Effective Sept. 22, fall is officially here, and now that it’s October, it is time for all things pumpkin, apple and the mixture of chai spices sprinkled – or in my case, heavily poured – into all of the autumnal goodies in my pantry. Agreeing with my love for sugar, spice and everything nice about this season is Trader Joe’s, the neighborhood grocery chain, as they cover their shelves and wooden displays with the fall versions of their well-loved products. I had the great opportunity to sample many of these delicacies so you know what to buy on your next trip to get into the fall spirit. Which of these new editions add to autumn, and which fall flat?
Pumpkin Loaf ($4.99): 🍁🍁🍁🍁 (4 out of 5 leaves)
I enjoyed the pumpkin loaf. The flavor definitely came through with a nice pumpkin taste without being overpowering or unnatural. It had a nice crust with a softer inside, and paired with the crystal sugar sprinkled on top, there was a nice contrast of textures in every bite. The loaf is pretty dense, so while I like that in a breakfast bread, it could be too dense for others. The taste was great overall and had the classic pumpkin bread feel.
Pumpkin Kringle ($9.99): 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 (5 out of 5 leaves)
The pumpkin kringle has to be my favorite Trader Joe’s fall sweet treat. I had not tried the kringle before sampling the pumpkin edition, but I now plan to get every seasonal edition. For those who have also missed out on the kringle until now, the danish is a ring of flaky pastry dough with a layer of filling, an icing set on top and a sprinkle of chopped nuts. This edition had the same dough with a pumpkin filling, a spiced icing and a sprinkle of pecans. The flavor was fantastic, with a great ratio of dough, pumpkin filling, icing and nuts. The filling had a very natural pumpkin flavor, and paired with the dough, was not very sweet. The icing, however, definitely brings the sweetness back in to the dessert, while also bringing in the classic fall spices. These flavors and textures, with the final addition of the crunchy, nutty pecans, were very cohesive and worked to create a delicious autumnal pastry. Out of my samples, this product had the best natural pumpkin flavor and left me going back for more after every bite.
Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese ($3.79): 🍁🍁🍁 (3 out of 5 leaves)
I have to start this by saying that I do not typically like frozen mac and cheese, so I was not expecting to like the butternut squash mac and cheese as much as I did. For frozen mac and cheese lovers, this is definitely the product for you. The cheese and squash paired very well together, and neither flavor overpowered the other. The spices also added a nice depth of flavor. The texture was creamy, but not soggy, and the mini rigatoni was a great choice for a pasta that could hold the sauce while maintaining its shape. For those living in dorms or anyone wanting an easy-to-make meal, I microwaved this mac and cheese for 5 minutes and let it sit for 1 minute, and it came out fully heated. The portion is a good size for a meal or two for one person but could even be split between friends. Overall, this is a great dish for anyone who needs a fall comfort meal.
This Pumpkin Walked Into a Bar ($2.49): 🍁🍁🍁 (3 out of5 leaves)
These pumpkin bars are a great snack or breakfast bar to-go. I like how each bar is individually wrapped and a great size for travel. For those who have not had these bars, they are a flaky cereal bar with a pumpkin pie filling. I loved the pumpkin pie flavor with the pumpkin and spices coming through nicely. Personally, I would love more pumpkin filling because the outside cereal bar can get cakey, so I think more filling to the ratio would add more flavor and help the texture. The bar is sweet but not too sweet, so it is great for a small breakfast or snack on the go.
Autumnal Harvest Creamy Pasta Sauce ($4.49): 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 (5 out of5 leaves)
While the pumpkin kringle is my favorite fall sweet treat, the autumnal harvest creamy pasta sauce is my favorite savory product. Trader Joe’s added pumpkin, butternut squash and carrot purées to a classic sauce of tomato, cream and spices. I first tried the sauce out of the jar, and it both smelled and tasted like normal tomato sauce, but without as much acid. However, once I added the sauce to warm pasta, the taste really came through, especially the carrot purée. It made a great comfort fall meal with the creamy texture and subtle fall flavors.
Pumpkin Joe Joe’s ($2.99): 🍁🍁🍁🍁 (4 out of 5 leaves)
These small sandwich cookies are great for anyone who wants a small taste of fall. They were very sweet, but a lot of flavors came through. The cream is a sweet pumpkin filling, while the cookie is a spiced shortbread, so there is a lot of depth behind the sweetness. There is a good ratio of cream to cookie and is a good choice for those who want pumpkin spice in a bite.
Sparkling Apple Cider ($3.49): 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 (5 out of 5 leaves)
I needed a fall drink to wash down the fall foods, and I am very glad I grabbed Trader Joe’s sparkling apple cider. As a sparkling apple cider lover, I was excited to try Trader Joe’s more natural version. There is no sugar added, but the drink is still sweet with the natural apple flavor coming through deliciously. I do not like a lot of carbonation, so the light bubbles in this drink were very nice. The sparkling apple cider also paired well with a lot of the products I sampled, so it would be a good addition to any table.
Honeycrisp Apple Candle ($3.99): 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 (5 out of 5 leaves)
Finally, I had to check out the fall products in the home goods section, and I immediately added the honeycrisp apple candle to my basket. The candle is small but packed with a lot of aroma. I love the strong sour apple smell, and while it is fitting for fall, it could definitely burn for all seasons. It has a single wick, and when burning, presents its wonderful apple aroma without being too overpowering or as strong as it is when just smelling the wax. While candles are not allowed in dorm rooms, this would be a great product to bring home for the holidays or gift to friends and family.
I am grateful that I got to sample these products and cannot wait to see what other fall treats I can find. These options are amazing for any autumn table, so keep Trader Joe’s in mind the next time you need a taste of fall or holiday addition.
