- Trader Joe’s is bringing plenty of seasonal finds to stores this fall, including apple, maple and pumpkin items.
- Sweet snacks like Maple Brown Butter Almonds and Juicy Apple Gummy Candies are new this fall.
- Fun dinner sides like squash risotto and loaded potatoes are coming to the freezer section.
Many of us depend on Trader Joe’s for a series of pantry and freezer staples, easy meals and consistently yummy sweets. But Trader Joe’s is also great for novelty–every season there’s a new array of themed meals, sauces, candy, candles and other delights. This fall is no different.
TJ’s employees Tara Miller and Matt Sloan, the hosts of Inside Trader Joe’s, a podcast about the—you guessed it—inside scoop at TJ’s, say they love fall flavors even when the weather is anything but autumnal. Fortunately for them (and us), fall has arrived at Trader Joe’s and with it comes some perennial favorites and many brand new products. On the pod, the hosts mention some of their favorite returning items, but they also feature 11 new picks to fill your cart in the coming months. (You can find more details about some of them in the new Fearless Flyer.)
This fall, Trader Joe’s is bringing maple flavors to the foreground with maple-brown butter almonds, maple ice cream sandwiches, maple tarts and even maple cold foam for your coffee. Apples make an appearance in the bakery section and candy aisle—great news for folks with a sweet tooth.
Fall wouldn’t be fall without squash, and, this season, the heavenly-sounding Butternut Squash Risotto would make a perfect warm side on a cold night. Pumpkins are the gourd of the season, however, and, among many returning pumpkin treats, Thai-Style Red Curry Soup with Pumpkin and Chicken pairs the comfort flavor of the season with spicy Thai flavors. Plus, get ready for fancy family meals with Cranberry-Orange Spinach Salad Kit as a side and a fall-scented candle trio to make your whole house smell cozy. Here’s what else you can look forward to:
Trader Joe’s Juicy Apple Gummy Candy
While there’s nothing like biting into a fresh, crisp apple in the fall, these Juicy Apple Gummy Candies are a fun surprise. Their juicy center makes for a delightful twist on other supermarket fruit-snacks and candy. The two flavors, sweet red and sour green, give the baggie a nice variety between sweet and sour—so if you need something sweet to snack on between putting up Halloween decorations and planning your Thanksgiving menu, this may just be the way to go.
Sliced Apple-Cinnamon Sourdough Bread
I’m not sure which way I’m more excited to try with the Sliced Apple-Cinnamon Sourdough Bread: I’d love it toasted and slathered with butter alongside my tea, but it would also make for an interesting twist on a bread for BLT. On the other hand, baked French toast with this bread would be divine. Plus, Sloan and Miller mention a grilled cheese with lots of sharp Cheddar as an idea, and pairing that with some Butternut Squash Soup would be an award-worthy fall meal.
Trader Joe’s Fall Scented Candle Trio
I’m a pretty big fan of the Trader Joe’s scented candle offerings throughout the year. I go all-in on the grapefruit, and everyone in my house likes the peony. This year’s giftable Fall Scented Candle Trio has scents that emulate Falling Leaves, Vanilla Woods and Spiced Pear. Let each one have its moment or burn three at once around the house for a feeling of taking a walk on a crisp fall evening, enjoying a pear cider.
Trader Joe’s Maple Brown Butter Almonds
Almonds are a perfect snack after a busy day running around, since they offer a bit of protein and some tasty flavor. The maple-brown butter coating on this snack adds to the natural nuttiness of almonds and makes these snacks a treat. These would be great on their own or mixed into a salad.
Trader Joe’s Maple Leaf Ice Cream Sandwiches
Joe is king of frozen sweets, and these Maple Leaf Ice Cream Sandwiches are no exception. Maple-flavored ice cream sandwiched between maple cookies would be yummy as is, or, as the Fearless Flyer suggests, dunked into warm beverages. Frozen dessert isn’t just for summer, and these lovable desserts are a great choice for those who already love a maple leaf cookie sandwich.
Teeny Tiny Maple Butter Tarts
Tarts often come filled with seasonal fruits, so why not a fall-themed tart filled with maple butter? Even better, these tarts are teeny tiny, so you can have one for a quick burst of sweetness… or more than one because they’re so good. You could even make them part of a no-stress dessert bar the next time you have friends and family for dinner. These tarts can be eaten at room temperature or warmed.
Trader Joe’s Salted Maple Cold Foam
Cold foam may be trendy, but I sure hope it’s here to stay since it’s such a delightful topper for both hot and cold drinks. The Salted Maple Cold Foam comes in a whipped-cream like canister so it’s easy to put a little (or a lot) on top of your homemade coffee or tea. Use the cold foam in lieu of creamer or add it to an espresso drink for a flavor boost.
Butternut Squash Risotto
Cheesy, creamy flavorful risotto is made perfectly cozy with the addition of butternut squash. While scratch risotto takes forever and is tricky to get just right, this prepared side dish is microwavable so you can have it ready in minutes. The Fearless Flyer suggests serving it alongside a salad and some salmon—we bet our Quick Bourbon-Glazed Salmon could do the trick.
Trader Joe’s Loaded Mashed Potatoes
Loaded mashed potatoes are usually bacon-loaded, and these are no exception—but they also pack in sharp Cheddar, scallions and sour cream, so they basically taste like the best baked potato ever condensed down to its creamiest version. Because these are ready to heat and serve, you can whip them up lightning fast.
Cranberry-Orange Spinach Salad Kit
A bagged salad is a must-have when busy weeknights or quick family dinner times sneak up on you—a common issue as the days get shorter. Trader Joe’s always has a variety of tasty combos that make for great sides or entrees unto themselves, but this Cranberry-Orange Spinach Salad Kit has the seasonal cran-orange flavor with lots of iron-packed spinach to help you get your veggies in during the cold months.
Thai-Style Red Curry Soup with Pumpkin and Chicken
Thai curry soup is coconut-based and inherently comforting, so adding in chicken and seasonal pumpkin takes this aromatic classic dish to a new level of coziness. Slightly spicy and immensely flavor-packed, this heat-and-serve soup is far more interesting than your everyday soup offerings.
