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Trader Joe's Truffle Cream Filled Gnocchi

If Trader Joe's has months with themes then October is all about pumpkin then late November into December is all things truffle. Here they are taking a year-round favorite and putting a seasonal spin on it.

The taste

If you've had Trader Joe's Outside In Stuffed Gnocchi then you pretty much know the formula of this frozen gnocchi here.

That gnocchi is pretty good frozen gnocchi. But they are quite a bit larger than normal gnocchi. That space is used for a small bit of filling. As much as I want more filling here, I also know as a home cook that any filling when it comes to dumplings you can't overstuff them.

For the most part, I avoid microwaving the gnocchi as the end result is rarely good. Also, despite Trader Joe's being notoriously inaccurate with directions they are spot on when they recommend a cooking method.

But browning these is key. Gnocchi is one of those foods which should be light and airy. These have the disadvantage of being frozen. Once the gnocchi is frozen we are a step down in quality.

But nonetheless, once these are a bit brown and you've tested one of these for doneness then you are in for a treat.

These were tasty in a way the original version wasn't. The originals were very basic and plain. The sauce on the inside didn't make them pop. Here, the mascarpone is a pleasant creaminess to the pillowy gnocchi. I nice contrast between the toasted exterior, soft potato dumpling, and a very smooth filling.

As for the truffle flavor, die-hard fans might be a bit disappointed here. It isn't as assertive as truffle can be. This is more of a balance. Yes, the familiar earthy flavor is there, but to varying degrees. Some gnocchi seemed more stuffed than others.

A few in each bag leaked a bit which was a bit of a bummer. The gnocchi was fine, but the center had long since melted out.

And based on some of the new sauces that have hit shelves perhaps a hint to all of us to go out and buy one of the truffle flavored sauces (there is a new truffle Picante jarred sauce or a refrigerated mushroom and truffle pesto).

But if you really need that pop of truffle you can always reach for a quick drizzle from Trader Joe's Truffle Oil Duo which is around just for the season as well.

In either case, if you've been curious about truffle flavor then this is like training wheels on a bicycle. It's a polarizing flavor, either you'll love it or hate it. And there really isn't much else to describe truffle flavor other than earthy and deeply mushroomy.

In terms of how truffle flavored this is I'd say it's closer to a 4/10. It's there, but it is just in the center which is quite small. But like I said this bag is about balance.

Each bag is realistically two servings. Or three with a side salad or something to balance it out. Each portion is quite filling. Yes, you can microwave the leftovers for 45-60 seconds in the microwave but they aren't quite as good as they were out of the pan.

Cooking these

While the stovetop directions are pretty much spot on (or maybe need a touch more oil or butter to ensure they don't stick). You can also cook these in the air fryer at 380 for about 14 minutes. Yes, use a bit of olive oil spray to prevent sticking and to help with the browning of the exteriors.

Although you can microwave these, these are best if they are a touch crisp on the outside.

The packaging

The bag is the only packaging in this product.

Trader Joe's Gnocchi

I've tried all the gnocchis they offer Cauliflower Gnocchi, Chocolate Lava Gnocchi, Gnocchi alla Gorgonzola, Gnocchi alla Sorrentina, Outside In Stuffed Gnocchi, Sweet Potato Gnocchi, and even the dried gnocchi which I haven't reviewed yet (but are always on my pantry shelf).

If I had to recommend them in order of the best to the worst:

Sweet potato gnocchi
Truffle Cream Filled Gnocchi
Cauliflower gnocchi
Outside In Stuffed Gnocchi
Gnocchi alla Sorrentina
Gnocchi alla Gorgonzola
Chocolate Lava Gnocchi
and lastly Kale Gnocchi

Overall

If you hate truffles then steer clear. If you've never tried truffle and want a mellow truffle flavor then this is worth a try. To die-hard truffle fans, this might not be as pungent as we'd hope for, but there are more than enough truffle-flavored sauce options to keep us busy.

Would I buy this again? Yes, I've already bought (and consumed) four bags of Trader Joe's Truffle Cream Filled Gnocchi.

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

Product Photos

The bag:

The nutritional information and the ingredients:

Nutritional facts and calories in Trader Joe's Truffle Cream Filled Gnocchi

How to prepare:

Cooking directions for Trader Joe's Truffle Cream Filled Gnocchi

After being cooked you get:

A pan of fully cooked Trader Joe's Truffle Cream Filled Gnocchi — This was not the contents of the whole bag. Some were removed for testing purposes.

A close up of the gnocchi:

A close up look at the center of Trader Joe's Truffle Cream Filled Gnocchi — A view into the center of the gnocchi

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 Truffle Oil Duo Review: A Fancy Finishing Touch or Just a Faint Whiff?

The winter products have landed at Trader Joe's. So if pumpkin isn't your thing, but earthy truffle flavored items are then you are in luck. And if you were a fan of the truffle oil they offered a few years ago, then they've clearly tried to resolve some legal issues regarding labeling with this as well.

And this is priced at $9.99 so this is quite affordable for something that actually contains truffles.

An unopened package of Trader Joe's Truffle Oil Duo — Yes, pigs look for truffles but now dogs are trained to do the same.

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Review

Alright, let's get real here. Trader Joe's Truffle Oil Duo is one of those products that looks super fancy-like the kind of thing you'd pick up to impress your dinner guests or add a dash of "I'm a gourmet chef, obviously" to your Instagram feed. And at first glance, it feels like a steal: two cute little bottles for just $9.99.

I popped the top and, well, it smelled like truffle oil-kind of earthy, kind of savory, but definitely there. It wasn't the punch-you-in-the-nose kind of aroma, more like a polite wave from across the room.

I drizzled the black truffle oil on pasta, and it added a nice, subtle earthy note. Same with the white truffle oil on scrambled eggs. It made my breakfast feel fancier than usual. But here's the thing: the flavor is subtle. Really subtle. Like, if you blink, you might miss it.

It's versatile, no question. Drizzle it over pasta, popcorn, roasted veggies-heck, even eggs-and it'll add a gentle truffle vibe without overpowering everything. It's like a background singer that never tries to steal the show. And the price? Let's just say you won't feel bad about adding a splash here and there

If you're hoping for a truffle explosion in your mouth, this is not that. The flavor is more "hint of truffle" than "mic drop of decadence." And while it says truffle-infused, let's be honest-it's more of a truffle suggestion than an actual truffle experience.

Trader Joe's Truffle Oil Duo is a fun, affordable way to bring a little fancy-pants flavor to your meals. But if you're a truffle snob (no judgment, I love a good truffle too), this might leave you wanting more. It's a decent starter kit, but don't expect it to replace your favorite high-end truffle oil.

The packaging

These come in a lovely gift box. There isn't much extra packaging other than what is necessary to keep these bottles from breaking inside the box. Each bottle is sealed. There is a small amount of film that needs to be peeled back before these can be opened.

Nutritional facts, calories, and ingredients in Trader Joe's Truffle Oil Duo.

Pairings and recipe suggestions

So whether you bought this for yourself or you are a foodie who was gifted this item and you weren't quite sure what to do with it here is a quick breakdown of both recipe suggestions and flavor pairings

Trader Joe's Truffle Oil Duo out of the box

Flavor Pairings

If you've been curious about truffle oil then it pairs well flavorwise with the following items:

cheese
eggs
fish
mushrooms
pasta
risotto
salads and salad dressings.

Please also note that truffle oil is not used in the cooking process but rather as something to finish a dish at the end.

Also since the taste of white and black truffles are different here are some pairing suggestions on how to use each of the oils.

Black truffles and their flavor pair well with:

bacon
beef
cauliflower
chicken
cod
eggs
langoustines
lemon
mushrooms
potatoes
scallops
shellsfish
chicken stock
tarragon

White truffles and their flavor pair well with:

artichokes
butter
cheese
cream
eggs
onions
pasta
potatoes
prosciutto
risotto
thyme

Recipe ideas

If you are looking for some recipes ideas here are some suggestions:

Trader Joe's Truffle Oil Duo from the back out of the box. — You can see the little shavings at the bottom of each bottle. Yes for $10 you are only going to get a shaving of a truffle. This is a very pricey ingredient.

Final Thoughts

The truest to truffle-flavored product that I ever had at Trader Joe's was hands down their truffle butter. It was amazing for the price. And yes, that is stock up on the product. The beauty of butter is that it can be stored in the freezer without much impact on the product. Olive oils need to be used within a certain time or they go rancid. So while this product is good, I'll always recommend the truffle butter before this.

While this is typically sold in the wintertime at Trader Joe's as a seasonal item, you might also be able to acquire this on Amazon through third-party sellers.

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Are Trader Joe’s Balsamic Glazed Short Ribs Worth the Hype? I Tried Them So You Don’t Have To

Every now and again there are some hits that don't quite get any social media hype. And once in a while, I'm ok with that. If you can find this package, you are in for a real treat that will save you hours and yield a tasty meal with minimal effort.

An unopened Trader Joe's Balsamic Glazed Bone In Short Ribs box

The taste

Whenever Trader Joe's lists a preferred method I usually go with that. So these short ribs were prepared in the oven.

So just to be clear, these short ribs are bone-in and contain a much larger section of the bone than Trader Joe's Korean Style Ribs which are cut the other direction. But the bones here won't pose any problem to consuming these as the meat is so tender the rib will literally fall away from the meat.

These short ribs are a generous size. Despite there only being 4 ribs in my package these did make for 4 servings. I served mine with potatoes and a vegetable. Cooking directions were also on point and accurate.

Preparing these in the oven gave the tops of the ribs a chance to caramelize just a bit in a way they might not in the other directions.

When these came out of the oven they looked homemade. If you've ever made short ribs at home you know the bones fall away from the meat. You also know that because of the cut of meat the liquid is going to look quite fatty. That's the nature of this cut. It usually has a nice layer of fat on one side. It also has quite a bit of fat between all of the connective tissue of the rib.

Don't let that turn you away from this product though. The end result is so tender you might not even need a knife. Mine was falling apart with just the use of my fork.

And of course, there is the flavor here. Not only was this beefy, but it had a nice onion flavor which was carefully balanced with the balsamic here. It was a touch sweet yet a touch tangy.

There is no shortage of liquid with these either. If you are going to add these to starch or pour over veggies I'd recommend using a fat separator. While the fat is flavorful everyone has their limits. You are better off straining it or making a thicker gravy to go along with this.

For you low-carb people I'm sad to say there is molasses in these that lend that sweetness along with 9g of added sugar altogether. So if you are counting carbs, just be aware this might be a product that you might expect to be low carb and it isn't as low carb as it could be.

But if this can fit into your diet then this was a luxurious meal and a lot more affordable than going to a local restaurant. And yes, each serving was absolutely delicious

Yes, this is priced at $8.99 per pound and most boxes were in the $20+ range. And yes, with the bones here you will be throwing a portion of this away. But considering you won't have to spend hours braising these there it will save you time and it isn't priced out of line with buying this cut unprepared.

Overall, these were a standout in the refrigerated aisle. However, another thing stood out to me: these are seasonal. That's a bummer because these were a solid choice, priced well, and were straight-up delicious.

The packaging

Trader Joe's Balsamic Glazed Bone-In Beef Short Ribs comes in a box. With that box are two bags. In my case, each bag contained two short ribs for a total of four short ribs. These are packaged consistent with a sous vide preparation. They probably could have used a single bag in place of two.

Overall

These were a huge hit in my house. I am hoping to find this a couple more times before they run out for the season. They were flavorful, tender, and no knife was really required.

The nutritional information and the ingredients:

Nutritional facts, calories, and ingredients in Trader Joe's Balsamic Glazed Bone In Short Ribs

Heating instructions:

Heating directions for Trader Joe's Balsamic Glazed Bone In Short Ribs — Following the oven method made these delicious

Out of the package you get:

An open box of Trader Joe's Balsamic Glazed Bone In Short Ribs showing the two bags of short ribs

After being cooked you get:

Trader Joe's Balsamic Glazed Bone In Short Ribs on a dish out of the oven

A closer look at these:

Trader Joe's Balsamic Glazed Bone In Short Ribs close up

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

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Trader Joe's Vanilla Cake and Baking Mix

Behold, the glow-up you needed if you are making a cake. If you've only ever made a cake from a box, and are used to the ones that you can get in the grocery store for 4/$5, then consider this the more adult cake that might be worth the splurge at nearly $3 a box.

The taste

So if you've ever had Duncan Hines, Pillsbury, or Betty Crocker cake mixes then you might be familiar with what you might think is vanilla. Odds are there if you look through the ingredients you'll see something called vanillin. It's not real vanilla.

Bake Trader Joe's Vanilla Cake and Baking Mix into a cake or cupcakes and you'll have something that tastes very different. It tastes far more adult than the other mixes. It's a happy place between familiar and bakery style.

Yes, visually you'll be able to see the vanilla bean specks once the liquid is added to this. They become even more prominent once you bake this up.

The only problem with those bean specks is that they give you the visual cue that this will be packed with vanilla flavor. Also, the box hints at natural vanilla flavoring. However, those specks are more for aesthetic purposes than actual flavor.

But the flavoring comes in the form of the last item in the ingredients. So yes, visually the cues are there. But when you bite into your homemade masterpiece you'll be hit with a flavor profile that is anything but those other grocery brands.

The cake itself cooked up nice and soft and pillowy provided you didn't over stir the ingredients. My cake came together in about 15 stirs. The cooking directions were spot on. Any longer and the top of the cupcakes I made would have turned browner. Not a deal-breaker, just not as pretty to look at.

My mix made about 14 cupcakes in total. If you buy Trader Joe's Vanilla Buttercream Frosting mix that will have no problems covering this mix as well. So it will actually be an even 1:1 buying ratio if you are looking to go that way.

And yes, these two items are an awesome pairing together. They do complement each other without overwhelming each other. But at the end of the day, one does look distinctly more vanilla than the other. Tastewise, yes the cake carries more vanilla flavor as well.

A cupcake frosted with icing from Trader Joe's Vanilla Buttercream Icing Mix — The pairing of Trader Joe's Vanilla Cake and Baking Mix with Trader Joe's Vanilla Buttercream Icing Mix was prepared and tested together.

This cake mix looks as visually good as it tastes. It is classically easy to put together with minimal mess.

If you are looking for your cake to taste a bit more grown-up then by all means give this mix a try. This is one of those items that

How to make this

So for the visual learners here is a quick breakdown of how to make this:

Steps in making Trader Joe's Vanilla Cake and Baking Mix into cupcakes — 1- Add mix to bowl. 2- Add butter 3- Add eggs 4- Add milk 5-stir until combined 6-I made cupcakes and baked per the directions on the side of the box

The packaging

The packaging is pretty standard for a cake mix. It comes in a box. Inside the box is a bag with the mix in it. Could the box possibly be eliminated? If they could get the directions on a bag I don't see why not down the road.

Frequently asked questions

Does Trader Joe's sell frosting?

Yes, new to shelves in October of 2021 is their new vanilla frosting mix.

Is Trader Joe's vanilla cake mix good?

Yes, Trader Joe's Vanilla Cake and Baking Mix is very good. It is absolutely a step up from more common grocery brands that you might get.

Is Trader Joe's vanilla cake mix vegan?

The mix contains traces of egg and milk so strictly speaking it isn't vegan. However, none of the ingredients listed contain animal products. You'll also need to substitute the items asked for in the ingredients as the mix requires milk, butter, and eggs.

Overall

For $2.99 this is priced higher than some mass-market grocery store options, but the payoff is a better flavor here.

Would I buy this again? Yes, I would buy Trader Joe's Vanilla Cake and Baking Mix again. This beat the vanillin-flavored cake mixes that are so common today. Embrace the vanilla seeds and eat some cake.

This item is sold both at Trader Joe's and through third-party sellers on Amazon.

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

A visual rundown of this product

The box:

Calories and ingredients:

Nutritional information and ingredients in Trader Joe's Vanilla Cake and Baking Mix

How to prepare:

The visual directions:

After being cooked you get:

Full baked cupcakes using Trader Joe's Vanilla Cake and Baking Mix — A close-up look at the texture of these cupcakes. Along with those vanilla flecks.

And a quick taste test:

A cupcake made out of Trader Joe's Vanilla Cake and Baking Mix with icing and a bite taken out of it — That frosting on top is also Trader Joe's as well.

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

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.

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Trader Joe's Vanilla Buttercream Frosting Mix

While cake mix is a staple at Trader Joe's up until now there has been no frosting sold. Well, this isn't the pre-made stuff in a tub. Nope, this is yet another mix that you have to do-it-yourself to get the final product.

The taste

Icing. Frosting. Whichever you are referencing we are talking about the pillowy stuff on top of cake or cupcakes.

For a long time Trader Joe's has sold various cake mixes. Once in a while, they come with a glaze, but for the most part, you were on your own if you wished for some frosting on top.

Unlike most grocery stores which would sell you a tub of the stuff, Trader Joe's also made this into a mix. So you can make it yourself on demand.

With a couple of ingredients, you have frosting ready to go. If you are dairy-free just note that shortening could be used as a substitute along with plant-based milk to thin out the consistency.

But after letting the sticks of butter come to room temperature this came together in under 5 minutes. This box will also allow you to frost a box of Trader Joe's cake mix. For me, this generously covered a dozen cupcakes (see pictures below on my frosting generosity).

But what's key here is the taste. For me, this was more buttercream than vanilla buttercream. Don't get me wrong it's good, but for roughly the same price you can get Trader Joe's Vanilla Cake mix which lets you know that it is deeply vanilla. It has those beautiful flecks of vanilla seeds that this product lacks.

But visuals aside, it is a good mix. It's just going to come down to the price point. Yes, a tub of frosting from most grocery stories is cheaper. But in terms of taste, this is way better. But yes, you'll be dirtying a bowl to get to that taste. And yes, opening a can is oh so much easier and faster.

So if you are looking for that taste of homemade frosting without having to measure or sift this is a solid option.

The packaging

In this box is a plastic bag with the contents of the mix. The packaging here could probably be reduced to just the bag and selling similarly to how their sugar is packaged or how the baking chips are packaged.

Despite the possible overkill on the packaging, it is a really nice-looking box which makes this feel fancy. But then again since you are paying nearly $3 before you start adding ingredients it should feel nice.

Overall

For $2.99 this is a bit pricey for what you are getting here. It's mostly just powdered sugar with some vanilla flavor to it.

Would I buy this again? Trader Joe's Vanilla Buttercream Frosting Mix is a maybe for me. It was easy enough to assemble but so is frosting in general with some powdered sugar, butter, and a splash of milk. It absolutely tastes different than the stuff you get in a can.

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

A visual rundown of this product

The box:

The nutritional information and the ingredients:

Nutritional facts and ingredients in Trader Joe's Vanilla Buttercream Frosting Mix

How to prepare:

How to make Trader Joe's Vanilla Buttercream Frosting Mix

And on some cupcakes:

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

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.

You can also FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest to see what I'm up to.