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Trader Joe's Butter Toffee Coated Virginia Peanuts

If it is that amazing combination of sweet and salty, then Trader Joe's has a wide selection to satisfy that desire. Specifically, if it is the butter toffee sweet and salty you are hoping for then you have two solid options on shelves: pretzels and these peanuts.

Review and taste

Don't get me wrong. Both are good. But if I could only pick up one of those two items, it would be the pretzels and not the peanuts.

I mean the coating is nice and buttery. It's got a good crunch to it too.

But at the end of the day, it is that sweet and salty that I really crave.

While the pretzels hit that note. The peanuts just ended up being overall very sweet. Perhaps blame that on the unsalted butter they used in making these.

And don't kid yourself, in one serving there is 110 mg of sodium. But they just did not taste that way. Or in a sweet and salty balanced type of way.

In either case, both are solid snacks. However, did I find myself going back to this time and again? Not really.

I had a few here and there, but overall, I'll stick with the pretzels.

Overall

For $3.99 this is a good-sized 12-ounce container for the money. However, like so many other new items this Fall, it did not knock it out of the park for me.

Would I buy this again? No, I would not buy Trader Joe's Butter Toffee Coated Virginia Peanuts again.

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

Product Photos

The container of Trader Joe's Butter Toffee Coated Virginia Peanuts:

Calories

Ingredients

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 Apple Cider Cookies

I have to be honest for a second, this is the first year I'm not all that excited about a lot of the Fall products hitting Trader Joe's shelves other than the returning items. And yes, there are some gems, but Trader Joe's Apple Cider Cookies just aren't one of them.

Review and taste

So, these apple cider cookies follow a certain formula: inexpensive crisp cookies packed tightly into a container.

For $3.99 for the size, it seems like a good value.

But, I took one taste and I really didn't like this.

Not one bit.

Apple cookies are a thing. If carefully balanced with various flavors they are really enjoyable.

These just ended up tasting down right strange.

The first one I ended up spitting out. The apple flavor seemed so concentrated and odd, I just couldn't do it.

I had another one a few days later. I didn't find it as overwhelming, but I never found it delicious enough to have more than a bite.

Perhaps the apple flavor was too concentrated for these little cookies where nothing else was allowed to shine through.

If perhaps these were done in a similar spirit like Trader Joe's Maple Leaf Cookies, we would be talking about a winner. But as they are right now, they aren't very good at all.

Totally passable if you are walking by these on the shelves.

Trader Joe's knows how to put a good-tasting cookie together. So if you are looking for something seasonal, reach for the Hot Cocoa Dunkers instead. Those were way better for the calories.

Overall

Would I buy this again? Nope, Trader Joe's Apple Cider Cookies are a hard pass from me. The flavor just seemed to odd for my taste buds to enjoy.

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

Product Photos

The box of Trader Joe's Apple Cider Cookies:

The nutritional information and the ingredients:

Ingredients and nutritional information in Trader Joe's Apple Cider Cookies

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 Cinnamon Rugelach

Ah, the holiday season has hit Trader Joe's. And there are so many sweets hitting shelves. So many maple things to try, a few pumpkin things to try, some apple things to try. And then in the frozen section are Trader Joe's Cinnamon Rugelach.

Review and taste

I love rugelach. It's a really nice treat at any time of year. But for the most part, the times I've tried these little pastries, they've reminded me more of pie dough with a sweet filling rolled in.

What comes in this little box seems a lot more like puff pastry (minus the butter) that has been filled very generously with a date and cinnamon sugar.

The directions are spot on in terms of time. And there is enough filling that it oozes out to let you know the yummy deliciousness you are about to experience.

But while mine was baking, I noticed the bottom of the pan was filling with liquid. I assumed it was sugar that had leeched out.

Nope.

These little guys were almost frying in the liquid.

Once they were cool enough to sample, I realized that they were 1) sort of delicious hot and 2) really oily.

Even in a 450F oven, these did not stay crisp. And no matter how delicious the filling is, the greasiness was hard to overlook.

Despite the directions recommending a sugar glaze, I couldn't imagine adding any more liquid (or sugar for that matter) as the rugelach would lack any texture at all.

So if you remember last year's Donut Bites which were pulled from shelves due to quality issues. These should go back to the drawing board as well.

Overall

Don't get me wrong, fix the cookie, and then the product would be outstanding. Also, it should be noted that I baked mine in the tin per the directions. If you do put these on a cookie sheet, be absolutely certain your sheet has a lip to it as these do have enough oil that comes right out. Safety first.

And yes, they eat like a croissant, but it is the oiliest croissant you'll ever consume.

For $3.99, I'd pass on this one until someone can get the oily nature of these in check.

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

Product Photos

The box of Trader Joe's Cinnamon Rugelach :

An unopened box of Trader Joe's Cinnamon Rugelach

Calories

Ingredients and directions

Out of the package you get:

Trader Joe's Cinnamon Rugelach out of the box showing the uncooked product

After being cooked you get:

A tray of cooked Trader Joe's Cinnamon Rugelach

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 Vanilla Bean Paste

I remember making cookies with my mom as a kid. It was like magic how butter, sugar, and flour came together to make the cookie dough. If that isn't magical enough, she always put a nice dose of vanilla extract into the dough.

Taste

Vanilla extract smelled so amazing. But I always wondered why she didn't taste it. So, curiosity got the better of me one day in my childhood. And I poured myself a little tablespoon. What a surprise as to how terrible it tasted!

Despite the overwhelming smell of deliciousness of vanilla extract, the taste never measured up to the flavor. I had never encountered something where the disconnect between the aroma and concentrated flavor was so pronounced.

Much later in life, I was introduced to vanilla bean paste. It was a new item to most of us in the class. They also encouraged us to taste it.

Many of us were a bit hesitant to, as I think as people tried it and their faces indicated that it wasn't terrible tasting like vanilla extract.

It tasted like what I thought vanilla extract should taste like. It was sweet and fragrant. Plus the vanilla bean seeds are present throughout. So if you are making something light in color, it will reflect the more natural beauty of vanilla.

Back in 2016, when they first announced the price of vanilla would go up, I stocked up on some Nielsen-Massey vanilla. I bought a quart of vanilla bean paste and thought I was being spendy at $35. That same quart on amazon has become incredibly expensive.

In other words, this 2-ounce jar from Trader Joe's at $4.99 is a bargain. The quality is similar to my beloved Nielsen Massey vanilla. There are subtle differences in the ingredients.

Frequently asked questions

The following are common questions about Trader Joe's Vanilla Bean Paste.

Does Trader Joe's carry vanilla bean paste?

Yes, however, they only have it during the holiday season. During the rest of the year, they only sell the extract and vanilla flavoring

Is vanilla bean paste the same as vanilla extract?

They can be used interchangeably for the same 1:1 ratio. However, they are a different products. While vanilla extract is usually just neutral alcohol. Vanilla bean paste is sweetened and contains a thickener as well as a large dose of vanilla bean seeds.

How do I substitute vanilla extract for vanilla bean paste?

You can use exactly the same amount of vanilla bean paste in place of vanilla extract. So if a recipe calls for a teaspoon of vanilla extract then a teaspoon of vanilla bean paste.

Is Trader Joe's Vanilla Bean Paste organic?

Starting in 2021 this product was offered with the label indicating it is now organic.

Overall

This product is solid. If you use vanilla extract at all in your household, this is one of those products that you should get. There is no need to be fearful of using this because it is an equal substitute for vanilla extract. So whether you need a teaspoon or tablespoon the measurements in your most beloved recipes remain the same.

Best of all, if the finished product is light enough in color you'll see those beautiful vanilla bean specks.

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

Product Photos

The jar of Trader Joe's Vanilla Bean Paste:

The nutritional information and the ingredients:

Nutritional information and ingredients in Trader Joe's Vanilla Bean Paste

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 October 2019 Fearless Flyer Matchups

Welcome to another edition of the Fearless Flyer roundup where I pair reviews from this blog and around the web to the items featured in this month's flyer. While it is still September, this is the flyer for October.

If you see an image next to a product, it will take you to a review on this blog. If there is just a link, then it is to a different blog. If there is no link, then there is no review available.

There are a good amount of new products hitting shelves this month along with some returning favorites. Happy shopping as we head into the holiday season!

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