- Pumpkin Cream Cheese
This cream cheese smells and tastes like fall. With a smooth cream cheese consistency, there are no chunks of pumpkin which I found consoling when I tried it on a plain bagel. Trader Joe’s pumpkin cream cheese spread had the faintest tingle of cinnamon, and you can easily add more cinnamon to create a sweeter spread. I recommend using this spread on bagels, toast or even French toast.
2. Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
This warm and filling meal will make you want to take a nap after right after you finish the last bite. The butternut squash mac and cheese is slightly sweet and has a subtle taste of butternut. This meal was warm, creamy and cheesy. I was honestly surprised with its freshness after heating up a frozen meal. The butternut taste was not overwhelming and if you love mac and cheese and want a seasonal warm meal, this is definitely worth the purchase.
3. Maple Butter
As soon as you open the jar, the smell of maple overwhelms you. The taste of maple was incredibly sweet and sugary, and the mixture of butter and maple syrup was perfection. Some people that would normally put maple and butter on items like waffles or pancakes now have the convenience of purchasing a product that is already combined. The maple butter consistency was similar to butter, but when warmed up it became soft, like warm icing. I recommend pairing the maple butter with Trader Joes pumpkin waffles (or plain waffles), cinnamon rolls or pancakes. This super sweet concoction was worth every bite.
4. Pumpkin Bread Mix
If you like sweet bread or the taste of pumpkin, then this product is for you. It was extremely easy to make and reminded me of lemon bread or banana bread because of its thickness and sweetness. This was not my favorite seasonal item; I did not find it to be special. It tasted like a basic fall slice of bread.
5. Frozen Pumpkin Waffles
The frozen pumpkin waffles significantly surpassed my expectations. They were the perfect combination of soft and crispy and I could easily eat three in one sitting. I suggest pairing this with the maple butter and whipped cream for the full seasonal effect. I loved the flavor but can acknowledge that these were not the fluffiest and are comparable to Eggo brand waffles
6. Maple Leaf Cookies
These cookies were soft and surprisingly creamy. With just a tad of maple flavoring, they were delicious and different than other boxed cookies. The actual cookie was soft and fluffy, and the cream center was fresh and sweet. The cookie to cream ratio was delicious, and I found myself going back to my pantry for more after I put the box away.
7. Vanilla Pumpkin Candle
This TJ’s candle smells AMAZING. I don’t love the smell of pumpkin, but it was underwhelming and does not make you feel nauseous or like you’re at a pumpkin patch. The stronger sense of vanilla balanced out the pumpkin tones. I was also surprised that while I left it to burn, I slowly started to notice smells of cinnamon. This candle transports you back to the smell of fall. I could imagine the colorful leaves, cold air and a classic movie playing in the background.
8. Nondairy Pumpkin Oat Milk
I don’t know why I tried this product. Firstly, I religiously drink a caramel macchiato creamer that I don’t even purchase from Trader Joe’s. However, in the spirit of this article, I decided to try something new. It was fine in coffee, as there was not a super strong taste of pumpkin. I did have to add a little bit of vanilla creamer. This product was not sweet, but it also wasn’t spicy like some of the other pumpkin products (such as pumpkin spice). If you want to drink something that bears the small resemblance to drinking pumpkin, then try this product but I can confidently share that I will not be purchasing this again.
9. Cinnamon Bun Spread
The cinnamon bun spread literally tasted like spreadable cinnamon buns. If you ever wanted to be able to put a cinnamon bun on other breakfast items such as pancakes or waffles, then run to Trader Joe’s right now. It has a thick consistency and was deliciously sweet. I personally dipped apples in this spread and highly recommend doing the same. It’s honestly a game changer for achieving the taste and smell of cinnamon buns but without the bun.
10. Maple Kettle Corn
Lastly, the maple kettle corn was delicious—both salty and sweet. If you enjoy chocolate drizzled popcorn or enjoy a salty and sweet snack, look no further. The maple was barely noticeable which I enjoyed because I did not find the sweetness to be overpowering. I can admit that after eating half the bag I started to feel sick, but I blame myself more than the popcorn. If you don’t have a problem cutting yourself off from reaching back into the bag, I recommend purchasing this fall staple from Trader Joe’s.