We all know college students love Trader Joe’s, especially this time of year. Their wide variety of seasonal offerings to get into the fall spirit is undeniable. I know I look forward to fall every year not only for pumpkin picking and Halloween, but for the standout items I know Trader Joe’s will always have.
While we all love some pumpkin gnocchi and spiced cider, Trader Joe’s has more to offer for the fall season than their most well known items. I tried six of the more underrated Trader Joe’s fall Items, and here’s what I thought.
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Spread
When I came across this pumpkin cream cheese, I had no clue what to expect. I am so glad I decided to pick it up because it was better than I would’ve thought. It perfectly combined the richness of normal cream cheese with the sweetness of pumpkin. I tried it on both an English muffin and a piece of toast, and both were an impeccable blend of sweet and savory.
Gluten Free Pumpkin Streusel Muffins
If I didn’t know these were gluten free when I bought them, I wouldn’t have been able to tell. These pumpkin streusel muffins were rich and velvety, bursting with pumpkin flavor in every bite. The cinnamon spiced streusel topping was the perfect touch to blend multiple fall flavors. I brought these to a brunch with my friends, and they were a smashing success.
Fall Leaf Corn Tortilla Chips
Somewhat of an unlikely item, these tri-color tortilla chips are shaped like different leaves. Instead of using artificial dyes, these chips get their color from ingredients such as beet, carrot and pumpkin powders. I tried these with Trader Joe’s guacamole and buffalo chicken dip, and while they don’t taste very different from regular tortilla chips, they were a welcome change that put me in the fall spirit.
Maple Flavored Fudge
If you love sweets, this fudge is for you. This maple flavored fudge was crumbly and smooth, but I could only take a few bites before getting a complete sweetness overload. I wouldn’t say it was bad, but definitely not my favorite out of the fall items I tried. I would recommend it for anyone who is a huge fan of super sweet treats.
Maple Pancake Flavored Puffs
These maple pancake flavored puffs surprisingly combined plain corn puffs with a maple syrup powder and molasses coating — I was skeptical, but it worked. The first few bites were definitely unusual, but it began to grow on me the more I had. I don’t know if I would purchase again, but it was a unique fall-themed snack that I’m glad I tried.
Salted Maple Ice Cream
This salted maple ice cream is my new favorite Trader Joe’s dessert. While this one is definitely more popular than the rest of the items I tried, I hadn’t heard of it until I came across it in the store. The ice cream is flavored with real maple syrup, allowing for an authentic and decadent taste. Maple flavored swirls throughout added a sugary touch to the balance of sweet and savory already present in the ice cream.