Trader Joe’s holiday shelves are overflowing with buzzworthy finds this season—but not everything deserves a spot in your cart.
From standout gifts to festive food hits (and a few surprising misses), here are the 20 items worth knowing before your next trip.
The Viral Hits (Buy These)
1. Mini Canvas Tote Bags (Restock) – $2.99
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Why it’s viral: This is the main event this week. Reddit megathreads and TikTok insiders confirmed a nationwide restock hitting stores around Dec 10–11. They come in Navy, Yellow, Red, and Green.
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The Verdict: If you see one, grab it immediately. These sell out in hours, not days. They are the same heavy-duty quality as the big bags but “lunchbox” sized.
2. Garlic & Herb Butter Mussels – $5.99/6.35 Oz
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Why it’s viral: TikTok is obsessed with how easy these are for a “fancy” dinner. You get about a dozen mussels on the half-shell, pre-topped with garlic butter and breadcrumbs.
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The Verdict: A massive win for $6. Users recommend air-frying them for 5 minutes or broiling them to get the breadcrumbs crispy. Serve with a baguette to soak up the butter.
3. Spicy Cheddar & Jalapeño Biscuit Bites – $4.99/9.52 Oz
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Why it’s viral: These are currently reigning as the “King of 2025 Holiday Appetizers.” They are described as buttery, flaky biscuit dough balls packed with sharp cheddar and a genuine kick of jalapeño.
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The Verdict: A must-buy for holiday hosting. They cook fast and actually taste homemade.
4. Panettone & Chocolate Gelato – $4.49/1 Pint
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Why it’s viral: This is a new item that people are claiming they “accidentally ate the whole container” of. It features a custard base with chunks of actual panettone cake and chocolate swirls.
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The Verdict: Flavor-wise, it’s being compared to Spumoni but better. The texture contrast of the frozen cake pieces is a huge hit.
5. Peppermint Brookie – $4.99/10.5 Oz
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Why it’s viral: A seasonal twist on the classic Brookie (Brownie + Cookie). It swaps the chocolate chip cookie batter for a peppermint sugar cookie dough on top of a fudge brownie.
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The Verdict: Sweet, chewy, and very festive. Social media users suggest warming it up and serving it with the Peppermint Joe-Joe’s Ice Cream.
6. Sleigh Ride Cookies – $3.99/8.5 Oz
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Why it’s viral: Think of this as a “deconstructed” Candy Cane Joe-Joe. It’s a butter cookie dipped in chocolate and rolled in crushed peppermint candy and cocoa cookie bits.
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The Verdict: Incredible texture. A top contender for “best cookie of the season” because they are sturdy enough for dunking but soft enough to melt in your mouth.
7. Italian Tomato Pasta Sauce Trio – $9.99/30.69 Oz
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Why it’s viral: A “Puglia-inspired” gift set featuring three jars: Puttanesca, Cherry Tomato & Roasted Garlic, and Tomato & Roasted Vegetable.
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The Verdict: Shoppers are buying these in bulk as “easy gifts” for coworkers and neighbors. The packaging is premium, and the sauces are authentic Italian imports, not just rebranded generic sauce.
8. Trio of Flavored Honey – $10.99/24 Oz
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Why it’s viral: Another gift set winner featuring Lemon, Lavender, and Ginger honeys.
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The Verdict: The Lavender Honey is the breakout star here, with users loving it drizzled over salty cheeses or vanilla ice cream.
9. Cinnamon Sugar Waffles – $2.99/10.7 Oz
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Why it’s viral: While not “new,” these have resurfaced on “Winter Breakfast” lists. They are frozen Belgian-style waffles with pearl sugar that caramelizes when toasted.
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The Verdict: Your kitchen will smell like a bakery. They don’t even need syrup; they are sweet and crunchy on their own.
10. Body Butter Trio – $7.99/10.5 Oz
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Why it’s viral: The scents this year (Plum, Vanilla Almond) are being compared to high-end brands like Sol de Janeiro and Laura Mercier.
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The Verdict: The best $8 beauty gift you can find. The formula is thick, non-greasy, and the scent payoff is strong.
11. Gingerbread Ice Cream Sandwiches – /13.52 Fl Oz
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Why it’s viral: Soft gingerbread cookies sandwiching vanilla ice cream.
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The Verdict: A consistent holiday winner. Unlike some gingerbread items that are too spicy or hard, these cookies stay remarkably soft even when frozen.
12. Almost a Kilo of Belgian Chocolate Bars – $14.99/31.7 Oz
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Why it’s viral: A massive, heavy “book” of chocolate containing three huge bars (Milk with Corn Flakes, Dark with Caramel, Dark with Sea Salt).
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The Verdict: The “Milk Chocolate with Corn Flakes” bar is stealing the show for its unique crunch. A “lot of chocolate” for the price.
13. Cutwater Peppermint White Russian-$11
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Why it’s viral: High-ABV (14%+) canned cocktail that tastes like a boozy milkshake.
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The Verdict: Dangerous but delicious. It’s very sweet, so pour it over lots of ice to dilute it slightly.
The Viral Skips (Proceed with Caution)
14. Regular Candy Cane Joe-Joe’s – $3.99/16 Oz
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The Issue: You might notice the standard boxes are missing. Rumors from employees on Reddit suggest a manufacturing error (too much peppermint oil/flavoring) caused the main batch to be pulled or not shipped.
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The Verdict: SKIP searching for them. You likely won’t find them. Look for the Gluten-Free version instead, which did ship and is reportedly delicious (and available).
15. Mini Filet Mignon En Croute – $9.99/10 Oz
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The Issue: This looked like a home run, but reviews are savage. The Kitchn and Reddit users are calling it “Filet Mignon for Ants.” It is mostly puff pastry with a tiny, often dry, speck of meat inside.
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The Verdict: SKIP. For $10, it’s an expensive disappointment. You are better off buying the Pastry Pups or the Mussels.
16. Candy Cane Baton Wafer Cookies – $2.29
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The Issue: Usually a hit, but this year’s batch is getting roasted for tasting like “crunchy toothpaste.”
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The Verdict: SKIP. The peppermint flavor is artificial and overpowering, lacking the creamy balance of previous years.
17. Chocolate Advent Calendars
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The Issue: Parents are reporting that the chocolate quality has tanked. Reports of “waxy,” “chalky,” and “unpleasant” chocolate that kids are spitting out.
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The Verdict: SKIP. Buy the calendars for the cute art if you want, but don’t expect edible chocolate.
18. Kouign Amann (Frozen) – $5.49
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The Issue: A French pastry that is supposed to be caramelized and flaky. Reviewers call the TJ’s version “deflated,” “soggy,” and a “sad imitation” of the real thing.
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The Verdict: SKIP. It fails to puff up correctly in the oven. Stick to the Chocolate or Almond Croissants instead—they are foolproof.
19. Rice Pudding Cups (New) – $2.99
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The Issue: TJ’s replaced their beloved tub of rice pudding with these new individual cups.
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The Verdict: SKIP. Fans are furious. The texture is described as watery and soupy compared to the thick, custard-like consistency of the discontinued tub.
20. Real Mistletoe – ~$2.99
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The Issue: It’s real, but it’s preserved/painted to stay green.
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The Verdict: SKIP. Shoppers report it is brittle, stiff, and breaks apart the moment you try to hang it. It looks fake but makes a mess like it’s real—the worst of both worlds.
