Thanks to its podcast (and our many years of fandom), we know a bit about how Trader Joe’s products come to life. Developers pull inspiration from everywhere: treasured family recipes, classic global dishes, and trendy flavors Gen Z can’t get enough of. Every product goes through rounds of testing to ensure it’s not just tasty and high-quality, but also something shoppers didn’t even realize they wanted.
We already knew Trader Joe’s takes its R&D seriously, but lately, the bar has been raised even higher. The grocer isn’t just pulling from its own taste labs and research panels anymore. Now, it’s taking cues from real-world restaurants—including Michelin-starred ones.
Trader Joe’s New Cherry Pistachio Pecan Granola
Believe it or not, Trader Joe’s new, Michelin-inspired creation isn’t a fancy cheese, a decadent dip, or a delicate pastry pulled from the freezer aisle. It’s granola. Yes, granola—the humble, homestyle topper for your yogurt or smoothie bowl.
But this isn’t your average oat and honey medley.
The recipe was inspired by a signature granola given to diners at the end of their meal at Eleven Madison Park, the three-Michelin-star restaurant in New York City. The signature dish is so beloved that The New York Times even published a copycat recipe—one that closely mirrors Trader Joe’s prepared version, we must say.
So how did a fine-dining farewell gift end up in the aisles of your neighborhood Trader Joe’s? The company hinted that one of its product developers took inspiration after enjoying a post-dinner jar of granola at a “renowned restaurant”—and the rest is history.
Trader Joe’s take features a blend of rolled oats, tart dried Montmorency cherries, crunchy pistachios, pecans, pumpkin seeds, and coconut flakes, all lightly sweetened with brown sugar, maple syrup, and extra virgin olive oil. This gives it a rich flavor that isn’t overly sweet, so it can feel just as at home on yogurt or ice cream as it is sprinkled over a warm pumpkin soup.
Shoppers are already loving the new snack. “Perfect sweet and salty balance. Hard to not finish a whole bag,” one fan shared. “I never buy granola, but this one I must try!” added another.
Instead of spending hundreds of dollars on a nine-course meal, you can snag an entire 12-ounce bag of this restaurant-worthy granola for just $4.99. Leave it to Trader Joe’s to turn an unexpected, high-end treat into the fall snack we didn’t know we needed, but now can’t wait to try.
