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Trader Joe's Caramel Apple Dipping Kit Review: The OG Sticky Situation

Trader Joe's Caramel Apple Dipping Kit is a seasonal delight that makes it easy to create your own caramel-dipped apples at home. This kit is perfect for fall activities, whether you've just gone apple picking or are looking for a fun family activity. But how does it stack up in terms of ease of use, taste, and value? Let's take a closer look.

An unopened box of Trader Joe's Caramel Apple Dipping Kit.

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What is Trader Joe's Caramel Apple Dipping Kit?

Trader Joe's Caramel Apple Dipping Kit is a seasonal product that comes with everything you need to make caramel apples at home, except for the apples. Priced at $6.99, the kit includes caramel dip, wooden skewers, dry-roasted peanuts, and festive sprinkles. It's designed to be a fun, interactive experience for both kids and adults, offering a sweet, nostalgic treat that's perfect for autumn.

The contents of the box of Trader Joe's Caramel Apple Dipping Kit.

Taste and Texture

The caramel in Trader Joe's Caramel Apple Dipping Kit is rich and buttery, with a smooth texture that coats the apples evenly. It has a sweet, classic caramel flavor without being overwhelming. Once set, the caramel remains slightly soft and sticky, making each bite indulgent and satisfying.

The toppings add both flavor and texture-dry roasted peanuts provide a salty crunch, while the sprinkles add a festive, sugary pop. The contrast between the creamy caramel, the crisp apple, and the crunchy toppings creates a delightful eating experience that's perfect for fall.

Five fully finished apples made using Trader Joe's Caramel Apple Dipping Kit.

Ingredients and Nutritional Information

Ingredients:

Caramel: Corn syrup, sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, sugar, butter, and salt.
Toppings: Dry roasted peanuts (peanuts, salt), sprinkles (sugar, cornstarch, carnauba wax).

Nutritional Information (per apple, with caramel and toppings):

Calories: 320
Fat: 14g
Saturated Fat: 6g
Sodium: 95mg
Carbohydrates: 44g
Sugar: 25g
Protein: 5g

This kit is indulgent, with a higher sugar and fat content typical of caramel treats. It's best enjoyed as an occasional treat, especially considering the caramel's richness.

Nutritional facts, calories, and ingredients in Trader Joe's Caramel Apple Dipping Kit.

How to Prepare Trader Joe's Caramel Apple Dipping Kit

Preparing the kit is straightforward, but adult supervision is recommended due to the hot caramel. Here's how to make the perfect caramel apples:

Instructions

Here are the directions listed on the package.

Directions for using Trader Joe's Caramel Apple Dipping Kit.

Below are the visual instructions for those who need it:

Step 1: Start by thoroughly washing and drying your apples. Any moisture left on the apples can prevent the caramel from sticking properly.

An apple with a skewer in it in front of a colander with two apples in it.

Step 2: On a flat surface, push the wooden skewers into the top of each apple. Be sure to do this carefully to avoid injury.

The skewered apples along side the caramel, toppings, and parchment squares.

Step 3: Place the caramel tray in the microwave, following the package instructions. Heat for about 45 seconds, then stir. If the caramel isn't fully melted, add another 20 seconds. Be cautious-the caramel will be very hot.

A close up of two caramel apples one with sprinkles and the other with chopped peanuts.

Step 4: Once the caramel is smooth, dip each apple into the caramel, turning to coat evenly. Allow any excess to drip off before dipping into the toppings.

Five fully caramelized apples with the toppings that remain.

Step 5: Roll the caramel-coated apples in the dry roasted peanuts or sprinkles, or both, depending on your preference.

A fully prepared caramel apple with the box in back.

Step 6: Place the apples on parchment paper and allow them to set at room temperature. The caramel will cool and firm up slightly.

Serving Suggestions

Here are some ways to enjoy your caramel apples:

Classic Caramel Apples: Serve the caramel-dipped apples as they are for a traditional fall treat.
Sliced Apples: For easier eating, slice the caramel apples into wedges and serve on a platter.
Caramel Apple Slices: For a twist, slice the apples first, dip each slice in caramel, and then coat with toppings. This method is great for sharing.
Dessert Boards: Include caramel apples on a fall-themed dessert board with items like pumpkin spice cookies, chocolate, and marshmallows.

Pairing Suggestions

Beverage Pairings:

Apple Cider: Pair your caramel apples with a warm mug of apple cider for a classic fall combination.
Hot Chocolate: The richness of hot chocolate complements the sweet caramel and crisp apple.
Sparkling Water: For a refreshing contrast, enjoy the caramel apples with a glass of sparkling water with a hint of lemon.

Food Pairings:

Ice Cream: Dice the caramel apples and use them as a topping for vanilla ice cream.

Cheese Plate: Serve caramel apple slices with a cheese plate featuring sharp cheddar or gouda for a sweet and savory combination.

Popcorn: Pair with popcorn for a fun and festive movie night snack.

Packaging

The packaging here is pretty clever. There is an additional cardboard piece that holds the caramel in place. Inside the box are the skewers, sprinkles, and chopped peanuts. Each one is in its own plastic bag.

Where to buy

Trader Joe's Caramel Apple Dipping Kit is a seasonal find and new for the 2022 season. Currently, you can only buy this in-store until supplies run out.

Conclusion

Trader Joe's Caramel Apple Dipping Kit is a delightful and convenient way to enjoy a classic fall treat at home. With rich, buttery caramel and fun toppings, this kit makes it easy to create festive caramel apples that the whole family can enjoy. While it requires some supervision due to the hot caramel, the result is a delicious and nostalgic treat that's perfect for autumn. Be sure to grab a kit while it's available, as it's a seasonal item that won't be around for long!

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Trader Joe's Vegan Salmonesque Spread

I'm not going to lie to anyone. When I saw this I was skeptical. I didn't know how I really felt about something that is usually so non-vegan. But I threw Trader Joe's Vegan Salmonesque Spread in my cart fully expecting to try it, hate it, and throw it away. This might even have some doubters surprised, including yours truly.

Review

Once in a while I go into a product figuring I'm not going to like something. Lox, cream cheese on a bagel with capers, and red onions are one of my favorites. But to see "plant-based" and vegan on such a thing seemed kinda crazy.

I opened both dips I purchased when I got home and this was a big surprise. So plant-based dairy still has a way to go, I was still more concerned about the idea of vegan salmon.

So keeping in mind this is a dip, this is thick like regular sour cream but actually made from vegan cream cheese and mayo. This is absolutely a bit tangier because there is lemon juice along with the brine from the capers. But there were small chunks of vegan salmon that were basically spot on in terms of texture. I didn't miss the bite of actual fish because the taste seemed pretty close.

The dill is there but for me, it was on the back end as the capers and other acidic flavors were the primary notes here.

But, could you sub this out on a bagel? This dip is thick enough. Is it a full replacement for lox and bagels? No, this isn't meaty enough.

As someone who isn't vegan, this is a pretty good alternative. It's a little brinier and acidic than I would like and I would have liked a bit more of the creamy flavor to come through (along with some extra vegan salmon).

But I did walk away from this absolutely impressed with how good this plant-based alternative actually is.

Packaging

Trader Joe's Vegan Salmonesque Spread is packaged in the same fashion that other dips are. This is in a plastic container with a thin layer of protective plastic over the top.

Where to buy

Trader Joe's Vegan Salmonesque Spread is a refrigerated item and can only be purchased in stores at Trader Joe's.

Overall

Would I buy this again? To my surprise, yes, I would buy Trader Joe's Vegan Salmonesque Spread

Did you try it? Let me know what you think in the comments section!

Product photos

Trader Joe's Vegan Salmonesque Spread container:

The nutritional information:

Nutritional facts for Trader Joe's Vegan Salmonesque Spread.

The ingredients:

Ingredients in Trader Joe's Vegan Salmonesque Spread.

Out of the package you get:

An open package of Trader Joe's Vegan Salmonesque Spread.

Want to see more items I've reviewed from Trader Joe's? Click on Thoughts & Reviews of Trader Joe's for a searchable list.

The Bottom Line

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Trader Joe's Joe Joes Cookies and Creme Granola Review: Oat-rageously Good

Welcome to the holiday season where products are hitting shelves far faster than I can ever write about them. While I take a brief break from pumpkin things, there are lots of new items that may be year-round hitting shelves as well. For $3.69 Trader Joe's Joe Joes Cookies and Creme Granola might hit the spot.

An unopened bag of Trader Joe's Joe Joes Cookies and Creme Granola..

Review

With all the new fall items hitting us, it's nice to see some items not labeled as "HOL" or holiday. While this is new, it isn't marked the same way which gives me some hope that this might be around a bit longer.

If you are like me and you can binge on an entire row of Oreos, or Trader Joe's Joe Joe's. Then maybe this product is for you as a healthier alternative.

What we have here is a bag of really good granola. They do make some really good varieties of granola already like the Peanut Butter Protein and the seasonal Apple Caramel or Gingerbread Spice varieties.

But this product does fill the gap between those flavors.

And with bits of cookies, this stuff is really good. Add it to something you would already put granola on and you have something that is spot on. And like eating a tube of cookies, this is way too easy to keep giving yourself another handful.

The granola here is mildly sweetened and almost reminds me of an oatmeal cookie without the dough. But in its place are those broken-up bits of Joe Joe's cookies that make each bite a special treat.

These two flavors pair very well together. Now despite all the sweeteners mentioned in the ingredients, this isn't cloyingly sweet granola which is nice. But this isn't healthy food, but probably still better than eating the entire row of cookies and the oats do slow you down.

Absolutely pair this with some milk (yes, like a cereal), yogurt, with some apples and peanut butter, as a parfait, or even with some ice cream.

Whichever way you choose to have this, you'll find this is pretty good. It is filling and if you are feeling a craving for chocolate this is a good way to get that craving met.

Packaging

Trader Joe's Joe Joes Cookies and Creme Granola is in a resealable plastic bag that was easy to open and close. There isn't any wasteful packaging here.

Where to buy

Trader Joe's Joe Joes Cookies and Creme Granola is available at Trader Joe's.

Overall

Would I buy this again? Yes, I would buy Trader Joe's Joe Joes Cookies and Creme Granola. It was a good snack that got a handle on my chocolate craving.

Did you try it? Let me know what you think in the comments section!

Product photos

Trader Joe's Joe Joes Cookies and Creme Granola bag:

The nutritional information:

Nutritional facts in Trader Joe's Joe Joes Cookies and Creme Granola.

The ingredients:

Ingredients in Trader Joe's Joe Joes Cookies and Creme Granola.

Out of the package you get:

Trader Joe's Joe Joes Cookies and Creme Granola in a bowl next to the original bag.

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Trader Joe's Pumpkin Cheesecake Croissants Review: Flake It Till You Make It

Sometimes, mashups of favorite dessert items really work. And yes, Trader Joe's Pumpkin Cheesecake Croissants did taste like both classics. Recently I tried the new Cinnamon Roll Blondie Mix and it seems they are making some pretty darn good combinations.

An unopened box of Trader Joe's Pumpkin Cheesecake Croissants.

Review

New this year is Trader Joe's Pumpkin Cheesecake Croissants.

So yes, there is the mashup of two classics here.

As far as the croissant layer goes, this is more similar to items they've done in the past where there is a dollop of topping on top of a square of croissant dough.

The croissant is going to look very flat coming out of the package and unlike other croissant options at Trader Joe's, this requires no rising overnight.

The croissant took a while to puff up. I did leave it out while the oven preheated. I have an electric oven, so it took a little longer to get to 350F. But in under 30 minutes, it was golden brown.

Mine had nice layers although I could have left it in the oven a bit longer.

And then the pumpkin cheesecake was a generous amount which only grew taller in the oven. This did eventually fall after cooling and it ended up looking more like the image on the box.

But the pumpkin cheesecake was filling and nicely spiced. It was sweet yet had all the familiar spices from pumpkin pie spice. It managed to be both warm pumpkin spice along with the sweetness of the cheesecake. It was balanced and delicious.

Combined, this was a tasty breakfast treat (but could also be a tasty dessert as well).

Now, be warned, there are only two of these in each package, this is a limited-time product. This item costs $3.99. Not a bad deal when you consider how much it would cost to get one of these out. And this wouldn't be bad paired with some ice cream or pumpkin seeds as well.

A good combination that is very well done.

Packaging

This product is packaged in a box that contains two individually wrapped croissants.

Where to buy

This item is found in the frozen section and is only available in-store. This is also a seasonal and limited-run product that will only be around for the Fall and perhaps even the Winter season.

Overall

Would I buy this again? Yes, I would buy Trader Joe's Pumpkin Cheesecake Croissants again before the season is over. They were a nice size and both elements were good. And for $3.99 they made for a pleasant dessert.

Did you try it? Let me know what you think in the comments section!

Product photos

Trader Joe's Pumpkin Cheesecake Croissants box:

The nutritional information, ingredients, and directions:

Nutritional facts, ingredients, and instructions on how to prepare for Trader Joe's Pumpkin Cheesecake Croissants.

Out of the package you get:

Two Trader Joe's Pumpkin Cheesecake Croissants out of the box.

After being baked you get:

A fully baked Trader Joe's Pumpkin Cheesecake Croissant.

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Trader Joe's Cinnamon Roll Blondie Bar Baking Mix Review: Blondies Just Wanna Have Buns (of Cinnamon)

Fall items have finally landed at Trader Joe's. While there is a lot that has been offered in previous years, there are a few new and exciting items. Yes, pumpkin items but there are some other flavors that are more fall-inspired like Trader Joe's Cinnamon Roll Blondie Baking Bar Mix.

An unopened box of Trader Joe's Cinnamon Roll Blondie Bar Baking Mix.

Review

I love reviewing any baking mix. As an added bonus, I've included pictures to help you along. Out of the box, there are three distinct steps: the cinnamon filling, the blondie, and the icing that goes on top.

But the key question is how does it taste? Fully baked this absolutely had the best attributes of both a blondie and a cinnamon roll. And all the components work together really well. Each bite is like biting into a soft blondie minus the chocolate chips. The cinnamon filling does act a lot like the filling of a cinnamon roll. While it has the texture of a blondie, you are getting the best of both worlds. While you could leave off the icing, it adds to the experience of the cinnamon roll component.

The directions are fairly easy to follow. You make the cinnamon filling first, followed by the blondie mix, then after baking the icing. If you need a visual guide on assembling this then I've included the pictures down below.

Minus cooling time, this was ready from start to finish in about 35 minutes. And yes, resist the temptation of icing a hot blondie, or else you'll be left with a mess. I did debate not adding the icing, but it did add that final confirmation that this was a cinnamon roll too. Could you leave it off? Yes, but I do think it adds to it. But if you are concerned about your sugar intake then I understand.

My biggest disappointment here is that this is clearly labeled as a seasonal item on my receipt. This means it will either last until the end of the season or worse until the supply runs out. Some items do end up selling more quickly than others.

What remains to be seen is if you can get similar results by using their blondie baking mix which is on shelves year round with some minor modifications.

Packaging

Trader Joe's Cinnamon Roll Blondie Bar Baking Mix is sold in a box, but it contains three separate plastic bags. This becomes unavoidable given the three parts that go into making these bars.

An opened box Trader Joe's Cinnamon Roll Blondie Bar Baking Mix which shows the three packets.

Directions

If you are more of a visual learner, he is what this looks like as you assemble it.

First, take out all of your ingredients. While you are doing that, preheat your oven to 325F.

Ingredients needed to make Trader Joe's Cinnamon Roll Blondie Bar Baking Mix. — Yes, you need softened butter and melted butter. The last bowl just has water in it.

Next, in a small bowl combine the softened butter with the cinnamon filling.

The second step of making Trader Joe's Cinnamon Roll Blondie Bar Baking Mix showing the cinnamon sugar being combined with the softened butter.

After that in a larger bowl, you'll crack open your eggs and beat them lightly. Then you will add your melted butter. Stir to combine and then add in your blondie mix.

2nd step of making Trader Joe's Cinnamon Roll Blondie Bar Baking Mix. — 1- Adding eggs. 2- Whisk eggs to combine. 3- Add butter and stir 4- Add blondie mix. 5-Mixed blondie mix. 6- Spread evenly into a pan.

Next, add dollops of the cinnamon topping.

Trader Joe's Cinnamon Roll Blondie Bar Baking Mix with the cinnamon topping on top.

With your knife press down the dollops of cinnamon and swirl.

Swirled cinnamon in a Trader Joe's Cinnamon Roll Blondie Bar Baking Mix.

Bake for 25-30 minutes. Your pan will make a difference here. Darker pans will cook more quickly than lighter-colored pans. Also, if you only have an 8x8 pan you will need 30 minutes.

A fully baked Trader Joe's Cinnamon Roll Blondie Bar Baking Mix. — Fully baked and waiting for the final steps.

Allow cooling in the pan. While you are waiting mix the final packet with some water.

Powdered sugar and water with a whisk next to it.

Stir to combine.

Fully combined sugar mixture with a whisk next to it.

Lastly, drizzle icing on top of the cinnamon roll blondie bar. Allow time to harden.

A finished Trader Joe's Cinnamon Roll Blondie Bar Baking Mix.

And when this is all done and the icing has set, cut into squares.

Three fully baked Trader Joe's Cinnamon Roll Blondie Bars.

And for those of you who want a closer look at this:

A close up of Trader Joe's Cinnamon Roll Blondie Bar.

Where to buy

First, this is clearly labeled on my receipt as a holiday or seasonal item. That means it is a limited-run item. This item is sold at Trader Joe's stores.

Overall

Would I buy this again? Yes, I would buy Trader Joe's Cinnamon Roll Blondie Bar Baking Mix again. This is one of those items that I wasn't sure was going to be successful but it totally works and is an excellent combination of favorite items. My only disappointment is this is listed as a seasonal item. For $3.99 this is well worth the money.

Did you try it? Let me know what you think in the comments section!

Product photos

Trader Joe's Cinnamon Roll Blondie Bar Baking Mix box:

The nutritional information and ingredients:

Nutritional facts, calories, and ingredients in Trader Joe's Cinnamon Roll Blondie Bar Baking Mix.

How to prepare:

Directions on how to make Trader Joe's Cinnamon Roll Blondie Bar Baking Mix.

After being cooked you get:

And iced:

A fully caked and cooled Trader Joe's Cinnamon Roll Blondie Bar.

And sliced:

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Don't forget to share your thoughts by going to the "user review" at the bottom of the box (click on the number of stars you believe this product deserves) and leave a comment below.