Whether we are watching a juicy episode of “Gossip Girl” or a tear-jerking scene from “Crash Landing on You,” my friends and I are going to want to indulge in some Trader Joe’s snacks. While everyone enjoys their fall break, whether it be on or off campus, here are some autumnal treats to try during your week of rest.
Maple & Sea Salt Kettle Corn and Maple Pancake Flavored Puffs
Hot take: Maple treats are better than pumpkin ones — fight me! Both of these snacks are insanely addictive. The kettle corn is the best kettle corn I have had. During a Sunday lock-in session at Hes, I could not put the bag of kettle corn down. The snack has a sweet maple flavor that is not overpowering. The Maple Pancake Flavored Puffs also had a light maple flavor. The texture was similar to Pirate’s Booty except lighter. My roommate, freshman Marie Laracy, described the snack as “Pirate Booty’s dignified older sister.”
Pumpkin Streusel Muffins and Glazed Pumpkin Pie Spiced Donut Holes
As a trendy gluten-free girl, I love Trader Joe’s gluten-free baked goods. A couple of their offerings this fall were the gluten-free Pumpkin Streusel Muffins and the gluten-free Glazed Pumpkin Pie Spiced Donut Holes. The muffins were moist but a little crumbly (so is every gluten-free muffin though). The flavors included every fall spice, and my roommate and I both agreed that it would pair well with a coffee from Cafe J. The donuts were also delicious. The pumpkin flavor in both of these was not too overpowering, and they also were not too sweet.
Petite Pumpkin Spice Cookies
A sweet pumpkin treat that I have heard a lot about but cannot eat (thank you celiac) is the Petite Pumpkin Spice Cookies. Freshman Isabelle Glunz said, “I loved them! They were a delicious fall hit and they really helped me get into the season! They were worth the bike ride.”
Pumpkin Spice Tortilla Chips
I would have never expected myself to like a pumpkin spice chip, but it actually worked. These chips would go well with dips such as mango salsa or the Trader Joe’s Greek yogurt guacamole.
Pumpkin Overnight Oats
Typically I am not a fan of store-bought overnight oats, but I was able to get behind this. I am assuming the pumpkin puree helped with the texture. The flavor was not artificial tasting or sugary. It is perfect for a quick breakfast.
Vanilla Cardamom Cold Brew and Salted Maple Cold Foam Creamer
Trader Joe’s coffee can be hit or miss, so I did not know what to expect from the limited edition Vanilla Cardamom Cold Brew. By itself, it tasted vile to me: I suspect that the cardamom was to blame. However, when I added the Salted Maple Cold Foam Creamer — I am telling you guys, maple is the best — it was very pleasant. Freshman Elizabeth LeSage agreed with this sentiment, saying, “The cold brew wasn’t anything special, but with the maple cold foam it had that nice extra taste of fall.”
Juicy Apple Gummy Candy
I picked these up at the checkout since the packaging was super eye-catching. I was expecting these to be like Gushers, but the texture was very different. The gummy had more of a Haribo consistency, and the filling was looser. Freshman Alexandra Welsch compared eating the gummies to “biting into a fresh apple.” It was a fun treat, but the green gummies were definitely better than the red ones since they were more tart.
There is your roundup of fun seasonal treats to try. Laracy wrapped up our snack trial by saying, “Each of these items, in their respective ways, tastes like a candle, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing!” I never thought about it that way, but she is correct, especially when it comes to any Trader Joe’s seasonal items. On that note, go home and have a TJ’s snack party while watching a fall favorite before autumn phases out.
