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Trader Joe's Cuban Style Citrus Garlic Bowl

The quest for a quick and flavorful lunch is really what got this blog started. My love of Trader Joe's did start in the frozen section. And with the Indian selections that I was eating for lunch. Trader Joe's quietly added a new item: this Cuban Citrus Garlic Bowl. Now, if you've ever had good Cuban food you know it is deeply flavorful with the right amount of acidity. So with fingers crossed, I grabbed this one day for a quick meal.

Review & Taste

As much as I was hoping this would be as good as the Chicken Burrito Bowl, I have to admit, I was disappointed in this.

Yes, for me the chicken burrito bowl was missing a kick of something: like heat.

This Trader Joe's Cuban Style Citrus Garlic Bowl, on the other hand, seems to be missing the mark on a lot of different levels.

First off, I prefer dark meat, but I know some out there don't share the same appreciation for the slightly greasier thigh meat. But that is a matter of preference.

Where this bowl lost me was on pretty much every other element in the bowl. The rice was a wet and sloppy mess. There was flavor but it was muddled at best. When it says "zesty citrus," I felt like I was getting bites of sweet citrus rather than the acidity that this bowl desperately needed.

And plantains? If it weren't listed on the box, I honestly couldn't tell that there were any in this box. And that is a darn shame, especially considering what a staple it is in so many cultures.

Overall

I'd grab the Chicken Burrito Bowl any day over this. It just didn't turn out well executed at all.

Having this for lunch was a disappointment at best.

While the calories in this are in check as are the added sugars, I can tell you it still wasn't worth it. I only managed to get through a few bites before saying goodbye to this.

For $3.49, it is affordable, but not worthy of repurchase in my book.

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

Product Photos

The box of Trader Joe's Cuban Style Citrus Garlic Bowl:

An unopened box of Trader Joe's Cuban Style Citrus Garlic Bowl

Calorie and ingredients

Ingredients and nutritional information for Trader Joe's Cuban Style Citrus Garlic Bowl

Directions

Out of the package you get:

A frozen Trader Joe's Cuban Style Citrus Garlic Bowl out of the box

After being cooked you get:

A fully cooked Trader Joe's Cuban Style Citrus Garlic Bowl next to the original box

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 8 Mini Croissants

Welcome to Trader Joe's 8 Mini Croissants review 2.0. It should actually be considered 3.0 as I never got a chance to try the original mini croissants. But since publishing this more than a year ago, some very passionate fans of the old product have come out to share their thoughts. And I'm happy to report this product is back and improved from the ones in a bag.

Review

If you are a fan of Trader Joe's Croissants, then you might have been disappointed by any change in the product and its formulation. For some reason, they've been tinkering with the mini croissants but not the almond or chocolate ones.

However, I felt the need to update this review because when I walked past the croissant section I noticed the bag was gone and there were croissants in different packaging. Usually, when there is updated packaging it means there has been a change.

Now, like the croissants in a bag, these do not require any overnight proofing. But what I can tell you is these are much improved over the ones in a bag. They are flakier and taste a lot less like Pillsbury crescent rolls and more like the much-loved croissants.

These cooked up with all the layers you could hope for. Now, again, I never tried the original Trader Joe's 8 Mini Croissants that were changed more than a year ago. However, that is what the comments section is for.

Overall

Would I buy this new box of Trader Joe's 8 Mini Croissants again? Yes, I would buy this box again. It seemed pretty solid this time around. But again, I didn't try the originals.

Product Photos

The box of Trader Joe's 8 Mini Croissants:

Calories and ingredients

Nutritional information, calories and ingredient list in Trader Joe's 8 Mini Croissants

Directions

Out of the box you get:

An open box of Trader Joe's 8 Mini Croissants showing the frozen uncooked pastries

Out of the oven, you get:

Six fully cooked Trader Joe's 8 Mini Croissants

Previous Review

All comments below refer to an earlier product prior to 11/19/19

The pros: Trader Joe's 8 Mini Croissants are new and replace the frozen ones you have to proof. Don't worry though, the Chocolate and Almond croissants are still in the frozen aisle.

The cons: If you imagined (like I did) that these would be about the size of say a crescent roll, then you will be surprised by how much they puff up. This bag is not resealable. They are made in Belgium.

The verdict:

I love a good croissant. So much so that a fellow friend and I decided to take a croissant-making class at Sur La Table a day or two before my wedding.

Yup, nothing says I don't need to fit into my clothes anymore, like learning to make buttery pastries.

So let's start off with a couple of things that are worth noting. This is a new product. Trader Joe's previously offered boxed variety with the same name that was just plain croissants. Those required time. Overnight + bake time. While the chocolate and almond croissants are still there, the plain ones have not been there the last few times I stopped into my local TJs.

Now, the chocolate ones are near perfection. The only downside is you can't just pop them in the oven. You have to wait for them to rise.

The almond ones are a close second, but they frequently leak their filling all over the cookie sheet. Also, they would be prettier if they mentioned the importance of an egg wash. In terms of taste, they are on point too.

These croissants are for those of us who fail to plan. I know I'll need to eat, but often I fail to plan. If you have about 25 minutes, then you might be pleasantly surprised by how good these are for something coming out of a bag.

Let's start off with the price. For $3.99 you are getting 8 not so mini but not full-sized pastries. Go into any French bakery and that might get you two if you are lucky.

Because of the ridiculously high heat here in NY, these were pretty much fully defrosted for me by the time I brought them home. So while I did not leave them out for 30 minutes, they did endure a shopping trip, a 25-minute car ride in 90-degree heat, plus putting the groceries away.

About 25-minute later I had golden brown pastries. I pushed it to the 30 minutes to ensure that they weren't quite as light as the ones on the picture on the bag.

You see, when it comes to croissants you want a bit of color. Without the color, it means you might be biting into mush. You want flaky layers. If I had let them stay in the oven a few more minutes I probably could have added to the layering.

But the outside was crisp and the inside light and tender.

For something that wasn't full-sized, it was pretty good. For something that does not require overnight proofing, they are pretty good.

Best of all these are less than half the calories of the chocolate or almond croissants and are a touch easier to make. It's like Trader Joe's understands just how lazy I am.

Don't get me wrong, those chocolate and almond ones are worth the time. But if you are looking for an upgrade to your Pillsbury Crescent Rolls, then you should give these a try.

Here is the visual rundown of what you get if you buy this product:

The bag of Trader Joe's 8 Mini Croissants:

The nutritional information:

Trader Joe's 8 Mini Croissants nutritional information

The ingredients:

Trader Joe's 8 Mini Croissants ingredients

How to prepare:

Trader Joe's 8 Mini Croissants baking instructions

How Trader Joe's describes these:

Trader Joe's 8 Mini Croissants description

After being cooked you get:

Trader Joe's 8 Mini Croissants fully baked croissants

Would I buy this again? Yes, I would buy Trader Joe's 8 Mini Croissants again. They were easy, peasy and tasted pretty good. Not French Bakery amazing, but darn good out of the bag.

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

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

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.

Trader Joe's Chocolate Croissants Review: Flaky, Buttery, and Better Than You’d Expect from the Freezer Aisle

Few things feel more indulgent than a freshly baked chocolate croissant, but who has the time (or skill) to laminate dough from scratch? Luckily, Trader Joe's Chocolate Croissants offer a buttery, chocolate-filled solution straight from the freezer aisle. These pastries puff up overnight and bake into flaky, golden perfection the next morning. Whether you're planning a cozy brunch or just want something special with your morning coffee, they deliver bakery-quality results with minimal effort.

An unopened box of Trader Joe's Chocolate Croissants

Review & Taste

When I first saw these croissants in the freezer aisle, I wasn't sure what to expect. But after baking them once, I became a believer. This is one of those rare frozen items that actually delivers a bakery-quality result right from your own oven. The outside bakes up beautifully golden and crisp, while the inside stays soft, flaky, and rich with buttery layers. The chocolate is just right-not too sweet, not too bitter-and it melts perfectly into the pastry. Just be sure to cool the pastry before being too tempted by the fresh out of the oven delight waiting for you. I can assure you, chocolate lava isn't delicious and nor is a burnt mouth.

And while the frozen pastry will have you questioning your purchase, the end result won't.

Yes, they require a little planning since you have to let them rise overnight, but the payoff is worth it. Waking up and popping these into the oven makes any morning feel a little more indulgent. The smell alone is enough to get everyone out of bed. My only complaint? The box only comes with four. These go fast, so I usually keep an extra box tucked away just in case.

At $4.99 for 4 croissants, you're getting bakery-quality results for a fraction of the cost. Just be warned: they're so good, you might wish the box came with more than four.

There is another chocolate croissant available in the bakery aisle. The key difference being the package is the same price for only 2 croissants.

If you have the time, this is a better product.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about Trader Joe's Chocolate Croissants

How long do you cook Trader Joe's Chocolate Croissants?

In the oven at 350F, you will need about 20-25 minutes of cooking time after proofing. If you are making these in an air fryer you will need 15-20 minutes at 350F.

Do I have to proof Trader Joe's Chocolate Croissants?

Yes, these are not oven-ready and need to be proofed overnight at room temperature. You can speed up the process by using the proof setting on your oven for about 2 hours until they have doubled in size.

Can I bake these in the air fryer?

You can, but the texture won't be quite the same. A traditional oven yields the best results.

Trader Joe's Chocolate Croissants Baking Directions

I remember taking my first package out and having the following thought: THAT'S IT?!

They are tiny. Yes, there are 4 in such a small package. Here is a teaspoon (not a soup spoon for perspective's sake.) I allow mine to rise on a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Trader Joe's Chocolate Croissants when they first come out of the box next to a spoon for comparison

Leave them out overnight (6-9 hours) at room temperature to rise. They'll double in size.

Trader Joe's Chocolate Croissants after they've risen overnight — Nine hours later, look how they've risen. They'll puff up a smidge more in the oven as well.

To Bake:

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown. Egg wash seen here is optional, but will yield something closer to the picture on the package.

Trader Joe's Chocolate Croissants brushed with egg wash

Place in oven/toaster oven for 15 minutes until dark brown (even sides). In other words, if you are not careful it will be raw. Wait until the sides are brown as well. Wait for it to cool and enjoy an awesome treat in the morning. Or burn your mouth and go to work in agonizing pain. Either way, this is what it should look like this which is nice and golden brown color:

Let cool for 5 minutes before serving-the chocolate inside gets hot!

Pro tip: For an extra crisp bottom, bake them on a preheated baking stone or steel.

Trader Joe's Chocolate Croissant fully baked and on a white plate. — Just about as good as any bakery without the staggering price. It also is under 350 calories per croissant.

Can you make it ahead? Yes, and eating them the next morning is fine. If you like chocolate croissants but don't have a Starbucks budget then this is a fantastic treat (or in my case almost daily breakfast). Total home run Trader Joe's. And yes, allow these to cool as the frozen chocolate center will become molten after being in the oven or air fryer.

Recipe Suggestions & Creative Uses

These croissants are great on their own, but you can easily level them up:

French Toast: Slice one in half and dip in egg custard, then pan-fry for a luxurious weekend brunch.
Croissant Bread Pudding: Tear up leftover croissants and bake with a custard base for a decadent dessert.
Mini Croissant Ice Cream Sandwiches: Cool completely, slice, and fill with vanilla ice cream.
Dessert Drizzle: Add melted chocolate or caramel and sea salt over the top after baking.

Nutritional Facts and Calories

Below are the nutritional facts about Trader Joe's 4 Chocolate Croissants.

Trader Joe's Chocolate Croissants nutritional information

Ingredients

Some of the key ingredients include:

Unbleached enriched wheat flour
Butter (not margarine!)
Semi-sweet chocolate (cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, lecithin)
Yeast
Sugar and salt

There are no artificial flavors or preservatives listed, which is a plus if you're trying to keep your ingredients list cleaner. However, they do contain wheat, dairy, and soy. As always, check the current product for the most up-to-date ingredient list.

Trader Joe's Chocolate Croissants ingredients

How Do Trader Joe's Chocolate Croissants Compare?

If you're wondering how Trader Joe's version holds up against other frozen chocolate croissants on the market, here's a quick breakdown:

🥐 Trader Joe's Chocolate Croissants

Price: ~$4.99 for 4 ($1.25 each)
Prep: Rise overnight, bake in 20-25 minutes
Texture: Flaky, buttery layers with a crisp golden crust
Flavor: Balanced sweetness, rich chocolate
Best for: Quick, impressive breakfast or brunch with minimal prep

Thoughts: These are a freezer staple in my house. You truly get bakery-level results without the bakery price or effort.

🥐 Williams Sonoma Pastry Chef Series Croissants

Price: Around $39.95-$59.95 for 8 or 15 (about $4-$5 per croissant)
Prep: Must rise overnight; baking instructions vary slightly
Texture: Ultra-flaky, ultra-buttery with visible laminated layers
Flavor: Deep chocolate flavor, often with premium French butter
Best for: Gifting, holidays, or when you want to really impress

Thoughts: These are a splurge and while they are amazing, they're not your everyday freezer treat. The texture and flavor are noticeably elevated, but the price tag reflects that.

Verdict

Best value: Trader Joe's
Most indulgent: Williams Sonoma

If you're looking for quality at an everyday price and want the satisfaction of a fresh-baked croissant without a multi-day process, Trader Joe's Chocolate Croissants hit the sweet spot. They may not be the biggest or the most premium, but they're absolutely good enough to make your morning feel a little more special.

Final Thoughts

Trader Joe's Chocolate Croissants are a go-to whenever I want to treat myself without a trip to the bakery. They're easy, affordable, and deliver big on flavor and texture. Yes, they require overnight proofing, but that's part of the charm-they're low-effort but feel special. Whether you're serving them for brunch, treating guests, or hoarding them for solo coffee mornings (no judgment), they're absolutely worth stocking in your freezer.

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Trader Joe's Mediterranean Olive Oils

So if your Trader Joe's is like my local store, then gift ideas are running out as the calendar heads toward the holidays. In fact, I can't even find some gift sets that I've written about in the last two weeks.

An unopened package of Trader Joe's Mediterranean Olive Oil Trio

Taste

So this isn't a new gift set, but it might be an overlooked one. Trader Joe's Mediterranean Olive Oils Gift Set was around last year and fortunately, it came back this year.

Now, this gift set is best suited for a foodie. Someone who likes olive oil beyond just cooking with it. Because once you cook with a set like this, the subtle nuances of each bottle will get lost.

This set is really meant for the olive oil dipper and drizzler. Each olive oil has its own set of nuances which is what makes this set so much fun to sit down with a slice of bread (or in my case some of Trader Joe's Focaccia Bread).

Now I always add a pinch of salt to amplify the olive oil that I'm dipping bread into, but that is a matter of personal preference.

For $9.99 for just over 25 ounces of olive oil, this happens to be a pretty good deal too.

The olive oil from Spain smelled a lot like the variety on store shelves but had different nuances to it. It was fruity and had a butter-like taste to it. While it wasn't my favorite, I can't imagine not finishing it.

My favorites were the ones from Greece and Italy. The olive oil from Greece was the greenest and cloudiest of the bunch. It was also the most "olive-y" with a touch of peppery bite to it.

The Italian olive oil seemed full-flavored and had a hint of spice to it.

It's a set when I kept rotating the flavors and was enjoying each and every one.

So if dipping things in olive oil or using it as a drizzle on top of something where you can appreciate the nuances is your thing then you'll probably be very happy getting or receiving this set.

Overall

Would I buy this again? I would totally buy Trader Joe's Mediterranean Olive Oils again next season should it show back up on store shelves.

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

Product Photos

The box of Trader Joe's Mediterranean Olive Oils:

The nutritional information and the ingredients:

Nutritional facts, calories, and ingredients in Trader Joe's Mediterranean Olive Oil Trio

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.

Trader Joe's Candle Tin Trio

So some products keep the same name, but the contents keep changing. This review originally referred to a winter variety of this product. However, now there appears to be a summer variety here for the season as well. Be assured, they are both of good quality.

Testing these out

If candles are your thing, then Trader Joe's has you covered. So as long as you stock up. Because whatever variety you see on shelves might be gone tomorrow.

I'm not kidding. Whether it is a cute variety pack or a large candle these are rotated out by season.

So if you realize you like some variety, you'll want to stock up. So while they all share the same overall review, some aromas may or may not be of your liking.

The scents

Strawberry Basil- Far more strawberry than basil. Reminds me of a frozen strawberry daiquiri that is made from a frozen can. Totally fine with me.

Watermelon Mint- This totally reminds me of candy. I haven't figured out which candy from childhood it reminds me of. But I do totally dig this. It isn't very minty and is much heavier on the watermelon side of things.

Pineapple Cilantro- More pineapple and not very cilantro-y.

Overall

Would I buy this again? Yes, I would buy this variety of summer candles again. I love fruity aromas and this set is my jam.

Product Photos

The seasonal summer variety of candles:

The description on the box:

The description on the side of the box of Trader Joe's Candle Tin Trio

The review below refers to the Trader Joe's Winter variety

Part of seasonal shopping at Trader Joe's is finding all the fun gifts that are affordable. However, for yours truly, some of these gifts turn into gifts for myself. That I test out to see if they are worth giving to others. This is one of those items.

I love a nice candle. But the difficulty here was that I couldn't smell these before buying. This is kind of a shame because I loved each and everyone in this package.

Now, I must warn you, these are about half the size of regular candles (3 ounces vs 5.7 ounces). So they are cute minis. However, you can't even buy these fragrances as full-sized either.

For $7.99 for three candles, I'm not going to complain too much. I hate to think of how much I've spent on candles elsewhere.

But despite my mild complaint that these are minis here is what each is like:

Cranberry Pine- This was fruity but also a bit like the Balsam candle they sell. It manages to balance fruity with woodsy without being too much of either. And yes is a really unexpected but well-done combination. This was my favorite out of the bunch.

Fresh Currant- This was the fruitiest of them all. It has a bit of perfumy aspects to it. However, it isn't as fruity as some other candles like the grapefruit, but had more of an almost wine-like aroma.

Nutmeg- This is the classic spice with a nice splash of vanilla undertones. In either case, it smelled pretty nice. It wasn't my favorite out of the bunch but I didn't exactly hate it either. It has a nice spicy scent too with some vanilla (but not cheap smelling vanilla).

What is a shame is that Trader Joe's puts out some really awesome smelling candles, that I'm pretty sure they could take up just a bit more space in the store and still do well with selling candles.

Oh, and if you are like me and not happy until you've squeezed every last bit of fragrance out of a candle (like you are mad that you can still smell the candle but the wick is gone), then a candle warmer is the best way. They're inexpensive and most importantly safer than an open flame. I picked up this candle warmer off Amazon to stretch my candle habit just a bit further.

Overall, totally gift-worthy, a good gift for a white elephant party or for something small that people would appreciate the thought of a candle. And if you can't find any near you, you can also find it through third-party sellers on Amazon.

Would I buy this again? Yes, I would buy Trader Joe's Candle Tin Trio again before the season is out.

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

Winter Candle Photos

The box of Trader Joe's Candle Tin Trio:

And compared to a regular-sized candle:

A comparison of a normal sized Trader Joe's candle with the candle in this set

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.