In the reader survey (again thank you so much for taking the time to help!), you guys mentioned you enjoyed my Trader Joe’s hauls and posts. 1.) I’m glad there are others who are just as enthusiastic about Trader Joe’s as me and 2.) You may not have realized exactly what kind of monster you just created. I’m already brainstorming under $50 Trader Joe’s hauls and recipes and am preeettyyy psyched about it.
Let’s start off with favorite Trader Joe’s fall products.
1. Harvest Spaghetti Squash Spirals
I had to start off with this product. I believe it’s new for this year but I picked it up the other week after tasting a sample of it at the Trader Joe’s tasting station. Ugh, they really know how to get me to add more to my cart. It’s not fair. I’m not the biggest fan of butternut squash (so I thought) but it was a free sample so, naturally, I had to get one. It was delicious! I love zoodles so finding another dish with veggie noodles was a major win. The bite-size butternut squash pieces were perfect to add more substance to the dish and the tomato sauce was light but heavy on flavor. Plus, the package includes a package of Grano Padano cheese. You’re going to want to pick this up to have on hand for a quick weeknight dinner!
2. Butternut Squash Mac ‘n Cheese
Again, I used to think I wasn’t a butternut squash person. And again, Trader Joe’s tasting station proved me wrong. This mac ‘n cheese is sinfully good. I could probably eat it every day and would…if I wasn’t trying to slim down. It’s cheesy and creamy, the ultimate fall comfort food. For best taste + results, I recommend eating it underneath a fuzzy blanket on your couch while binge-watching your favorite show.
3. Caramel Apple Flavored Granola
This is the part where I admit that in the case of Pumpkin vs. Apple for favorite fall flavor, I’m Team Apple all the way. Apple pie is my Thanksgiving dessert and Trader Joe’s caramel apple flavored granola makes me feel like I’m indulging in apple pie. It’s tasty on its own but I’d also recommend sprinkling some on Trader Joe’s apple Greek yogurt and add sliced apple for a smoothie bowl (posting it on Instagram is not optional).
4. Spiced Cider
Forget orange juice. Trader Joe’s spiced cider + champagne is what you need to serve at your next brunch! Or honestly, buy a mini bottle of prosecco and cider and have a mimosa for one. It’s not to sweet and I like that it’s much lighter than OJ. I’ve made cider mimosas before with Trader Joe’s spiced cider and they were a big hit! The spiced cider is an excellent mixer for fall cocktails and also goes perfectly with bourbon.
5. Fall Zucchette Pasta + Autumnal Harvest Creamy Pasta Sauce
I’ll be honest, this pasta is your average, run-of-the-mill pasta. It’s a fun shape and that its appeal. Like how dinosaur chicken nuggets taste better than regular shaped nuggets. The autumnal harvest creamy pasta sauce is where it’s at. I’ve been making it into a fall “pasta” bowl with sautéed kale, sausage slices, and zucchini noodles for dinner. An easy weeknight dinner that’s low-carb for me. It’s a tomato-based sauce with a touch of cream and is a smooth combination of pumpkin and squash purees and the usual fall spice suspects like rosemary and sage. I recommend picking up 2 at a time because this sauce flies off the shelf.
6. Puff Pastry
Another item you’re gonna wanna stock up on. Puff pastry is a seasonal product at Trader Joe’s and is one of my all-time favorite Trader Joe’s finds. It stores really well in the freezer so when I say stock up, I mean it. I love using this for sweet and savory pastries – I made a lazy baklava with it that was delicious and check out this savory pastry I made waaayy back in 2012. With all the baking during the holidays, you won’t regret have a container or two of puff pastry on hand!
7. Pumpkin Tortilla Chips
I have a serious addiction to tortilla chips. I do my best not to keep them around my apartment because I have no self-control and will demolish an entire bag in under 24 hours. But for the sake of seasonal items, I might make an exception for the pumpkin tortilla chips because they are just so darn good. It’s like if toasted pumpkin seeds and tortilla chips had a baby. The best snack flavor combo. Oh, and while you’re at it, pick up Trader Joe’s Fall Harvest Salsa! Thank me later.
8. Pumpkin Cream Cheese Spread
Confession time: I have eaten a spoonful of the pumpkin cream cheese spread straight up. No shame, no regrets. A toasted bagel + pumpkin cream cheese spread is the best. I’ve also considered emptying the bowl in my stand mixer and whipping it up and doctoring it a bit to create a frosting but I’ve never actually done that. I’ll keep you posted if I do.
9. Pumpkin Pie Spice Cookie Butter
Cookie butter is delicious, we can all agree. Pumpkin pie spice cookie butter takes it to a WHOLE other level. It’s a bit crunchy but it’s the perfect spoonful to satisfy those late night sweet tooth cravings (Anyone else get those?). And fun fact, if you melt it and add a spoonful of coconut oil, you can create a cookie butter magic shell for your ice cream. To use my idol Ina’s catchphrase, how easy was that?
10. Salted Caramel Hot Cocoa
When fall + winter roll around, I usually add Trader Joe’s hot cocoa to my list and store it in my desk. At about $4 per container, I get over a work week’s worth of hot cocoa so saving money on a coffee shop run and getting those extra 10 minutes of sleep instead of waiting in line for a hot cocoa. It comes with a handy scoop for measuring out and just one scoop + hot water = instant hot cocoa. Doesn’t get better than that. Well, I guess you could bring in whipped cream to top it off. But your co-workers might judge you. Or be jealous of your genius. Or both.
11. Pumpkin Rolls
Cinnamon rolls for breakfast in my family is a religion. It’s an unspoken rule that on the first morning I’m back with my family, we have cinnamon rolls for breakfast. Tommy is very strict about this…I think he’s using me for cinnamon rolls. Pumpkin rolls start off with cinnamon-laced dough and up the fall factor with pureed pumpkin icing and warming spices like nutmeg. I’ve got big plans to turn these pumpkin rolls into pumpkin monkey bread. Breakfast is serious business around here, folks.
12. Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins
Cream cheese is the best frosting. If cream cheese is involved, I’m here for it. The pumpkin cream cheese muffins are the easiest, low-lift fall weekend breakfast. My only complaint is I wish there was more cream cheese on these muffins. So if you’re a cream cheese fan like me, plan ahead and get the pumpkin cream cheese, too.
13. Apple Cider Donuts
Growing up in Western New York, apple cider donuts were a treat we waited all year for. Mayer Bros. was the stop with the best apple cider and apple cider donuts, the last time I was in Buffalo for Thanksgiving I made sure to get my fill. Trader Joe’s apple cider donuts are tasty, not as good as the original but they do a good job at getting your apple cider donut fix in.
14. Harvest Chili
As soon as the weather starts to get a chill in the air, my craving for chili sets right in. There’s just something about a warm bowl of chili while you’re watching football. It’s just pure comfort. When I tried Trader Joe’s Harvest Chili, I couldn’t believe it was vegetarian. I even looked at the ingredients to make double triple sure. It’s very rich and filling, which made me suspicious that there had to be some meat involved. With butternut squash, pumpkin, cauliflower, and quinoa, you’ve covered your fall powerhouses. I’d also recommend dipping those pumpkin tortilla chips into the Harvest Chili or creating some amazing loaded vegetarian chili nachos for next game day!
15. Pumpkin Cranberry Crisps
Pumpkin cranberry crisps are ideal to have on hand during the fall for any last-minute invites or to put out for out-of-town visitors or add to a cheese plate for Friendsgiving. These bite-size crackers are also a great snack by themselves or added to a pumpkin soup as croutons. But I think crackers were meant for cheese so here are the two slices I’d pair the crisps with
16. Creamy Toscano Cheese with Cinnamon
This nutty, creamy cheese is generously covered with cinnamon (without being too much) and is a fall party for your tastebuds. I’d also recommend it melted and added to mac ‘n cheese or shaved over a fall salad. Or even just sliced with an apple as a quick snack!
17. Apricot Cherry Cranberry Goat’s Milk Cheese
Trader Joe’s has several goat’s milk cheese logs on rotation throughout the year and not to play favorites but the fall line-up is always the best one. The apricot cherry cranberry is tart and will be the instant star of your cheese plate. That is, if you decide to share at all. As it gets closer to Thanksgiving, you’ll find cranberry chevre goat cheese in the cheese section and again, you’re gonna want to pick up more than one. It’s that good!
Phew!
Okay, that was a lot. I got excited and carried away! Did I miss any of your favorite Trader Joe’s fall products?
