Hey fellow Trader Joe’s fans! I’ve been a huge fan of Trader Joe’s for years – I love the vibe of the store, the unique seasonings and meal prep items – plus during the past 6 months they have been so great at only allowing a limited number of customers in the store at once so it feels very safe – and actually makes the shopping experience there so much better right now (besides waiting in the line outside).
When I was there 2 weeks ago, I noticed so many new fall items (plus my faves from years past) and I shared a few on Stories. I got so much feedback from you guys, that I thought it would be fun to try out a bunch of the new items – as well as sharing my already fall faves with you guys. With so much time at home and looking to get creative with meals – as well as fall activities to make things feel special in this difficult time, we found lots of great items that I can’t wait to share with you guys! I hope you guys find this helpful and would love to hear in the comments what your fave fall Trader Joe’s products include!
We Tested Trader Joe’s Fall 2020 Products — Here are Our Favorites!
Fall Breakfast/Bakery Foods
1. Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Bread & Muffin Mix
This has been a fave for a few years. What’s better than pumpkin bread (or muffins) paired with coffee on a Saturday morning! I highly recommend this one – as well as the GF pumpkin bread option as mentioned by one of our editors.
2. Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Butter
This is a special treat to pair with the pumpkin bread or on toasts during this time. Top your oatmeal, waffles or even add to a smoothie!
3. Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Bagels and Pumpkin Cream Cheese Spread
I’m typically not a bagel person but if you are a bagel person – or looking for a special treat – these were delicious paired with the Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Cream Cheese spread. I had a half bagel toasted with the cream cheese and coffee and it was such a yummy fun treat to start my Saturday last weekend.
4. Trader Joe’s Apple Cider Donuts
This one I was pretty excited about since I love Apple Cider, but was a big fail for me. 🙁 The donuts were dry (I even heated them up a bit in the microwave) and I just tasted lots of sugar. I would skip these…
5. Trader Joe’s Pumpkin O’s
Another fail. My daughter LOVES the Pumpkin Cheerios – she waits all year for them! – so I had her as my taste tester on these and she was not a fan at all. I tried them as well and they just didn’t taste very pumpkin-y, plus they just seemed light you were eating so much air. I would pass on these as well…
6. Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Tortilla Chips
These chips were surprisingly really good! I wasn’t sure since they have cinnamon and nutmeg on them – seemed a bit strange for a tortilla chip – but it works!
7. Trader Joe’s Fall Harvest Salsa
This salsa was a great salsa. I paired it with the Pumpkin Tortilla chips (which was surprisingly good) as well as with my fave black bean chips. Definitely getting more of this salsa this fall.
8. Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Cranberry Crisps
9. with Trader Joe’s Apricot Cherry Cranberry Goat Cheese
I LOVE LOVE putting together cheeseboards – esp in the fall + winter. I typically love the cranberry goat cheese that Trader’s Joe’s they carry in Oct/Nov, but this Apricot Cherry Cranberry Goat Cheese is BRAND NEW and SO GOOD! If you love cherries and cranberries, this cheese pairs amazingly with the Trader Joe’s Crisps. I usually go for their Fig crisps, but had to try this new fall flavor, Pumpkin Cranberry and this was a winner! This combo will be a stable on our cheeseboards this fall!
10. Trader Joe’s Spicy Pumpkin Samosas
We tried these pumpkin samosas last night and they were surprisedly good as well! The perfect amount of spice (not too spicy, but a good spice!). Perfect as an appetizer before dinner. They also have (new this year) Pumpkin Empanadas but they were sold out when I was there last week – hope to try these as well as I’ve heard great things!
11. Butternut Squash Ravioli
This is one of my FAVE fall dinners. They were sold out last week (the woman I spoke with from my Trader Joe’s said they can’t keep these on the shelves – along with the Butternut Squash Mac + Cheese). I love making these with some brown butter sauce, a bit of sage and parmesan – yum! Pair these with some grilled chicken for an easy fall dinner.
12. Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
This one surprised me! I wasn’t planning to try it as I’m not a big mac + cheese person, but after finding out they were out of the Butternut Squash ravioli, one of the Trader Joe’s workers said I needed to try these. There was one box left when I looked for it, so I said why not?! And you guys, it was SO GOOD. And easy to make, just heat in the microwave (gotta love that)! I paired it with some grilled chicken and roasted green cauliflower for a yummy fall dinner.
13. Riced Cauliflower & Butternut Squash Risotto
We eat a lot of grilled chicken and I’m always looking for new veggies to pair with it. This riced cauliflower risotto was so easy to make and a delicious side to pair with grilled chicken (I think it would be great paired with flank steak as well!).
14. Harvest Spaghetti Squash Spirals
This was another easy one to make…not a ton of flavor to this one but wasn’t horrible. It works for an easy side to pair with grilled chicken. My family didn’t love it, but didn’t hate it…
15. Autumnal Harvest Pasta Sauce
This sauce is one of my faves. I wish it was sold all year! I love using it as a sauce with grilled chicken or pairing it with a cheese ravioli. Definitely reccomend.
16. Pumpkin Curry
I love the Trader Joe’s Yellow curry sauce, so I was excited to try this one. I simmered it with some chicken and cauliflower and some farro. It had a perfect amount of zing as well! Not too spicy, but some great flavors. Definitely recommend as well.
Fall Drinks + Desserts
17. Pumpkin Pie Spiced Ginger Brew
I love a Moscow Mule and one of my fave tips to mix things up for fall, is to use this Pumpkin Pie Spiced Ginger Brew in the Mule. Enjoy!
18. Pink Lady Apple Cider
This apple cider is great for kids and it’s my fave to use for a fall Sangria!
19. Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Ginger Ice Cream Cones
Tthis was one of the items I was most excited to try and WOW. You guys. Definitely get these! SO SO good!! I love a tiny bit of something sweet, so these are the perfect size (and they are under 100 calories per cone). The pumpkin ice cream with the ginger cone is the PERFECT combo. Definitely add these to your list!
20. Pumpkin Spice Batons
This is another new for 2020 treat. A perfect afternoon treat with a cup of hot tea or coffee. Flakey wafers wrapped around pumpkin sweetness. Yum.
Another treat I’m hoping to try – Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Spice Granola Bark…I saw this on their site and looks super good – esp to top on some greek yogurt. It wasn’t at my store last week, but keeping my eyes open for it!
21. Haunted House Kit
I bought a few of these for a fun fall activity for the family. We love making gingerbread houses at Christmas and since fall parties are all canceled this year, thought this would be a fun family activity! These do sell out fast, so I recommend buying a few now and save for October! Thinking we’ll put these together and enjoy a few fall treats as well one weekend soon!
22. Pumpkins & Gourds
I LOVE LOVE having so many pumpkins around my home for the fall season. Trader Joe’s typically has the best prices for the Cinderella pumpkins (which I LOVE!) as well as lots of other small pumpkins and gourds.
23. Fall Candles
This was a new-t0-me find as well! Did you know they sell candles?! I had no idea, but the candles are made with a soy wax blend and a lead free cotton wick (which is so important! more on our fave non-toxic candles here). They have 2 scents for fall which smell SO good. Vanilla Pumpkin and Honeycrisp Apple.
Ok, so those are our picks for fall 2020 from Trader Joe’s! Did we miss any of your faves? What are you most excited to try? We’d love to hear in the comments.