Trader Joe’s Fall 2025 Taste Test: 25 Cozy Favorites Reviewed

Trader Joe’s September 2025 lineup brings a wave of autumn flavors, blending nostalgic favorites with creative seasonal twists.

We taste-tested 25 standout items, highlighting the best pumpkin-packed treats, maple-inspired snacks, and festive essentials.

Each review delivers straightforward insights without fluff, making it easy to spot which products deserve space in your cart.

Perfect for cozy nights, gatherings, and fall celebrations, this roundup helps you plan your next Trader Joe’s haul.

Gluten-Free Cranberry Raisin Toast – $4.99, 5 Oz.

  1. Introduction: A gluten-free cracker featuring pumpkin seeds, rosemary, cranberries, and raisins, packaged in a brown tin for a festive touch.
  2. Taste Test Experience: Surprisingly flavorful with sweetness from cranberries and a hint of rosemary; soft texture that’s not overly crunchy or crumbly, standing out from typical gluten-free options.
  3. Ingredients: Egg whites as the first ingredient, along with pumpkin seeds, rosemary, cranberries, and raisins.
  4. Comparison (Optional): Less crumbly than most gluten-free crackers, appealing even to non-gluten-free eaters.
  5. Rating / Verdict: A pleasant surprise and top favorite for one reviewer; worth repurchasing for its unique taste.
  6. Pairing / Serving Suggestions (Optional): Ideal for charcuterie boards.

Mini Chicken Tacos – $5.99, 16 Oz.

  1. Introduction: Gluten-free frozen tacos made with chicken breast, sized like street tacos for quick snacking.
  2. Taste Test Experience: Improved over past versions with real chicken flavor; good on their own but enhanced by salsa or guacamole.
  3. Ingredients: Chicken breast as a key component.
  4. Preparation Instructions (if needed): Cook thoroughly in an air fryer for best results.
  5. Comparison (Optional): A big upgrade from previous bland iterations.
  6. Rating / Verdict: Solid choice for quick meals; one reviewer would definitely repurchase.
  7. Pairing / Serving Suggestions (Optional): Add hot sauce, guacamole, or serve with nachos.

Goat Cheese and Caramelized Onion Ravioli – $3.99, 8.8 Oz.

  1. Introduction: Thin pasta stuffed with goat cheese and caramelized onions for a gourmet twist.
  2. Taste Test Experience: Strong goat cheese punch with actual onion chunks; divisive—loved by cheese fans, but overpowering for others.
  3. Ingredients: Goat cheese and caramelized onions.
  4. Preparation Instructions (if needed): Boil for about 4 minutes.
  5. Rating / Verdict: Top pick for one reviewer when paired right; repurchase likely for fans.
  6. Pairing / Serving Suggestions (Optional): Drizzle with peach balsamic glaze to balance flavors.

Peach Flavored Balsamic Glaze – $2.99, 8.45 Oz.

  1. Introduction: Thick balsamic glaze infused with peach flavor, versatile for sweet-savory dishes.
  2. Taste Test Experience: Sweet and peachy with bright sourness; surprisingly good on ravioli or proteins.
  3. Ingredients: 59% balsamic (Aceto Balsamico di Modena IGP).
  4. Preparation Instructions (if needed): Use as a topping or glaze.
  5. Rating / Verdict: Pleasant surprise and strong contender for repurchase.
  6. Pairing / Serving Suggestions (Optional): Great on chicken, fish, or cheese ravioli.

Simit Turkish Sesame Bread – $3.49, 14.1 Oz.

  1. Introduction: Frozen sesame bread resembling a bagel or pretzel, with four pieces per pack.
  2. Taste Test Experience: Subtle flavor that grows; better than plain pretzels, especially with dips.
  3. Preparation Instructions (if needed): Defrost for 15 minutes, then warm in oven for 3-4 minutes.
  4. Comparison (Optional): Preferable to Trader Joe’s pretzels.
  5. Rating / Verdict: Good alternative snack; one reviewer’s second favorite.
  6. Pairing / Serving Suggestions (Optional): Dip in pub cheese, tzatziki, or labneh.

Ketchup Flavored Lattice Potato Chips – $3.49, 7 Oz.

  1. Introduction: Lattice-cut chips with ketchup seasoning, inspired by Canadian favorites.
  2. Taste Test Experience: Familiar ketchup tang reminiscent of barbecue but less smoky; flavor varies per chip.
  3. Comparison (Optional): Similar to barbecue chips, but with a unique twist.
  4. Rating / Verdict: Mixed—enjoyable for some, but not a repurchase for others preferring other flavors.

Sliced Apple Cinnamon Sourdough Bread – $4.99, 17.63 Oz.

  1. Introduction: Sourdough loaf with sweet-tart apple notes and subtle cinnamon for fall mornings.
  2. Taste Test Experience: Balanced sourdough tang with apple complexity; cinnamon understated but tasty when toasted.
  3. Preparation Instructions (if needed): Toast with butter.
  4. Rating / Verdict: Tasty and versatile; a potential fall staple.
  5. Pairing / Serving Suggestions (Optional): Toasted with butter or apple pie spread.

Salted Maple Cold Foam Creamer – $4.49, 15 Oz.

  1. Introduction: Creamy cold foam with salted maple flavor, a hot seasonal item that sells out fast.
  2. Taste Test Experience: Rich, caramel-like sweetness balanced by salt; buttery and not too salty, reminiscent of maple butter.
  3. Preparation Instructions (if needed): Add to iced or hot coffee; shake well.
  4. Comparison (Optional): Best cold foam tried; like salted maple ice cream.
  5. Rating / Verdict: 10/10 guilty pleasure; stock up due to high demand.
  6. Pairing / Serving Suggestions (Optional): Top iced lattes or pair with pumpkin spice coffee.

Apple Pie Spread – $3.99, 10 Oz.

  1. Introduction: Sweet-spiced spread mimicking apple pie filling, part of Trader Joe’s seasonal jam lineup.
  2. Taste Test Experience: Balanced sweetness with cinnamon; delicious on bread or as a mix-in.
  3. Preparation Instructions (if needed): Spread on toast, yogurt, or pancakes.
  4. Comparison (Optional): Similar to pumpkin butter but with apple focus.
  5. Rating / Verdict: Delicious and versatile; worth trying.
  6. Pairing / Serving Suggestions (Optional): On sourdough, yogurt, pancakes, or waffles.

Pumpkin Spice Espresso Martini – $9.99, 375mL

  1. Introduction: Bottled cocktail blending pumpkin spice with espresso martini, at 20% ABV.
  2. Taste Test Experience: Strong spice with cinnamon burn; balanced but ginger-dominant for some, boozy with minimal coffee.
  3. Preparation Instructions (if needed): Shake and serve over ice; add cream for a White Russian twist.
  4. Comparison (Optional): Rivals bar cocktails; less successful than plain version for some.
  5. Rating / Verdict: Impressive for fans, but least favorite for others; fun seasonal sip.
  6. Pairing / Serving Suggestions (Optional): As a White Russian with heavy cream.

Cinnamon Buns with Cream Cheese Frosting – $5.99, 13.05 Oz.

  1. Introduction: Fluffy buns with tangy frosting, packaged in sets of four.
  2. Taste Test Experience: Tender with dreamy cinnamon-molasses swirl; generous, not-too-sweet frosting.
  3. Comparison (Optional): Rivals homemade or IKEA buns.
  4. Rating / Verdict: Hard to beat; potential to surpass homemade.
  5. Pairing / Serving Suggestions (Optional): Enjoy warm for breakfast or dessert.

Pumpkin Spice Chardonnay – $6.99, 750mL

  1. Introduction: Sweeter Chardonnay with nutmeg notes, a fun fall twist on wine.
  2. Taste Test Experience: Dense, creamy, and nutmeg-forward; like mulled wine meets sangria.
  3. Comparison (Optional): Not for purists, but drinkable like apple pie in a glass.
  4. Rating / Verdict: Fun and enjoyable; great for gatherings.
  5. Pairing / Serving Suggestions (Optional): For porch hangs or transitioning from summer wines.

Cinnamon Coffee Cake Muffins – $5.99, 14Oz.

  1. Introduction: Light muffins with sugar crystal topping for crunch.
  2. Taste Test Experience: Moist and flavorful; could use more cinnamon swirl but still delightful.
  3. Rating / Verdict: A win overall.

Fall Harvest Salsa – $3.49, 12 Oz.

  1. Introduction: Sophisticated salsa with autumn fruits and veggies.
  2. Taste Test Experience: Sweet hint, addictively fresh.
  3. Ingredients: Pumpkin, apples, butternut squash.
  4. Rating / Verdict: 10/10 must-try.
  5. Pairing / Serving Suggestions (Optional): With pumpkin tortilla chips.

Maple & Sea Salt Kettle Popcorn – $2.99, 7 Oz.

  1. Introduction: Kettle corn with maple twist.
  2. Taste Test Experience: Sweeter than standard, with salty-sweet crunch.
  3. Comparison (Optional): Elite version of kettle corn.
  4. Rating / Verdict: Top-notch snack.

Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese – $3.79, 12 Oz.

  1. Introduction: Frozen pasta with squash sauce and cheeses.
  2. Taste Test Experience: Gooey, cheesy, spiced perfectly; balances squash sweetness.
  3. Ingredients: Butternut squash, Gouda, cheddar, Parmesan, sage, nutmeg, thyme.
  4. Comparison (Optional): More pasta-like than traditional mac.
  5. Rating / Verdict: Heavenly; hope it stays permanent.
  6. Pairing / Serving Suggestions (Optional): With fall soups or as a side.

Pumpkin Streusel Muffins – $5.99, 14 Oz.

  1. Introduction: Fluffy muffins with pumpkin and streusel top.
  2. Taste Test Experience: Moist, seasonal flavor; superior texture.
  3. Comparison (Optional): Better than pumpkin loaf.
  4. Rating / Verdict: Gives coffee cake a run for its money.

Mocha Latte Pretzels – $2.99, 7 Oz.

  1. Introduction: Chocolate-covered pretzels with coffee flavor.
  2. Taste Test Experience: Java punch with sweet-salty balance.
  3. Rating / Verdict: Mind-changing for pretzel skeptics.

Maple Leaf Cookies – $3.99, 11.4 Oz.

  1. Introduction: Cookies with cream filling in maple leaf shape.
  2. Taste Test Experience: Right amount of maple; not cloying, easy to eat more.
  3. Ingredients: Cream filling.
  4. Rating / Verdict: Beloved classic.

Pumpkin Tortilla Chips – $3.99, 7 Oz.

  1. Introduction: Multigrain chips with subtle nutmeg.
  2. Taste Test Experience: Bland alone but sturdy for dips; nutmeg shines in soup.
  3. Comparison (Optional): Like ordinary multigrain chips.
  4. Rating / Verdict: Worth buying for fall dips.
  5. Pairing / Serving Suggestions (Optional): Crumble over butternut squash soup or dip in pepita salsa.

Apple Cider Doughnuts – $4.99, 15.9 Oz.

  1. Introduction: Cake-like doughnuts with cinnamon-sugar coating.
  2. Taste Test Experience: Moist and fluffy; not dry despite some complaints, cozy spice.
  3. Preparation Instructions (if needed): Warm in oven or air fryer; freeze leftovers.
  4. Comparison (Optional): Denser than traditional doughnuts.
  5. Rating / Verdict: Enjoyable straight from box; give another chance if first batch disappoints.
  6. Pairing / Serving Suggestions (Optional): With whipped cream or ice cream.

Pumpkin Joe-Joe’s – $2.99, 10.5 Oz.

  1. Introduction: Seasonal cookies with pumpkin-spice cream.
  2. Taste Test Experience: Delightful creamy center; light spice with ginger and clove, soft texture.
  3. Ingredients: Pumpkin-spice icing.
  4. Rating / Verdict: Everything a fall cookie should be; buy multiple boxes.

Pumpkin Bagels – $2.99, 18 Oz.

    1. Introduction: Bagels with subtle pumpkin and cinnamon.
    2. Taste Test Experience: Cinnamon-like with chewy, crisp toast; pleasant hint of pumpkin.
    3. Preparation Instructions (if needed): Toast for best texture.
  1. Rating / Verdict: Add to regular list.

Pumpkin Waffles – $2.79, 9.9 Oz.

  1. Introduction: Frozen waffles with mellow pumpkin spice.
  2. Taste Test Experience: Subtle pumpkin; crunchy edges, chewy center, better than many frozen options.
  3. Rating / Verdict: Scrumptious convenience.
  4. Pairing / Serving Suggestions (Optional): With butter, syrup, or whipped cream.

Harvest Chili – $4.99 , 20 Oz.

  1. Introduction: Vegetarian chili with fall veggies.
  2. Taste Test Experience: Spicy, smoky, sweet; satisfying flavor hides the veggies.
  3. Ingredients: Sweet potato, butternut squash, pumpkin puree, cauliflower, black beans, chili spices.
  4. Rating / Verdict: Super satisfying; forget it’s veggie-packed.
  5. Pairing / Serving Suggestions (Optional): Top with crumbled chips or cornbread.

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