Trader Joe's blog and cooking.
The average Trader Joe's store stocks a few thousand products, most of which bear its name. But quality in the chip and snack sections can vary, fortunately, that's why you have this site!
From White Truffle Potato Chips to the Speculoos Cookies you'll find more than a hundred of reviews of Trader Joe's products and see which ones are worth your time and which ones you may want to consider leaving on the shelf!
Growing up I know there were certain cookies that were more popular than others around the lunch table at school. Chips Ahoy was up there in popularity. I was probably the odd kid who really liked Keebler Soft Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies. There was something in those that vaguely reminded of homemade cookies. So when I saw Trader Joe’s Soft Baked Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies I was hopeful.
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Bacon. It’s like meat candy all on its own. Add something sweet and spicy and you have on heck of a combination. The combined saltiness and textural elements work so very well in Trader Joe’s Sweet Sriracha Uncured Bacon Jerky.
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It’s been a while since Trader Joe’s added anything to the dips and hummus options. They’ve taken away items, but not too much has been added back. Well, consider this a vegetarian (at least based on the ingredients) spin on the familiar 7 layer dip. Trader Joe’s 5 Layer Dip is new, delicious, and just needs something to dip it in or scoop it on.
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I love Blondies. I reviewed Trader Joe’s Blondies Bar Baking Mix not too long ago. When my Mom and Sister hear that I’m making a Trader Joe’s run, that is their usual request. That is one of my sister’s favorite items to make and bring to her workplace. Because who doesn’t love the dense blondie nature that reminds you of a big cookie?
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Two new cookies have hit shelves: Trader Joe’s Georgia Pecan Butterscotch Chip Cookies and the Benne Wafer Cookies. Yes, this has been the year of the snack food. Now despite the words “Georgia” and the color of the bag, there is no peach in this. Nope, just straight up pecan and butterscotch.
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Oh Trader Joe’s…how 2019 has become the year of the snack food on shelves. But you see, Trader Joe’s Jerk Style Plantain Chips are different. We’ve now officially elevated the snack into something completely delicious.
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I’m not sure if it is palate fatigue, so because I’ve done so many chocolate reviews, over 100 in fact just of Trader Joe’s chocolate products since 2016. That’s a lot of snacks, drinks, and desserts, so here is one more: Trader Joe’s Milk Chocolate Caramel Crunch Medallions.
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Here is a quick work place truth: some time after lunch and before it’s time to go, I am some how hungry. If I were still working at an office job, I would have hit the vending machine. However, where I currently work there is no such thing anywhere near me. For better or worse. So that has left me with a plethora of snacks in my desk drawer to avoid spending money at the local stores.
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If there was one holiday product, that I wish I could go back are review because it would have been helpful, were the Mini Peppermint Meringues. I loved and adored them. They were delicious, crisp, and melted in your mouth like it never happened. And for the most part, you could have had a relatively large serving of them and still felt pretty guilt free. Best of all, they were straight up excellent. Now, we have Trader Joe’s Chocolate Chip Cocoa Meringues to add to our carts.
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I’m pretty sure every candy sale that I’ve ever done or witness that involved a case of chocolate, ended with the packs of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups being sold out first. And there is good reason for it: it’s just delicious. On the shelves of Trader Joe’s we’ve seen the addition of two new “cups” style candies: sunflower seed butter, and this almond butter.
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Behold! A perfectly timed product gracing shelves in time for Valentine’s Day that is chocolate, but quite different. The color you are seeing here is not the result of coloring of any sort. And apparently, this is a new type of chocolate you can be sure that you’ll be seeing more of whether you find it at Trader Joe’s or available commercially.
I guess Trader Joe’s was feeling many people’s resolve about New Year’s Resolutions. They knew we would cave. So they came out with a long list of sugary items to expedite this process. They’ve welcomed vegan cookies, sunflower seed butter cups, and now these.
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Vegan cookie review part deux. I figured these cookies need separate reviews. This cookie right here has certain similarities to the lemon variety like the fact it’s vegan, the cookies are huge, and they are new to shelves. However, the taste on these are quite different.
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Consider this a brief lemon theme between these cookies and a recent review of a candle. But on my most recent shopping trip there were a few new items hiding in the fresh breads and desserts aisle. In my local store, that happens to be right when I walk in. So grabbed both and hoped for the best. The other variety is a brownie cookie, but that will have to wait for a different review.
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There is something special about the holidays and Trader Joe’s. I’m not mentioning this because Valentine’s Day is coming up. I’m reflecting on this past holiday season. As a foodie, going in there was almost as exciting as going into FAO Schwartz as a kid. Now kids won’t even know what that is. Alas, Trader Joe’s has found a way to extend the holidays for just a bit longer. And perhaps your waistline too. …
Does anyone else celebrate Taco Tuesday? I think we celebrate it on a lot of days during the week. I have a soft spot for nachos in particular. Who doesn’t love cheesy chips? I adore them. Just not Trader Joe’s Queso Dip. One of the cardinal rules of a dip is that it should never be watery or thin. This vegan dip does a better job of being cheesy than queso.
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Oh Trader Joe’s, you know most people won’t keep the New Year’s Resolution. So they are giving us another popular product double. And yes, this adds to a long list of product doubles that I’ve tried, especially in the snack food section. Behold, Trader Joe’s answer to the popular snack: Takis.
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So in case you didn’t have enough sweets and cookies and candies yet, I figured I’d cover this item before New Year’s Day arrives when healthier eating seems in order. Yes, this is another example of a hybrid food much in the way a Cronut is kinda donut and kinda croissant.
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So the Fall brought us Trader Joe’s Apple Caramel Granola, this winter we have been graced by yet another seasonal granola variety. This is Trader Joe’s Gingerbread Spice Granola. But if you loved the sweetness of the Fall’s seasonal granola, I’m not sure you are going to like this. And yes, this granola is vastly different from the Peanut Butter variety that is on shelves year round.
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If I were to admit to the food pairings that I like most, it would probably be chocolate and peppermint. If I stop at a Starbucks, there is a peppermint mocha frappuccino in my future. If I go to the movies, I reach for Junior Mints. There is something about the pairing of those flavors that make my taste buds very happy.
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Donuts. There is a food item that has such powerful food memories attached to them. Done right they can instantly make you smile. In fact, donuts instantly make me think of certain pop culture icons: Homer Simpson and Fred the Baker from the Dunkin Donuts commercials instantly come to mind. It’s those cultural icons to which we have to thank for phrases like “Mmmmm….Donuts” and “Time to make the donuts.”
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So far, I haven’t tried too many pumpkin items this year. I like pumpkin, but it has to be done right. I like pumpkin in a more subtle about. Now, this cookie is basically Trader Joe’s answer to Oreos, however there are some key differences between this and an Oreo.
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Every now and again, I pick up a product that I’m not totally into trying. But for the sake of public information, I put it out there. And every now and again, I get something I love and something I absolutely hate. Now, even though I have over 900 Trader Joe’s reviews, I can’t say that I’ve done too much of a deep dive into the salsas. Some people can say they’ve tried them all….
If I had to pick one line where every flavor is pretty much on point, I would say the Hold the Cone! series is pretty darn near perfect. Unless you despise pumpkin, Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Ginger Hold the Cone Mini Ice Cream Cones rounds out some good flavors that one can only hope that they continue adding to.
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