blog - BecomeBetty.com

Trader Joe's Ultra Moisturizing Hand Cream Trio

So let's say you are looking for a last-minute gift item. Perhaps that person doesn't like fragrances found in Trader Joe's Body Butter Trio. Perhaps they want something more neutral. Or something with pretty packaging. Then consider the 2019 Trader Joe's Ultra Moisturizing Hand Cream Trio a good gift idea.

Review

Now for starters, this priced the same as the Body Butter Trio which is returning this year. However, this is 3 ounces. The body butter trio is 9. The price of these products is the same as last year at $7.99. But the key difference is that the variety this year has changed from previous years (you can see last year's set below).

Let's start off with what is different about this year's set. First off, the packaging. This year's set is done up like an ornament or easy stocking stuffer. Last year's set seemed a bit more masculine in colors and scents. The scents of last year's set were much more neutral and smelled light of the oil that was present in each tube.

This year however it contains Marula, Coconut, and Avocado in place of Olive Oil, Argan Oil, and Kukui Nut Oil.

The Marula oil and Avocado oil were very neutral in fragrance just like last year's set.

The Coconut Oil had the most pronounced fragrance of the bunch, but about as pronounced as a jar of coconut oil usually does.

Regardless, you aren't buying this for the scents. Both sets are there for the winter and dry hand season. This is a fast-absorbing lotion that gets the job done. As an added bonus this year, the packaging is cuter, and the tubes more colorful. While I liked the lotions in this set, by far my favorite scent of the ultra-moisturizing hand cream was found in this year's 12 Days of Beauty.

Overall

In either case, this is a solid set. These are perfectly sized for carrying in a purse or somewhere small.

If you decide this is a must-have you can also find this through third-party sellers on Amazon.

Would I buy this again? I've already picked up a few of Trader Joe's Ultra Moisturizing Hand Cream Trio for the season.

Product Photos

The 2019 box of Trader Joe's Ultra Moisturizing Hand Cream Trio:

An unopened container of Trader Joe's Ultra Moisturizing Hand Cream Trio

The ingredients in the current box:

The ingredients in Trader Joe's Ultra Moisturizing Hand Cream Trio

The following refers to a previous set from 2018.

The box of Trader Joe's Ultra Moisturizing Hand Cream from the 2018 holiday season:

An unopened box of Trader Joe's Ultra Moisturizing Hand Cream

The ingredients for the three different tubes:

Trader Joe's Ultra Moisturizing Hand Cream Kukui Nut Oil ingredient list

Argan Oil Lotion ingredients in Trader Joe's Ultra Moisturizing Hand Cream

Olive Oil lotion ingredients in Trader Joe's Ultra Moisturizing Hand Cream

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 Peppermint Loaf and Baking Mix

If there are any flavors I'm totally obsessed with is the combination of Chocolate and Peppermint. I'm that person adding a few pumps of peppermint syrup to their mocha frappuccino in the middle of July. So I got excited when I saw Trader Joe's Chocolate Peppermint Loaf and Baking Mix hit the rest of the baking mixes.

Review

Now, this product is somewhat new. They've offered something similar back in 2012, so it's been a while since they've had anything similar. Plus, when the packaging changes you know there is a possibility of a formula change as well.

With this mix, you can choose to make a loaf or cookies. Since Trader Joe's has a ton of cookie mixes suddenly on shelves, I opted to make this as a loaf.

Plus, we've got a bunch of pot lucks coming up at work so I'm saving those cookie mixes for then. Plus, there was a good chill in the air this weekend so I really didn't mind having the oven on for at least an hour.

Out of the box, the mix smells of chocolate and peppermint with a few mini chocolate chips packed in as well.

The directions for the loaf were straightforward and involved simple pantry items and ingredients.

An hour in the oven is about the right amount of time for a deep, dark chocolate loaf that is a perfect match to the image on the box.

But the loaf is very moist and full of chocolate and peppermint flavor. It eats a bit like a chocolate peppermint pound cake. The chocolate and peppermint flavors are pretty well balanced as one does not overwhelm the other.

And yes, it reminded me of my favorite Peppermint Mocha Frapp if it were made into a cake. How could I get it closer to my favorite coffee shop drink? Replace the water with coffee next time.

Just a quick baking tip- if you are using an aluminum loaf pan, keep your oven on at 350F. But if you are using a darker colored baking loaf tin as I do (It's Calphalon), which is a dark silver, then lower your oven temperature to 325F.

Overall

For $2.99 this is a really solid holiday option. Perfect for dessert or a really rich-tasting breakfast. Would probably even be nice in a trifle.

Happy baking!

Would I buy this again? Yes, I would buy a few more boxes of Trader Joe's Chocolate Peppermint Loaf and Baking Mix before the season is out.

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

Product Photos

The box of Trader Joe's Chocolate Peppermint Loaf and Baking Mix:

An unopened box of Trader Joe's Chocolate Peppermint Loaf and Baking Mix

Calories and ingredients

Nutritional facts, calories, ingredients in Trader Joe's Chocolate Peppermint Loaf and Baking Mix

How to prepare as cookies:

How to prepare as a loaf:

Trader Joe's Chocolate Peppermint Loaf and Baking Mix directions for making this as a loaf

After being baked, you get:

A fully baked Trader Joe's Chocolate Peppermint Loaf and Baking Mix 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.

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

Trader Joe's Taste Test of Caramels

Back on shelves again this year is Trader Joe's Taste Test of Caramels. It's by no means new, but a perennial favorite. And for good reason. Whether you are looking to gift this to someone or have fun with friends here is a good item to consider adding to your shopping list.

Taste & Review

I've bought this three years in a row and just never sat down to do the review. But fortunately, the quality of these chocolates seems pretty much the same from year to year.

Not a bad thing in my mind.

The first time I had this cut each candy into four pieces (even though there were only three of us playing).

We didn't get too formal with it. We grabbed one and then guessed the flavor. And naturally checked our answers immediately after each one. We didn't go in order to prevent some level of cheating too.

But between the taste of chocolate and enough caramels for a slightly upset stomach, some of these were easier than others. The hot chili and the coconut ones stood out, but others were harder to decipher.

The design on the top of each caramel is what makes them stand out from one another (and for some it was a giveaway, yes Himalaya salted, I'm looking at you.)

But we all got a good laugh out of how close (or how terrible inaccurate) our taste buds were. And yes, palate fatigue sets in as well.

But the most important thing to know is each one of these caramels is well made. The chocolate is thick at the bottom and thinner at the top. It has a nice snap when you bite into each one.

Overall

So whether you are buying to share, give as a gift, or just to indulge yourself in the world's most awkward shaped box then this is $5.99 well spent.

This is one of those classic holiday items.

Would I buy this again? I would buy Trader Joe's Taste Test of Caramels again next season. There were some good flavors in there that I wish I could buy independent of this set.

Product Photos

The box of Trader Joe's Taste Test of Caramels:

Calories

Trader Joe's Taste Test of Caramels nutritional information

Ingredients

Trader Joe's Taste Test of Caramels ingredient list

How to play this game (if you aren't just going to sit and eat these):

Trader Joe's Taste Test of Caramels how to play their game.

Out of the package you get:

Trader Joe's Taste Test of Caramels first 5 candies — The first five

Trader Joe's Taste Test of Caramels — The next seven

Or at a distance because this box is huge:

Answer key

In case you are unaware, there is an answer key hiding below the tray. Here are the answers for Trader Joe's Taste Test of Caramels:

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 Pimento Cheese Puffs

If it isn't the dessert items that get you this time of year, then it will be the appetizers. And Trader Joe's has no shortage of good appetizers. In fact, Trader Joe's Pimento Cheese Puffs might remind you of an appetizer that did not make a return to shelves: Trader Joe's Vegetable Puffs.

[feast_advanced_jump_to]

Taste

The premise is pretty similar: puff pastry smushed into a small cup size with a filling.

With last year's failed Vegetable Puffs, it just tasted like a dollop of basic tomato sauce. Nothing special.

This year, we've seen the debut of the pretty darn good Pimento Cheese Dip. And while that was pretty solid, there is a pairing issue we need to talk about.

They've decided to pair pimento cheese with caramelized onions which reminded me of the returning French Onion Soup Bites.

Those bites weren't all that great. Perhaps with a heavy dose of Swiss and better directions (not cooking them in the plastic they came in) would have been better.

But the pairing of caramelized onions and pimento cheese was a bit weird. The onions were sweet. And the bacon? I could hardly taste it. I didn't realize that was in there until I looked at the box more closely.

But the cheese didn't do the onions any favors. It was a bit spicy and almost cheddar-y. Not what I would generally reach for together. It wasn't a great pairing.

Otherwise, the puff pastry was like and flaky, and the directions were on point.

But I didn't find these addictive or have the need to have more than one or two. Not what you would want if you are having company.

Overall

For $4.99 these were edible, but not the best Trader Joe's has to offer in terms of appetizers.

Would I buy this again? No, I would not buy Trader Joe's Pimento Cheese Puffs again. The pairing just didn't work for me.

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

Visual rundown

The box of Trader Joe's Pimento Cheese Puffs:

Calories and ingredients

Instructions

Cooking directions for Trader Joe's Pimento Cheese Puffs

How Trader Joe's describes this product:

The description from the side of the box of Trader Joe's Pimento Cheese Puffs

Out of the package you get:

An open box of Trader Joe's Pimento Cheese Puffs revealing the contents

After being cooked you get:

Six fully cooked Trader Joe's Pimento Cheese Puffs

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

Do you love these reviews?

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.

Are you a fan of SubStack? You can follow me here.

You can also FOLLOW ME on the following platforms by clicking the icons below:

Trader Joe's Chocolate Lava Gnocchi Review: Proof That Looks Matter

In tonight's review of something you didn't think you need in your life is Trader Joe's Chocolate Lava Gnocchi. Now, I can honestly say I've never thought about pairing chocolate and potato before. Heck, I've seen a lot of hype via the internet. But would it be as strange as the Chocolate Hummus? Or would it need to be made crisp like the Outside in Gnocchi?

Taste

When I bought the package, the cashier mentioned that they were new, however, she did warn me that she felt that they were a bit mushy. That told me a lot which helped to guide this review.

According to the directions, your only option is to saute this item. No microwaving this is allowed lest you'll have a bowl of mush. Instead, you'll be rewarded to 6-8 minutes of staring at one of the most visually perplexing items I've ever encountered.

I didn't give the person charged with photographing this food enough credit for their work on the packaging. A dusting of powdered sugar did wonders because when I poured my bag into a frying pan they looked like tiny turds. As a part-time food photographer, I can tell you that brown foods are my nemesis. It takes a lot of garnish to make a photo look good with a mostly brown item. It is even harder when they have this shape as well.

The fact that the directions stated to brown these a bit further only added to me giggling behind the frying pan and wondering how I'm going to eat something that looks like something I scooped out of my cat's litter box.

So if you are a visual eater, these are not for you.

If you are willing to look past the unpleasant visuals, then you have a unique product here.

I can't say that I was loving it.

But I can say I had a few and lost interest in it.

It has the same texture as the Outside In Gnocchi. It does need to get a solid browning to not taste like mush.

There is a small bit of molten chocolate in the middle, but not enough to justify the whole chocolate meets potato thing. It is a weird combination with a really off-putting visual appearance. And yes, trying it with whipped cream helped a bit, but couldn't make up for the fact potatoes and chocolate are best combined as chocolate-covered potato chips.

And yes, they are chocolatey, but you'll probably want something else to cut through that taste too.

If you are looking for a chocolate lava cake, then Trader Joe's sells a frozen one that is pretty good. Otherwise, if the hype has you excited and you can't find it, this is one of those items that is perfectly ok to pass on. There are just too many good treats on shelves to waste it on hype without substance.

Overall

Trader Joe's gets points for trying this product out, but for $2.99 I'd pass on this one especially considering these are seasonal and will likely be in short supply.

Would I buy this again? One bag of Trader Joe's Chocolate Lava Gnocchi was sufficient. However, if you are looking to alienate a possible romantic partner, these would be excellent for pranking purposes. In all honesty, it isn't the worst thing I've eaten but is also no standout either.

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

Visual rundown

The bag of Trader Joe's Chocolate Lava Gnocchi:

A unopened bag of Trader Joe's Chocolate Lava Gnocchi on a white sufrace

Calories and ingredients

Nutritional information, calories, and the ingredients in Trader Joe's Chocolate Lava Gnocchi

Instructions

How to enjoy these and how to heat up Trader Joe's Chocolate Lava Gnocchi

What this really looks like

A plate of fully cooked Trader Joe's Chocolate Lava Gnocchi — No food styling tricks here. This is what they ACTUALLY look like.

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

Do you love these reviews?

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.

Are you a fan of SubStack? You can follow me here.