Trader Joe’s Fall Foods Review

Trader Joe’s annual fall food release is finally here! With so many products to choose from, it can be hard to know what’s worth buying and what you should skip. The Viking Vision Staff took it upon ourselves to try (almost) all of Trader Joe’s fall food offerings and see what's best. Here are our reviews!

Pumpkin Bread: 8.25/10

Our staff loved the texture and fluffiness of the pumpkin bread, but thought that it needed some more cinnamon and pumpkin flavor.

Pumpkin Cranberry Crackers: 8/10

Our staff thought the flavor of these crackers were a bit bland, and recommended that they be paired with cheese for the best experience.

Apple Mochi: 6/10

Most of our staffers agreed that these Mochis were pretty good, although they could have been a little less sweet and melty. However, staff writer Samantha Verlaque thinks that apple and mochi should never mix, and Editor-in-Chief Sophia Venable was sad she couldn't try them, as they were “in soup form”.

Apple Cider Donuts: 7/10

While the Viking Vision staff agrees that these donuts had a great flavor, many writers thought the texture was too dry and crumbly for a donut. Nevertheless, they appreciated the fact that these donuts were flavored with apple rather than pumpkin.

Pumpkin Bisque: 6/10

Our staff agreed that this soup was delicious and had a good texture, but they couldn’t really taste the pumpkin flavor. Staff writer Jaden Nakamura thought it tasted like “all tomato, no pumpkin”.

Apple Hand Pies: 9/10

Staff writer Neha said this was easily one of her favorite foods she tried. Most people agreed that these pies would have been even better if it had been heated up.

Fall Harvest Salsa and Fall Tortilla Chips: 9/10

Our staff thought the chips were delicious and crispy, and they loved the salsa even though it was not traditional. This is definitely one of the best fall snacks that Trader Joes has to offer.

Pumpkin Joe Joes: 7/10

These pumpkin and chocolate cookies, which are similar to oreos, received great reviews from most of our staff, who thought it was flavorful and crunchy. However, some writers thought it was overwhelmingly sweet.

Halloween Joe Joes: 4/10

Our staff thought these cookies did not have any flavor, and that the food coloring in the cream was unappealing. Staff writer Jaden commented that the cookies were similar to cardboard.

This Pumpkin Walks Into a Bar: 7/10

This bar received mixed reviews from our staff. Editor in chief Sophia Venable said that these reminded her of elementary school. Staff writer Jaden said that these cookies “tasted inexplicably like Hobby Lobby.”

Pumpkin Brioche: 6/10

Our staff thought this bread was delicious and fluffy, but didn’t have much of a pumpkin flavor. Some staff writers didn’t like the overwhelming cinnamon flavor, and staff writer Sebastian said that it was not something he would ever buy for himself.

Pumpkin Os: 7/10

These pumpkin flavored cheerios were delightfully crunchy, but like many of the other items we reviewed. It did not have much pumpkin flavor. Staff writer Neha Chakilam loved this item because it reminded her of Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

Pumpkin Waffles: 4/10

Our staff thought these waffles were bland and had a strange, soggy texture. Staff writer Claire Takahashi remarked that these waffles reminded her of her sister’s cooking failures.

Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese: 10/10

This was easily one of the most delicious items that our staff sampled. Editor in Chief Sophia Venable said that this dish was so good that she wanted to eat the whole container, while staff writer Lila said she was surprised by how yummy it was.

Ghost Bat Potato Snacks: 5/10

While our staff thought that these Ghost Bat Potato Snacks were pretty average, they liked the crunchiness and thought it would make a fun savory treat for Halloween.

Pumpkin Spice Teeny Tiny Pretzels: 5/10

Our staff thought these pretzels were all right, but many of them agreed that pretzels and yogurt should not be combined. Staff writer Tali Cooper thought these pretzels tasted like crunchy pumpkin spice.

Pumpkin Blondies: 7/10

Staff writer Lila Onori said these pumpkin blondies were her favorite item on the list. Although she didn’t expect to like them, she loved the soft texture and the crunch from the nuts. Most of our staff writers agreed with Lila that these blondies were delicious.

Pumpkin Biscotti: 5/10

Our staff thought the flavor of these cookies were delicious, but the extremely dry texture made it less enjoyable. Editor in Chief Nishika Manjeshwar remarked that these would have been great with a warm pumpkin spice latte.

Salted Maple Ice Cream: 10/10

This ice cream was easily the best sweet treat that our staff tried. The sweetness of the ice cream was balanced nicely with the salty maple flavor, and the swirls of maple syrup added a fun textural element.

Overall, if you’re looking for a delicious and satisfying fall treat, our staff recommends the butternut squash mac and cheese as well as the salted maple ice cream. No matter what items you choose to buy, we hope you have an amazing fall filled with delicious food!