From peppermint stick ice cream to spiced cider and more spreads than you can comprehend, Trader Joe’s is well known for their numerous seasonal offerings. I reviewed seven of their—well over one hundred—fall exclusive items (not all of which are edible, as their season lineup includes everything from soaps to candles and hand creams). My sister and I tried these snacks together so her opinions have been weighed in along with my own. Without further ado, here are the snacks, ordered from worst to best.
1: All Butter Apple Shortbread cookies, 0/5 Falcons, $3.49
There is little good to say about the Apple Shortbread Cookies. The shortbread base is quite nice, and they are visually appealing, but the “apple” ruins it. Between disgusting sweetness and a flavor suspiciously similar to the scent of the aforementioned soap, this was the only item I was unable to finish.
2: Caramel Apple Mochi, 1/5 Falcons, $3.99
The flavor of each component of this caramel-apple-themed treat is indeterminable. The ice cream is tasty, but the same cannot be said for the mochi. My sister said, “Individually the mochi and the ice cream taste fake, and together they make a wonderfully disgusting medley.”
3: Fall Leaf Corn Tortilla Chips, 2/5 Falcons, $3.99
These chips are visually appealing in vibrant autumn colors, they also definitely don’t lack salt. Unfortunately, they have a strange earthy aftertaste.
4: Maple Leaf Cookies, 3/5 Falcons, $3.99
After purchasing these sandwich cookies I realized they’re actually sold year-round, but I reviewed them anyway. The maple flavor is plenty strong and the cookies are good despite the filling’s cloying sweetness.
5: Petite Pumpkin Spice Cookies, 4/5 Falcons, $3.99
These adorable pumpkin-shaped cookies are absolutely bursting with pumpkin spice goodness. The cookies are sprinkled with little circular sprinkles (which are apparently called nonpareils). My only complaint is that these cookies are a little bit too sweet.
6: Maple & Sea Salt Kettle Popcorn, 5/5 Falcons, $2.99
The Maple Kettle Corn is undeniably delicious, but in the majority of the pieces the maple is virtually nonexistent. When it does come through, the popcorn is worse for it. I wouldn’t buy this snack if you are seeking a maple flavor, but it’s still exceptional kettle corn.
7: Pumpkin Spice Teeny Tiny Pretzels, 5/5 Falcons, $3.49
Note: my sister did not like this snack, so take my review with a grain of salt.
I am a fiend for salty snacks, so it’s no surprise I adore these salty-sweet pretzels with a yogurt coating and a pumpkin spice drizzle. The yogurt could stand to be a little more sour but overall they’re a great snack.
Overall the Trader Joe’s Fall Snack Collection is a bit underwhelming with some hidden gems—though that might just have been bad snack selection on my part. The sweet snacks were often too sweet and there was a pervasive problem with unnatural flavors, though I wish the popcorn and pretzels were available year round.
