Trader Joe's blog and cooking.
If it's not flowers you see when you first walk into a Trader Joe's, then most likely it is products made with flour. The bread aisle has some great options, but also some that are worth skipping as well. That's why you have this site.
From the Sliced Brioche to the Almond Kringle find dozens of reviews of Trader Joe's bread products and see which ones are worth your time and which ones you may want to consider leaving on the shelf!
Trust me when I tell you there are new items that I want to pass over because I don’t think I could put enough words to accurately describe them. When I saw Trader Joe’s Chocolate Chip Muffins, I was debating on whether or not to review them even. But after a bite, I knew I had to.
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During the most recent heat wave we had on the East Coast, I decided that cooking just isn’t for me when the temperature exceeds 95. So after a grocery run I decided that my meals were going to be charcuterie based with a side of Trader Joe’s Focaccia Bread.
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Nothing in my household says weekend quite like pancakes. And bacon for that matter. But every now and again I need to venture away from our old standby: Bisquick. There is something about that mix that I’ve never quite been able to replicate at home. My husband likes it, so we seem to stick with it. This past week, I found a new item: Trader Joe’s Buttermilk Protein Pancake Mix.
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It’s been a good year so far to be at Trader Joe’s if you are gluten-free. Now, I’m not gluten-free, but I do like to see how things taste. And if desserts are where you feel like gluten is missing the most then they have you covered with Trader Joe’s Fudgy Chocolate Quinoa Loaf and Cake Mix.
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Not a new product. Just a winter seasonal item that might not strike you as a winter seasonal item. With St. Patrick’s Day around the corner, this might be a decent alternative if you hate caraway seeds and just happen to have a beer and some butter you want to get rid of.
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I love croissants. They’re more than just bread. They are bread that loves you. And I like it. I’ve tried anything croissant related at Trader Joe’s. I’ve bought more boxes of Chocolate Croissants than I care to discuss. I love the Almond Croissants just as much. I keep a box of the Ham & Cheese Croissants around in case I want a quick and light lunch.
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I love a good coffee cake. In fact, I posted a recipe here for an easy crumb cake just the other night if you feel like turning your oven on. If you aren’t in baking, here is a store bought option for you. However, this Trader Joe’s Pancake Bread isn’t quite a coffee cake. It’s not quite a pancake either.
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Let me apologize in advance if my reviews seem carb heavy. Because most of the new items hitting shelves are for some reason breads. I thought I was done reviewing bread last week when I tried Chocolate Chip Pain Au Lait. Nope, not only does the frozen Indian section have a new bread, there is also a pancake bread (review to show up in the near future). So while Trader Joe’s does an excellent job of serving certain food communities, I feel like the low carb crowd might be left out here a bit.
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I wasn’t going to write this review given the time of year. In fact, I’m shocked they picked now to release Trader Joe’s Chocolate Chip Pain Au Lait. I mean we have one Pain Au Lait. Why would we possibly need a second variety right after New Year’s?
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The pros: Trader Joe’s Pumpkin and Sweet Cream Cheese Muffins are one of the first pumpkin items to hit shelves for 2018 and they are jumbo muffin sized.
The cons: If Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Bread Mix returns, then opt for that in place of this.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Big Soft Pretzels are new to shelves and have the salt package already in the bag so you decide how much or how little is best for you.
The cons: Four pretzels in a bag, but the bag can’t be resealed.
The verdict: …
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: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Banana Bread Mix is a quick and easy banana bread that won’t require you to possess any bananas to make.
The cons: Banana bread is relatively easy to make and you are paying for convenience here.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s 27 Layer Sesame Croissini is new to shelves and if you enjoy snacking on breadstick, you’ll find this enjoyable.
The cons: I’m not sure why the package says eat while warm. It was good warm, but the flaky layers were much improved at room temperature. Not many of my croissinis were twisted out of the box. I’m not sure if this is a defect or something to expect.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Sprouted Whole Grain Pizza Crust is a thin and healthy alternative to a regular pizza crust.
The cons: Can be an awkward size if you are going to store this for any amount of time.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Cream Cheese Brioche Pastries are new, frozen, and delicious if you appreciate a treat on the sweeter side. These are a solid choice for breakfast or dessert.
The cons: Why do they ever assume you are going to be sharing these? Just be honest with the calories and say how many are in each. For some reason Trader Joe’s decided that each pastry is two servings.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Brioche Toasts are a two to three bite size slice of brioche that are crisp and delicious. At under $2 it’s a great deal. It also might have some interesting other applications beyond just appetizers.
The cons: If you are using this in place of crackers, then consider making sure you have napkins or plates because there will be crumbs from this toast.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Pain Au Lait is a nice light French bread that while perfect for breakfast, I can totally justify eating this during other meals as well.
The cons: Nothing jumped to my mind.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Bread and Muffin Mix makes dense and slightly crumbly bread with a nice spice combination. No need to open a can of pumpkin (or have leftovers from that can of pumpkin)
The cons: Not as good as homemade, but not bad.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Habanero Lime Tortillas sound intimidating but they are flavorful and just hot enough.
The cons: True spice junkies will likely be disappointed in the heat level in this product. I did not find this product to be very hot. They only come in the larger size.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Buttermilk Biscuits are basic biscuits in a can.
The cons: If you are hoping for lots of flakey layers here, you’ll probably be disappointed. You’ll also have to reshape these before baking to avoid oddly shaped biscuits. The can was a pain to open.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Cheese and Garlic Croutons have a good cheese and garlic flavoring to them. Comes in a very pretty packaging.
The cons: Considering this bag only four ounces of croutons, these are very overpriced. Some of the croutons were not bite sized.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Artisan Brioche Rolls are just as magical as Trader Joe’s Brioche Bread. If you’ve tried the brioche bread, then this is just as good.
The cons: At $3.99 for six rolls, it is a bit pricey, but well done.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Classic Hamburger Buns are basic buns.
The cons: These are completely average hamburger buns.
The verdict: …
