With midterms ending and finals rapidly approaching, I’ve found it difficult at times to stay in the holiday spirit. My newfound love of having a Trader Joe’s only a 15-minute walk from my dorm has kept me sane during these hectic times. Coming from Indiana, where my nearest Trader Joe’s was over an hour away by car, the walk is novel to me.
As a proud weekly Saturday afternoon shopper at TJ’s, I’ve been trying new things every week to add some holiday cheer to my everyday life. In no particular order, here are some of my favorite findings!
- Candy Cane Joe-Joe’s Ice Cream
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My guilty pleasure.
Usually, I try to switch treats every week, but this ice cream was so good that it has made more than one appearance in my freezer. I could be biased, considering that my all-time favorite ice cream flavor is mint chocolate chip.
Still, I think the holiday season calls for a little bit of peppermint swirl (with fudgey add-ins), regardless of whether or not you believe mint-chip tastes like toothpaste — a widespread controversy.
- Turkey Gobbler Wrap
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I have to admit, I was a bit hesitant to try a chilled spin on popular Thanksgiving dishes wrapped together. Being a fan of eating my turkey with cranberries on top every year, this was a similar experience, but with some stuffing and cream cheese added.
The wrap is still a long shot from a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, but it’s officially number two on my list of TJ’s wraps (behind the buffalo-style chicken wrap).
- Cranberry Clementine Greek Yogurt
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If you’re a Greek yogurt lover like me, I have to recommend this limited-time flavor. Trader Joe’s carries lemon, blueberry, and strawberry banana-flavored Greek yogurts. I’m a big fan of those, so I felt it was only fair to give the seasonal flavor a chance.
It’s a perfect blend of tangy cranberry and a bit of sweeter clementine that makes the yogurt just right for a holiday flavor, but I wouldn’t recommend it as a year-round pick.
- Apple Cider
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This one is pretty self-explanatory. You either love it or hate it — nothing too different from your average supermarket apple cider. But what sets it apart from Target’s or other brands is that the Trader Joe’s version, in my opinion, is much less sweet and has a richer, more authentic apple flavor.
- French Onion Popcorn
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The last item I’m recommending is inspired by French onion soup, which may seem unappealing at first in a salty snack form, but still makes the list over fan-favorites like the Dark Chocolate Mint Stars or Jingle Jangle Pretzel Twists.
When eating a salty snack, I typically like to pair it with something to offset, such as dried fruit or cheese. The holiday season is the best time to break out the charcuterie boards and pour some seasoned, savory popcorn on top, hopefully gaining some additional fans of this tasty snack.
You truly can’t go wrong with any Trader Joe’s seasonal item. I love Gingerbread Sandwich Cookies and Peppermint Cremes just as much as the next person, but I encourage you this holiday season to branch out and try a few of these recommendations as well. You never know which treat will earn a new spot on your annual list.
Feeling adventurous? You never know what to expect!
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