As a college student, and as a person with functional taste buds, I hold Trader Joes near and dear to my heart. It’s one of the more affordable grocery stores to shop at and makes some of the best food, especially snacks. Anyone who loves TJ’s can tell you that. Among their most popular products are the “everything but the bagel” seasoning, vegan banana bread, and the coveted speculoos cookie butter. And while I love each and every one of these treats, I can list about 7 other snacks I love even more (and if you know me, you know I love my banana bread).
Here are 7 of my favorite Trader Joes snacks. You’ll find that there’s something for every occasion.
Coconut Strips
I’ll admit, I’m definitely a texture person and there’s something about the texture of the coconut strips that does it for me. If you like the taste of coconut, you’re sure to love these! They make great snacks for the movies, car rides, errands, breaks between classes, and pretty much any time of day you need a little pick-me-up.
Just Mango Slices
I’m a huge fan of mangoes in general but I don’t love super sugary mangoes, so when I first tried these I was in heaven. While Trader Joes does sell the mangoes with added sugar, the “Just Mangoes” aren’t overloaded with extra sugar. I’ve enjoyed these on hikes, but like the coconut strips, they’re a solid addition to any outing (or movie night at the house).
Frozen Chocolate Covered Bananas and Strawberries
My life was forever changed the first time I bought these. I wish I could say that this was an exaggeration, but it’s completely accurate. Growing up, my best friend and I would eat entire chocolate-covered bananas while we watched High School Musical in her living room, so you could say that the frozen chocolate-covered bananas from Trader Joes offer a bit of nostalgia for me. These and the strawberries are almost too good, and I only say that because it’s normal for me to eat half the box during the drive home from the store (less than 10 minutes). I’m not sure how much healthier they are than other frozen treats, but I like to pretend they’re just regular fruit without chocolate.
Chocolate Babka
I cannot tell you how often I crave something chocolatey and immediately my mind will go to the chocolate babka from the bakery. It’s truly one of the greatest chocolate desserts I have ever eaten and I stand by that. 10/10 would recommend.
Danish Kringle
Another bakery item, Trader Joes’ Danish Kringle is both a snack and a breakfast, so basically it’s the perfect food. Cut a piece off and enjoy it with tea or coffee and you’ve got a tasty meal. It’s also big enough to bring to a party (unless you aren’t going to parties where you bring food, in which case you could bring some for yourself and keep it in your purse for mid-party snacking).
Maple Leaf Cookies
If you don’t like the taste of maple these may not be for you, but if you happen to love maple flavored things than you will want to buy multiple packs at a time. I’m not kidding—these cookies are my kryptonite. Every time you think you’re done eating, it’s always “one more”. For the record, it’s never one more.
Dark Chocolate Orange Sticks
If you’ve ever had a Terry’s chocolate orange, chances are you’ll like these (possibly even more). Like everything else on this list, they’re so easy to eat and not realize how many you’ve had. Perfect for period cravings, and regular cravings, you won’t want to pass these up on your next trip to Trader Joes.
Obviously, Trader Joes is a bottomless cornucopia of the best food in the supermarket game. These are just 7 of the best snacks the store has to offer to get you started on the path to becoming a Trader Joe’s fiend.