Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Erin Cullum
'Tis the season of ranking every pumpkin spice product, and Trader Joe's deserves its own spotlight. You're practically going to see pumpkin spice foods everywhere you turn in Trader Joe's, so you're going to want to choose wisely. We've put everything to the test so that you don't have to. Here's what we thought of every pumpkin spice offering from TJ's, ranked from worst to best.
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We've had delicious, inexpensive pumpkin ice cream, and Trader Joe's Pumpkin Ice Cream ($4) is not it. It's way too sweet and all spice but nothing nice. The funny, slippery texture doesn't help either.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Erin Cullum
If you've never had Joe's Joe-Joe's, Trader Joe's take on Oreos, what are you waiting for? The pumpkin flavor, on the other hand, is something you can skip out on. Similar to the Mango Joe Joe's, these have a bit of an unpleasant aftertaste. While the orange filling gets props for being made with actual pumpkin puree, it doesn't quite make for a cookie we want to keep snacking on.
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Though a really good toaster waffle, Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Waffles ($2) didn’t deliver enough pumpkin or spice flavor. We’d still love to try them with a few dollops of pumpkin butter.
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These salted caramels are so promising . . . until you bite into the gooey pumpkin center. The rich dark chocolate is smooth and satisfying, and the generous sprinkle of red Hawaiian sea salt on top makes the flavor pop even more. However, the pumpkin spiced caramel filling has an artificial taste to it, and it overwhelms everything else.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Erin Cullum
We're not saying Trader Joe's cereal bars are anything to write home about, but if you're already a fan of this old standby from TJ's, you're sure to enjoy the limited-edition pumpkin version. The chewy breakfast bar is filled with a pumpkin filling that's somewhere between pumpkin jam and apple butter. Flavors of honey and cinnamon come through with each bite, and this is a solid option for an on-the-go breakfast.
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Trader Joe's O's, the brand's version of Cheerios, get a Fall upgrade with pumpkin, cinnamon, and sea salt, and they're just subtle enough to give you your pumpkin-spice fix. The crunchy whole-grain cereal, which is vegan and gluten-free, has a thin sugary coating that's filled with the spices, and it's almost as good as the original Pumpkin Spice Cheerios.
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Fans of caramel popcorn will fall for this seasonal edition with pumpkin pie spices, roasted pumpkin seeds, and walnuts. With an extra nuttiness and heartiness, this supersweet popcorn is great for snacking. The pumpkin powder and Fall spices aren't over the top, but they're just present enough.
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OK, so Trader Joe's Belgian Chocolate Pumpkins ($3) aren't exactly pumpkin spice, but they're pumpkin shaped. Each pumpkin is filled with a creamy chocolate ganache in a variety of flavors: vanilla cream, coffee ganache, crispy milk chocolate cream, dark chocolate cream, and salted caramel. One of these rich chocolates has enough sweetness to last you all day, but you'll be glad you ate it.
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Mixing things up with a savory pumpkin snack, Trader Joe's debuted pumpkin soup crackers this year, which are brown rice crackers with pumpkin puree and rolled oats. You'd never guess by looking at them, but several of our tasters agreed they taste a lot like Sour Cream and Onion chips. The gluten-free crackers are pleasantly crispy and have a salty, buttery flavor that keeps you coming back for more. As the name implies, they really are reminiscent of pumpkin soup.
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The flavor of Trader Joe's Mini Ginger Pumpkin Ice Cream Mouthfuls ($4) is great; the combination of ice cream and cookie makes for a ginger-heavy salty-sweet experience. The cookies are a bit gummy (not at all like a gingersnap); this may or may not bother you.
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What sets Trader Joe's pumpkin bagels apart from others is they're made with actual pumpkin flour milled from fresh pumpkins. The cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and ginger blend really nicely with the pumpkin flour to create a bagel that tastes like the essence of Fall but isn't sickeningly sweet. For an especially seasonal breakfast, toast it up and pair it with pumpkin butter, pumpkin cream cheese, or apple butter.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Erin Cullum
