It’s no secret we love Trader Joe’s. Whether it’s 5 meals for $25 or 7 Vegan Meals for $30, we can’t get enough of our good old friend Joe.
We’re not alone. The people love Trader Joe’s. Last year, we released the most popular products of 2014. Now, the stats are in for the most popular products of 2015.
So here you have it: the most popular Trader Joe’s products of 2015. And as a bonus, we give you some #spoonapproved ideas for how to make the most of the TJ’s goodness.
Favorite Bakery Item: Sourdough
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In the bakery department, Sourdough ranked as #1, followed by the Almond Kringle, Chocolate Babka (swoon), Soft Pretzel Stick, and Ciabatta Rolls. When I first started working at Trader Joe’s, I would buy a Soft Pretzel Stick almost every day. Too good.
Photo by Bernard Wen
We recommend using sourdough to make one of these epic paninis, or the soft pretzel stick or ciabatta rolls with these sandwiches.
Favorite Drink: Spiced Cider
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When it comes to DRANKS, the Spiced Cider was the best-seller, which is pretty remarkable when you consider it’s a seasonal item. Charles Shaw Wines (AKA 2 buck chuck) came in second, and non-dairy almond beverage was third, then old Brew Coffee Concentrate (writer’s note: this stuff is my bae) followed by winter wassail.
Photo by Krysten Dorfman
We recommend making the spiced cider even better in a slow cooker or use it to make sangria, and using the 2 buck chuck to make fancy wine Jell-O shots. There are about a million uses for almond beverage, but we like to use in baking, like in any one of these vegan desserts.
Favorite Pumpkin Item: Organic Canned Pumpkin
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The pumpkin thing is wild at Trader Joe’s. We’ve given you the 411 about them all here.
Photo by Katherine Baker
Good ol’ Organic Pumpkin came in at number one, probably because it’s legit delicious and represents infinite pumpkin possibilities. Our favorite is Pumpkin Fluff, Pumpkin Bread French Toast, and Better-than-Starbucks Pumpkin Bread. In second place was the Pumpkin Bread & Muffin Mix, followed by Pumpkin Butter, Pumpkin Pancake and Waffle Mix, and Pumpkin Ice Cream.
Favorite Snack: World’s Puffiest White Cheddar Corn Puffs
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No store rivals the unique selection of snacks found in the isles of Trader Joe’s. At $1.69 for a huge bag, the “World’s Puffiest White Cheddar Corn Puffs” reigned the snack category in first place, while the new-this-year Sweet Potato Tortilla Chips came in second. Third place went to the Organic Corn Chip Dippers, followed by Peanut Butter-Filled Pretzels and Olive Oil Popcorn.
Photo by Amanda Shulman
We suggest dipping some of those Tortilla Chips or Organic Corn Dippers in some homemade guac or hummus, or tossing some Peanut Butter-Filled Pretzels in some Slutty Brownies.
Favorite Fruit: Bananas
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Our friend DJ Khaled has taught us that fruit is a major key to more success. Apparently, the public agrees. At 19 cents a piece, bananas ranked as the most popular produce item at Trader Joe’s. When you can get 5 of anything for under $1, it’s pretty much an automatic win. And if you have too many, you can make some banana muffins with peanut butter crumb topping.
Photo by Katherine Baker
Avocados were in second place (did someone say guac?), followed by dem juicy Honey Crisp Apples, Brussels Sprouts, and Haricots Verts (which is a fancy French way to say green beans).
Favorite Frozen Item: Mandarin Orange Chicken
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While a lot of frozen food can be icky, Trader Joe’s actually has some quality stuff. The most popular frozen product was, no surprise, Mandarin Orange Chicken, followed by Joe’s Diner Mac’n’Cheese, which can make for the perfect canvas for one of these sexy mac ‘n cheese upgrades.
Photo by Annie Madole
In third place was 4 Chocolate Croissants. If you buy these, let them rise overnight, and then bake them in the morning. Your house will legitimately smell like the most wonderful bakery you’ve ever been to. Extra Fine French Green Beans and Chicken Tikka Masala rounded out the list.
Favorite Salad: Organic Arugula
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When it comes to salad, Organic Arugula was number one, followed by Baby Spinach, Butter Lettuce, and the Caesar Salad kit in fourth.
Photo by Katherine Baker
With its peppery taste, arugula has a variety of uses, including on top of freshly baked pizza, in salads, or mixed into this Farro, Apple, and Sweet Potato grain salad. The Harvest Blend with Baby Kale, Pumpkin Seeds, Pumpkin Cornbread Croutons & Pumpkin Vinaigrette rounded it out.
Favorite Meat: Soy Chorizo
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In the meat category, the vegan Soy Chorizo ranked number one, followed by actual Chicken Sausage (all varieties), Uncured Apple Smoked Bacon. Fourth place went to another vegan option (the Meatless Meatballs), and in fifth place was Traditional Carnitas.
Photo by Becky Hughes
We suggest giving the chorizo a go in this Brown Butter Spaghetti with Veggie Chorizo, and perhaps throwing some sausage in these Crock-Pot beans. You can also get your bacon on in this bacon, egg and cheese savory oatmeal dish. Meatless meatballs would make a lovely accompaniment to this 15-minute Vegetarian Pasta Carbonara.
Favorite Candy: Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
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Candy is obviously the best food group. We’ve given our thoughts on the TJ’s dark chocolate-covered line-up in the past, and the most popular candy at Trader Joe’s this year, was, no surprise, Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, which would go splendidly in this Peanut Butter Cup Fudge.
Photo by Katherine O’Malley
In second place (and this writer’s personal favorite Trader Joe’s product) was the Sea Salt & Turbinado Sugar Dark Chocolate Almonds. Next was the Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels, followed by Mini Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, and English Toffee. We suggest using these candies to top this homemade chocolate ice cream, or some easy banana ice cream to balance #health and indulgence #noms.
Favorite Overall: Cookie Butter
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In first place, Cookie Butter (we could have called this). Second place goes to Mandarin Orange Chicken (in frozen), third goes to the Trader Joe’s Crew, in 4th place is the frozen Joe’s Diner Mac’n’Cheese, and in 5th place is the Unexpected Cheddar.
Photo by Rae Steinbach
We’re Cookie Butter fiends ourselves, straight out of the jar or in cake ball form. If you’re looking for even more ways to use it, check out this post.
Until next year, Trader Joe’s!