite dessert. I've tried Trader Joe's spring version of this cookie and really enjoyed it, so I was eager to get my hands on the pumpkin spice version. They were truly 10/10! Small, crunchy, with a hint of creaminess from the dipped yogurt. The pumpkin spice flavor is perfect. Not too overpowering. These would be perfect with a warm cup of tea or coffee.
I could eat them by the handful. I won't, but I COULD. Also, can we talk about why Trader Joe's packaging is so terrible? You would have thought I impatiently clawed through this box to open it when I simply tried to open it like a civil human being. Alas!!!
Worth the purchase: Yes.
Pumpkin Overnight Face Mask
Hannah: I'll admit that I'm not super adventurous with my skincare routine. I have the products I love and trust, so I don't spend a whole lot of time in the Trader Joe's beauty aisle. But when I saw pumpkin overnight face mask, I was so intrigued I had to give it a try. The texture is like a gel moisturizer, and the smell is pretty pungent. Was I going to reek of pumpkin all night? I had my husband, Zack, try the overnight face mask with me. At first, the smell was very strong, but after about 10 minutes with the mask on, I hardly noticed it anymore (phew).
The next morning, my skin still felt dewy and moist, as if the mask was still on. After I washed my face, my skin still had a little shine to it and it felt pretty hydrated. At the very least, it didn't make me break out! I'm not sure I would continue using this mask, but if you love pumpkin so much that you want to smell like it and absorb it into your skin, by all means go for it. This stuff is for next-level fall enthusiasts and pumpkin spice aficionados.
Worth the purchase: Yes, if you're super into trying new skincare.
Apple Cider Scent Foaming Hand Soap
Farrah: I get really excited about hand soaps. Listen, lockdown didn't give me much to look forward to except trying different hand soaps. I'm not sure if this one is new this season or not, but it's new to me. And y'all. It's 100% worth it. It will make your hands smell like the most fragrant fall candle. It's a warm apple cider scent with strong notes of cinnamon, pear, and chamomile that blend together so perfectly. I will be purchasing this again.
Worth the purchase: Yes.
Sweet Cinnamon Filled Korean Pancakes
Hannah: I was really excited to see the addition of these Korean-inspired pancakes in the frozen aisle. Called hotteok in Korean, these are a popular street food in Seoul, and they look so good. Each package contains four medium-sized pancakes that are stuffed with a gooey cinnamon filling. You can heat them up right in the microwave, in a pan, or in the air fryer. I went for the frying pan method, and I cooked the pancakes for about three minutes per side until they were golden brown and warm.
These were very delicious. The pancake itself isn't an American-style pancake as you might expect it to be. It's flakier and chewier, with a really delightful savoriness to it. TJ's was generous on the cinnamon filling: it's sweet and plentiful and evenly distributed so you get a little bit with every bite. I think I would prefer these for dessert or for a sweet treat rather than for breakfast, but truth be told, there's no bad time to heat 'em up.
Worth the purchase: Yes.
Non-Dairy Pumpkin Oat Beverage
Farrah: Every morning, I mix together Tazo's chai tea + pumpkin spice latte + oat milk. It's my wake-up drink, and I love it. So, I decided to try this beverage two ways! First, on its own. Then paired with my pumpkin spice tea, using this in place of oat milk. It was much more subtle on its own! It's not bad, but it's also not overly sweet. When I mixed it with my pumpkin spice tea, it was a game changer. Such a great fall treat! I would most likely buy again.
Worth the purchase: Yes.