These Top Trader Joe’s Fall Items Are *Spooky* Good

Mini Spicy Pumpkin Samosas – 10/10

Tell me why I lost my mind when I saw these snacks in-store! Being an Indian food stan, I knew I had to swipe these from the frozen aisle. Plus, they were marketed as spicy – an element I cannot resist, like, ever.

Each small (they weren’t joking when they said ‘mini’) pocket of dough envelopes a medley of pumpkin, potato, and paneer, and it proved to be downright delish. My only wish is for them to be made bigger so I could enjoy a better yumminess per bite ratio.

Pumpkin Butternut Squash Bisque – 10/10

Having never tried a pre-packaged Trader Joe’s soup before (sue me), I wasn’t sure if I was in for a treat or a trick, but as it turns out, I could honestly chug this bisque straight from the carton if I let myself.

I heated up a small amount in a mug (the only acceptable soup vessel, TBH) for lunchtime, and the aromas alone were intoxicating. It literally smelled exactly like a fall comfort meal. The bisque appeared very simple and straightforward, but to my surprise, it carried a pretty complex and balanced flavor – sweetness from the pumpkin, savory-ness from the squash and spices – that erased any need for salt or pepper. I always expect soups or bisques to lean savory, so this pick did *not* let me down.

Halloween Joe-Joe's Cookies – 9/10

In my mind, these little spooky sandwich cookies are the Oreo’s evil twin – but only in the cutest way possible. Covered in Jack-o’-lantern illustrations, each cookie has a generous amount of orange-tinted icing lying between two crispy chocolate wafers, which is a combo that’s hard to mess up, IMO.

The wafers were a little softer than I’d expected when I took a bite, but the overall texture didn’t bother me. When I factored in the sweet icing layer, everything fell into place.

Pumpkin Spice Granola Bark – 8/10

This granola bark made for the ultimate snack – so much so, that I could’ve devoured the entire bag. Via the packaging, the small bars are crafted from a mix of gluten-free oats, pumpkin puree, almonds, coconut oil, warm spices, and maple syrup, a conglomeration which then gets a final layer of dark chocolate and salted pumpkin seeds. Sounds like a perfect balance of everything you’d want in a snack, right?

Right. The Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Spice Granola Bark provides a satisfying treat, not only texture-wise, but nutrition-wise, too. I was confused where the pumpkin flavors were, though! The pumpkin impression seemed to be missing from these bites, but there were more interesting things going on, like the *perfect* level of saltiness and the oh-so rich chocolate, that I wasn’t sad about it.

Apple Cider Donuts – 7/10

The fan-favorite Apple Cider Donuts from TJ’s made *quite* the return this fall, as my local store had a whole wall full of ‘em. Since I didn’t get the chance to sink my teeth into one last year, this season proved the perfect time for me to snatch a box off the shelf for some at-home enjoyment.

If there’s one thing about me, it’s that I love a cake donut. I’ll gladly stick to savoring the dense, chewy treat rather than rush my way through its flaky-light, traditional counterpart. According to the Trader Joe’s Fearless Flyer I picked up, the Apple Cider Donuts’ cake-style dough gets lightly fried then coated in “generous amounts” of cinnamon and sugar – which was evident when I went to pick one up for snack time. No complaints with that, though – I’m the sweet treat queen.

Though so tasty, one thing that irked me about this supposedly-beloved fall item was that I never once detected the apple cider. For a donut that’s allegedly “bursting with fresh-from-the-orchard apple flavor,” I was only left craving more.

Pumpkin-Flavored Joe-Joe's Cookies – 7/10

Trader Joe's Spiced Cider – 7/10

Trader Joe’s Spiced Cider is a returning favorite to this year’s fall items, and it brings exactly what the season beckons for on the beverage front. Based on my tasting, it’s a bright blend of apple cider and warming spices that almost reminded me of apple juice! I tried it both cold and hot, and I have to admit, it’s *so* much better when warmed. I’m not particularly blown away by the cider, though, hence my ranking.