Hey friends! We’re back with this week’s Trader Joe’s taste test, and it was a fun one—We tried 14 new or returning summer goodies and had a blast snacking our way through it all. Here’s the full lineup, along with our totally honest thoughts.
1. Trader Joe’s Cookie Dough Ice Cream $3.79/1 Pint
Creamy vanilla with huge cookie dough chunks and a hint of salt. Best combo ever with the chocolate shell.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories 340
- Total Fat 20g
- Carbs 38g
- Sodium 160mg
- Dietary Fiber <1g
- Sugar 32g
- Protein 4g
Ingredients
- Cream, milk, cane sugar, nonfat milk, chocolate chip cookie dough pieces (wheat flour, cane sugar, butter [cream, natural flavors], water, chocolate chips [cane sugar, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, soy lecithin (emulsifier)], cane molasses, natural vanilla flavor, salt), sea salt fudgy swirl (sugar, canola oil, cocoa processed with alkali, sea salt, palm kernel oil, soy lecithin [emulsifier], natural flavor, cocoa, whole milk powder, salt), chocolatey chips (cane sugar, coconut oil, cocoa processed with alkali, milkfat, soy lecithin [emulsifier], natural vanilla flavor), egg yolks, natural vanilla flavor, carob bean gum, guar gum.
- Contains milk, egg, soy, wheat.
Preparation Instructions
Keep frozen. Scoop and enjoy plain or topped.
2. Mango Pineapple Pico de Gallo Salsa $3.99/12 oz
Fresh tomatoes, sweet mango and pineapple, and lots of lime. This salsa is summer in a bowl. No heat—just juicy and refreshing.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories 15
- Total Fat 0g
- Carbs 4g
- Sodium 105mg
- Dietary Fiber <1g
- Sugar 3g
- Protein 0g
Ingredients
Tomatoes, mango, pineapple, onion, cilantro, lime juice, salt.
Preparation Instructions
Ready to eat. Try it with chips, salmon, or fish tacos.
3. Strawberry Mini Sheet Cake $5.99/18 oz
Moist strawberry cake topped with strawberry cream cheese frosting. Super fruity, sweet, and satisfying.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories 320
- Total Fat 16g
- Carbs 43g
- Sodium 220mg
- Dietary Fiber 0g
- Sugar 35g
- Protein 2g
Ingredients
- Cake: Cane sugar, enriched wheat flour (wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), water, strawberry preserves (organic strawberries, organic cane sugar, apple pectin, ascorbic acid [to preserve], citric acid [acidifier]), canola oil, eggs, buttermilk (cultured pasteurized milk, nonfat milk powder, salt), baking soda, natural flavor, sea salt.
- Frosting: Powdered sugar (sugar, cornstarch), unsalted butter (cream [milk], natural flavor), cream cheese (pasteurized cultured milk and cream, salt, guar gum, carob bean gum), strawberry puree (strawberries, cane sugar, fruit pectin, ascorbic acid [to maintain color]), freeze-dried strawberry, natural flavors, sea salt.
- Allergen Information:
- Contains milk, egg, wheat.
- May contain soy.
Preparation Instructions
Ready to eat. Chill before serving/best flavor.
4. Trader Joe’s Passion Fruit Sorbet $4.99/16 Fl Oz
A super tart, tropical dessert. Passion fruit fans will love this intense flavor.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories 200
- Total Fat 0g
- Carbs 49g
- Sodium 65mg
- Dietary Fiber <1g
- Sugar 39g
- Protein <1g
Ingredients
- Water, seedless passion fruit puree, cane sugar, maltodextrin, glucose syrup (tapioca), carob bean gum, citrus fiber, mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids, sea salt, guar gum, xanthan gum.
Preparation Instructions
Keep frozen. Scoop and enjoy.
5. Meatball Calzone $6.99/16 oz
Savory and satisfying. Diced meatballs, rich sauce, and melty cheese wrapped in soft dough.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories 390
- Total Fat 23g
- Carbs 29g
- Sodium 870mg
- Dietary Fiber 4g
- Sugar 6g
- Protein 17g
Ingredients
- Enriched wheat flour (wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), meatballs (ground pork, ground beef, Parmesan cheese [pasteurized part skim milk, cheese cultures, salt, microbial enzyme], onions, water, eggs, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, parsley, black pepper), water, sauce (tomatoes, sugar, sea salt, cornstarch, olive oil, dehydrated onion, oregano, dehydrated garlic, black pepper, basil, citric acid [to preserve], jalapeño peppers, natural flavors), mozzarella cheese (pasteurized milk, nonfat milk, cheese cultures, salt, microbial enzyme), sugar, extra virgin olive oil, salt, black pepper, dough conditioner (enriched wheat flour [wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, folic acid, riboflavin], enzymes), oregano, yeast, calcium sulfate.
- Allergen Information:
- Contains milk, egg, wheat.
Preparation Instructions
Bake at 375°F/20 minutes. Serve hot.
6. Roasted Tomato Labneh Dip $3.49/8.5 oz
Creamy, herby yogurt-based dip with a tangy tomato topping. Excellent with naan or pita.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories 45
- Total Fat 3.5g
- Carbs 3g
- Sodium 95mg
- Dietary Fiber 0g
- Sugar 2g
- Protein 1g
Ingredients
- Labneh (pasteurized cultured milk and cream, nonfat milk, pectin, live active cultures [Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii, Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, *Lactobacillus paracasei]), roasted tomatoes (roasted tomato, sunflower oil, salt, garlic, oregano), canola oil, red wine vinegar, sea salt, dehydrated garlic, balsamic vinegar (wine vinegar, concentrated grape must), dried green onion, dill weed, black pepper, dried parsley, dried spearmint, cultured dextrose (to preserve).
- Allergen Information:
- Contains milk.
Preparation Instructions
Ready to eat. Top with olives/extra flavor.
7. Guava Sparkling Beverage $3.99/8.45 Fl Oz
Tastes like fresh guava with fizz. Not too sweet—just right/summer.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories 50
- Total Fat 0g
- Carbs 15g
- Sodium 5mg
- Dietary Fiber 0g
- Sugar 12g
- Protein 0g
Ingredients
- Guava juice, water, carbon dioxide, citric acid (acidifier), ascorbic acid (to maintain color).
Preparation Instructions
Chill and serve. Shake gently before opening.
8. Watermelon Sparkling Beverage $3.99/8.45 Fl Oz
Tastes just like watermelon candy in a can—sweet and bubbly.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories 60
- Total Fat 0g
- Carbs 16g
- Sodium 0mg
- Dietary Fiber 2g
- Sugar 12g
- Protein 0g
Ingredients
- Watermelon juice, carbon dioxide, citric acid (acidifier), ascorbic acid (to maintain color).
Preparation Instructions
Serve cold and enjoy.
9. Chili Onion Crunch Toscano Cheese $11.99/1 Lb
Creamy Tuscano cheese with a mild chili onion kick. Super snackable.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories 120
- Total Fat 9g
- Carbs 2g
- Sodium 200mg
- Dietary Fiber 0g
- Sugar 0g
- Protein 7g
Ingredients
- Toscano cheese (pasteurized milk, cheese cultures, salt, microbial enzyme), extra virgin olive oil, seasoning blend (dehydrated garlic, dehydrated onion, granulated red bell pepper, chili flakes, sea salt, natural flavors, paprika oleoresin [color]).
- Allergen Information:
- Contains milk.
Preparation Instructions
Slice and enjoy on crackers or a cheeseboard.
10. Spicy Mango Habanero Guacamole $3.49/10 oz
Creamy guac with subtle mango sweetness and habanero heat. Addicting!
Nutritional Facts
- Calories 35
- Total Fat 2.5g
- Carbs 3g
- Sodium 120mg
- Dietary Fiber 1g
- Sugar 1g
- Protein 0g
Ingredients
- Hass avocado, mango, onion, jalapeño peppers (jalapeño peppers, water, salt, acetic acid, calcium chloride), red bell pepper, distilled white vinegar, sea salt, habanero pepper puree, cilantro.
Preparation Instructions
Serve with chips, tacos, or on burritos.
11. Patio Potato Chips $2.99/6 oz
A mix of four bold chip flavors in one bag—dill, ketchup, BBQ, and salt & vinegar. Super craveable.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories 140
- Total Fat 80
- Carbs 17g
- Sodium 270mg
- Dietary Fiber 1g
- Sugar 1g
- Protein 2g
Ingredients
- Russet potatoes, canola oil, cane sugar, vinegar powder, sea salt, contains 2% or less of: tomato powder, whey powder (milk), maltodextrin, dried yeast, onion powder, citric acid (acidulant), spices, natural flavors, paprika oleoresin (color), malic acid, horseradish powder, natural smoke flavor.
- Allergen Information:
- Contains milk.
Preparation Instructions
Ready to eat. Try them with burgers or sandwiches.
12. Organic Sour Apple Watermelon Fruit Leather Wrap $0.49/0.5 oz
Chewy, tart fruit leather with sweet apple and watermelon. Like a healthy Jolly Rancher.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories 45
- Total Fat 0g
- Carbs 11g
- Sodium 30mg
- Dietary Fiber <1g
- Sugar 10g
- Protein 0g
Ingredients
- Organic apple puree concentrate, organic apple juice concentrate, malic acid, citrus pectin, natural flavor, sodium citrate, organic watermelon juice concentrate, organic elderberry juice concentrate.
Preparation Instructions
Unwrap and enjoy.
13. Hard Top Chocolate Shell Topping $3.29/6.17 oz
Pour over cold desserts and it hardens instantly into a crispy chocolate shell. So fun!
Nutritional Facts
- Calories 210
- Total Fat 17g
- Carbs 15g
- Sodium 20mg
- Dietary Fiber 1g
- Sugar 13g
- Protein 1g
Ingredients
- Coconut oil, sugar, cocoa powder (processed with alkali), dark chocolate (sugar, cocoa mass, cocoa butter, canola lecithin, natural flavor), skim milk powder, hazelnuts, sunflower lecithin, salt.
- Contains milk, hazelnut.
- May contain soy.
Preparation Instructions
Warm bottle in hot water/5 minutes. Shake and pour.
14. French Galette Butter Cookies $3.49/7.75 oz
These come in cute little packs and look fancy, but… yikes. The texture was super hard and tasted kinda stale. The flavor was buttery, but not enough to save it.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories 180
- Total Fat 8g
- Carbs 24g
- Sodium 55mg
- Dietary Fiber <1g
- Sugar 9g
- Protein 2g
Ingredients
- Wheat flour, cultured butter (cream [milk], lactic acid starter culture), sugar, eggs, sea salt.
- Contains milk, egg, wheat.
- May contain soy.
Preparation Instructions
Ready to eat. Best served with tea or coffee.
Final Thoughts
This taste test was a hit! The spicy mango guac, labneh dip, and cookie dough + chocolate shell combo were our top picks. Let us know if you’ve tried any of these—and what should we test next?
See you in the next taste test!
