When you walk into Trader Joe's in the fall, you know you can expect to see some fabulous pumpkin flavored things. For your benefit, we've tested out 10 different items so you don't have to waste your time debating between pumpkin cookies vs. pumpkin cake... you're welcome.
Emily's Top 5 Picks
Petite Pumpkin Spice Cookies
First, we'll start with the classic pumpkin spice cookies. These little guys are the best! A shortbread cookie with a yogurt coating and the perfect amount of pumpkin flavor, what's not to like! If you're looking for a fall version of a frosted animal cracker, look no further.
Pumpkin Ginger Mini Ice Cream Cones
Next up we have the tried and true hold the cone: pumpkin ginger. These are the perfect treats to curb that sweet tooth after dinner. They have a light coating of icing on the top and the ginger flavor isn't overpowering. My roommates and I are obsessed and we devoured the box very quickly.
Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese
The butternut squash mac and cheese was new to me, but I've heard a lot of raving reviews and let me tell you, the people were right; this was delicious. It's easy to make considering you just pop it in the microwave. It's far creamier than I anticipated and has a great cheesy flavor. I wouldn't say the butternut squash flavor was super prominent which I didn't mind because it tasted like good ole mac and cheese. I added in some peas for a little bit of veggies and this made the perfect easy dinner.
Pumpkin Chocolate Chunk Oatmeal Cookie Mix
I tried the pumpkin chocolate chunk oatmeal cookie mix and was a little disappointed. I found the flavor to be way too strong. My roommates described it as "spicy" and I would have to agree. There was a powerful nutmeg taste which I just didn't love. I also substituted the stick of butter for 1 cup of pumpkin puree, so that might have added to the strong flavor. Overall, these were not my favorite and I wouldn't rush back for them.
Vanilla Pumpkin Candle
The last item I got isn't edible but that doesn't make it less worth it. I bought the vanilla pumpkin spice candle which smells fantastic. It gives the room a nice warm scent. At only $4, you really can't beat it. If you're looking for the perfect fall candle, run to Trader Joe's and snag this one up.
The next 5 fall Trader Joe's items we tried happen to also be vegan!
Lizzie's Top 5 Picks
Pumkin Rolls
The first vegan Trader Joe's Fall item I tried were the Pumpkin rolls! Although pumpkin is not my favorite flavor, this is a great spin off the original Trader Joe's Cinnamon Rolls. My roommates and I cooked these in our air fryer which was a super easy way to make them. We baked the rolls in the air fryer for 8-10 minutes and then topped them off with the pumpkin flavored drizzle once they were done baking. This has to be my favorite of the 5 accidental-vegan fall Trader Joe's foods I tried.
Fall Harvest Salsa
The next item I tried was the Fall Harvest Salsa, which I was pleasantly surprised by. It contains pumpkin, butternut squash, apples, and other fruits and vegetables. It's a sweet salsa which pairs well with the salty Fall Leaf Chips. It was so good that my roommates and I ended up finishing the whole jar in one sitting!
Fall Leaf Corn Tortilla Chips
As I stated before, I ate the salsa with the Fall Leaf Chips (which I would recommend you to do). The taste of these chips resemble regular tortilla chips but because of their leaf shape they are just that much better! These would be the perfect addition to a fall-themed charcuterie board you can make to share with your friends.
Harvest Chili
Another great harvest item I tried was the Harvest chili. Im a big fan of meatless chillies and was very happy when I saw this item. This is a perfect meal to get you in the fall spirts, it's super easy to heat up and extremely delicious. It contains black beans, butternut squash, cauliflower, and pumpkin puree. It's heavy on the vegetables and lighter on the soup but it is a great fall food.
Non-Dairy Oat Maple Beverage
Finally, the last item I tried was the Maple Oat Milk Creamer. I personally have been obsessed with using oat milk in my coffee. Sadly the maple flavor was not strong enough for me. I usually only use a splash of milk but I found myself putting double what I'd normally use in order to taste the maple flavor. I think I'll stick with adding cinnamon on top of my coffee to give it a fall flavor!
These are just a few of Trader Joe's huge selection of fall foods. Even if you aren't a big pumpkin fan, you should definitely try finding your favorite Trader Joes fall treat!