I tried 24 seasonal fall snacks from Trader Joe's, and I'd buy at least 16 of them again

For years, I've tried all of the fall snack foods I could find at Trader Joe's to find the best picks.Paige BennettI've been trying all the seasonal fall snacks I find at Trader Joe's to see which are worth buying.I love its Teeny Tiny apple pies, apple shortbread cookies, and pumpkin-spice batons. Trader Joe's This Pumpkin Walks Into a Bar bars and seasonal Greek yogurts have not impressed me. Trader Joe's is known for having fun seasonal snack items, and it's especially beloved for its fall offerings. There are sweet, salty, spicy, and savory items to suit all sorts of taste preferences, from pumpkin-flavored Joe-Joe's to a variety of autumnal chips and salsas.For a few years, I've been trying the many fall snacks at Trader Joe's to see which are worth buying again and which I think can be skipped.Here's how I feel about 24 of them. Editor's Note: Price and availability of seasonal items may vary. Trader Joe's pumpkin-spiced Teeny Tiny pretzels are adorable.Paige BennettThis autumnal iteration of Teeny Tiny pretzels from the chain has a yogurt-flavored coating and is topped with crushed pumpkin seeds.The pretzels were far better than similar products I've tried.Paige BennettI really enjoyed these pretzels. I've tried similar yogurt-covered pretzels from other grocery stores, but these are the best I've tasted.The first bite is sweet and crunchy from the yogurt and pumpkin seeds, but the final notes are slightly salty and spiced, like black pepper.I especially enjoyed the bite-sized pieces with a thinner coating of yogurt.The maple-flavored fudge smelled delicious.Paige BennettAlthough I was initially disappointed by the small number of fudge pieces in this box, that feeling immediately went away as the delicious smell of maple came through the bag.The fudge tasted fine, but the texture wasn't for me.Paige BennettAlthough I expected dense, chewy, and, well, fudgy, this fudge was harder and crumblier.The texture wasn't great, but the buttery, maple flavor tasted just as good as it smelled.Trader Joe's maple-spiced nut mix features lots of variety.Paige BennettTrader Joe's maple-spiced nut mix promised flavors of maple- and rosemary-flavored almonds and pecans, along with black pepper, red pepper, dried cranberries, and pumpkin seeds. I was surprised by the lack of flavor in the maple-spiced nut mix.Paige BennettThis mix definitely leans more savory than sweet, a much-appreciated twist compared to many of the other sweet fall snacks.Although I got hints of pepper, I didn't get much of the maple or rosemary flavors at all. I wished these nuts had a stronger flavor.The mini maple-flavored marshmallows seemed like they'd be great for fall baking.Paige BennettI don't typically eat marshmallows because I've been a vegetarian and most kinds contain gelatin. Fortunately, the Trader Joe's maple-flavored mini marshmallows are labeled as a vegan snack, so I was excited to try them. They didn't look very good, but they tasted great.Paige BennettThe marshmallows may not look all that appetizing with a beige color and wrinkly appearance, but I enjoyed their flavor.The maple flavor was present but not overwhelming, and the marshmallows were chewy before melting in my mouth.Trader Joe's rolled wafers are usually a hit for me, so I was excited to see a pumpkin-spice version.Paige BennettRolled wafers are a favorite snack of mine, so I figured I'd like this fall version with a pumpkin-spice filling.The batons were a hit for me.Paige BennettThe batons had a sweet, pumpkin flavor with a hint of spice. The texture was light and crisp at first, and as the wafer layers flaked away, I was left with a creamy coating in the center.I tried the Honeycrisp-apple granola on its own and with yogurt.Paige BennettThe granola came in pretty big, crunchy clusters, which were then contrasted by the chewy dried apple pieces. I tried this first on its own, and it was a big hit for me. The apple flavor tasted natural, which I loved.Paige BennettI also tried this granola with the Honeycrisp-apple cinnamon Greek yogurt, and I loved the combination.It created a prominent sweet apple flavor balanced out by spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and black pepper.Trader Joe's Honeycrisp-apple cinnamon Greek yogurt had a super thick texture.Paige BennettTrader Joe's Honeycrisp-apple cinnamon Greek yogurt is made with whole milk. I found it had tiny, chewy pieces of apple throughout. This yogurt also felt extremely thick.The flavor was OK, but I couldn't get past the thickness.Paige BennettThe yogurt was OK on its own, although the texture was a little too thick for me.A sprinkle of Honeycrisp-apple granola helped balance out the thick yogurt, so I'd only buy this again if I had the granola available.I also picked up a pumpkin Greek nonfat yogurt.Paige BennettI found this light-orange yogurt was not nearly as thick as the apple-cinnamon variety I tried. I liked the texture better than the other yogurt, but not so much the flavor. The pumpkin yogurt was one of my least favorite items in this taste test.Paige BennettI was expecting this yogurt to taste sweet, like many pumpkin fall foods, but it was actually very earthy and almost savory.The flavor switch threw me off, and I didn't love it. I wouldn't buy this one again.Trader Joe's apple-and-pumpkin hand pies can be heated in the oven.Paige BennettI heated one of these pumpkin-and-apple-filled pies per the package instructions — for 10 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit in the oven.The crust got golden but stayed buttery soft, so the hand pie felt prone to buckling as I held it to eat. Cutting it in half helped slightly. The hand pies were better than I expected.Paige BennettI liked the combination of earthy, creamy pumpkin and sweet, chewy apples. Although I wish there were stronger flavors of cinnamon and other warming spices in the filling, I would buy these again.Trader Joe's usually does a great job with its seasonal Joe-Joe's.Paige BennettTrader Joe's releases new Joe-Joe's with just about every season. Fortunately, these pumpkin sandwich cookies were delicious. The pumpkin-flavored Joe-Joe's are a classic for good reason.Paige BennettThe pumpkin-spice flavor is strong but not overwhelming, and the cookies were nice and crisp yet buttery.The filling was creamy, and I found there was plenty of it, almost as much as I'd find in my favorite Double Stuf Oreos.The maple-leaf cookies were quite large.Paige BennettThe maple-leaf design of these is so cute, and I liked that they were sandwich cookies. Each creme-filled cookie was much larger than I expected.These cookies would pair perfectly with coffee.Paige BennettThe cookies had a more subtle fall flavor than the pumpkin Joe-Joe's, but they were still great.I liked the buttery shortbread and light maple flavor. These would be perfect for dunking in milk or even coffee.I didn't like the texture or flavor of Trader Joe's This Pumpkin Walks Into a Bar cereal bars.Paige BennettTrader Joe's has a lot of iterations of cereal bars like these, but the pumpkin let me down.Honestly, I didn't love the taste or texture of these bars. Even with the jammy center, they seemed too dry. I'll try other flavors of these bars next time.Paige BennettIn my opinion, the filling tasted more perfumy than pumpkin-y. In just one bite, I knew these weren't for me.Trader Joe's crispy potato snacks shaped like ghosts and bats were so fun.Paige BennettI was really impressed that the whole bag of the delicate bat- and ghost-shaped crisps hadn't turned to dust in transit to the store. I liked the thin, crispy texture, but thought the flavor was bland.Paige BennettThese crisps tasted like they were just made from a plain potato. If these had some sort of seasoning added, they would be a hit.Because they're also too fragile to eat with a dip for added flavor, I wouldn't buy these again. Trader Joe's pepita salsa brought some heat.Paige BennettAlongside peppers and tomatoes, the star of Trader Joe's pepita salsa is pumpkin seeds.I found that the pepita flavor made this taste more like a typical salsa than a pumpkin-flavored fall snack. I ended up really loving the pepita salsa.Paige BennettThe pepita salsa had more of a medium spice level and a thick texture, which is what I prefer.It was good with chips, but the thicker texture also means it should work great for tacos and burritos.Trader Joe's Fall Harvest salsa sounded unique.Paige BennettTrader Joe's Fall Harvest salsa contains ingredients like bell peppers, onions, honey, apples, and butternut squash. Fortunately, the combo makes for a unique, sweeter flavor. I could taste hints of squash and apple in most bites, and it was surprisingly enjoyable. The watery salsa was sweet and delicious.Paige BennettThis salsa was very mild, so I might mix in extra chopped peppers when I serve it in the future to add more heat to balance out the sweetness.The only real downside for me was the thin, watery texture. It made it hard to scoop up a generous portion of salsa with chips.Trader Joe's leaf-shaped corn tortilla chips looked great in the bag.Paige BennettThe leaf chips tasted like classic tortilla chips, and they had a good amount of salt for seasoning. The chips' flavor isn't anything special, but they're very fun.Paige BennettBecause these were similar to typical tortilla chips, they were unsurprisingly delicious when paired with both Trader Joe's pepita and Fall Harvest salsas.I was skeptical about Trader Joe's pumpkin tortilla chips at first.Paige BennettI wasn't sure that I would like these autumnal chips, as it seemed weird to have warming spices in tortilla chips.Trader Joe's pumpkin tortilla chips paired well with the Fall Harvest salsa.Paige BennettI liked the slight sweetness the chips had to balance out the salt they were topped with.They were delicious, and I found they paired especially well with the Fall Harvest salsa because it's also quite sweet. I appreciated that some of the petite pumpkin-spice cookies were coated with yogurt.I was surprised that not all the cookies were pumpkin flavored.Paige BennettThe petite pumpkin-spice cookies immediately caught my attention because not all of the cookies in the box were pumpkin-flavored.Instead, some cookies had a more basic yogurt coating, which I thought was nice to balance the flavors out.The cookies tasted great, but I wished the pumpkin-spice flavor were a little stronger.I ended up wishing the pumpkin-spice flavor was stronger.Paige BennettThe pumpkin-spice cookies had a nice crisp texture from the shortbread and sprinkles. I liked that the cookies were on the smaller side, making them ideal for snacking.The pumpkin-spice flavoring was more subtle than I expected, and I actually wished the spices were a bit stronger to balance out how sweet the cookies were.I was intrigued by Trader Joe's Teeny Tiny apple pies.The Trader Joe's cashier recommended the Teeny Tiny apple pies to me.Paige BennettAlthough apple pie is not typically what I reach for as a snack, I was excited to try out one of these mini pies for a fall treat. The cashier also raved about them as I was checking out.The Teeny Tiny apple pies would be better warmed up, but I still enjoyed them as a sweet snack.I still loved these pies at room temperature.Paige BennettI loved the flavor of these pies. The crust was soft and buttery, and the apple filling was sweet and chewy, complementing the brown-sugar crumble well.These tiny pies would be even better warmed up, but I loved them at room temperature, too. They were a great midday pick-me-up.I was excited that the Maple Pancake Snaps featured a different flavor profile.Trader Joe's maple pancake snaps seemed like they'd have a unique flavor.Paige BennettAlthough I love all the pumpkin and apple flavors associated with fall, I was excited to try something a little different with Trader Joe's Maple Pancake Snaps.These seemed like a great afternoon snack to accompany some hot coffee or tea.These cookies seemed like they'd pair well with other treats.I appreciated the maple flavor of the cookies.Paige BennettThe cookies were a nice balance of crispy and buttery. They were crisp at first and then melted in my mouth, making it hard to eat just one.The maple flavor made the cookies pretty rich. I liked snacking on them alone, but I think they'd also be a fun alternative to vanilla wafers in banana pudding or as a pie crust instead of graham crackers.I've seen people rave about Trader Joe's apple shortbread cookies online.I was excited to finally find the apple shortbread cookies at Trader Joe's.Paige BennettI didn't see these shortbread cookies on my first pass through the store, but I was actively hunting for them based on all the great reviews I had seen online.I finally found the small boxes tucked above one of the freezer sections in my store. The apple shortbread cookies had a surprisingly fresh flavor.Next time, I'd pair the apple shortbread cookies with tea.Paige BennettThese cookies were extremely crispy and had a light, fresh apple flavor. Based on the smell, I expected a more artificial taste, but the flavor was actually very subtle and pleasant.I'd buy them again to dip into hot tea with a splash of milk.I figured Trader Joe's pumpkin-cranberry crisps would be a good addition to my charcuterie boards.I was excited to try the savory-and-sweet flavor of Trader Joe’s pumpkin-cranberry crisps.Paige BennettI'm always looking for ways to amp up my charcuterie boards. These pumpkin-cranberry crisps promised savory and sweet flavors that I imagined would taste great alone or with cheese. I felt like I was transported straight to the Thanksgiving dinner table after eating these crackers.The crackers reminded me of stuffing.Paige BennettWhen I opened the bag, I was surprised to find that these crisps smelled a lot like stuffing. After taking a bite, I realized they tasted like stuffing, too.Despite their cranberry flavor, these crisps mostly tasted of thyme. I don't know if these would be a regular snack for me, but I'd reach for them if I'm craving turkey or stuffing.I was drawn to how the mini maple-walnut biscotti looked and smelled.I loved how the biscotti smelled right out of the box.Paige BennettI loved the simple icing design all over the biscotti, which gave the cookies an elevated look. The maple-and-walnut scent when I opened the package was amazing, and I couldn't wait to bite into a cookie.The mini maple-walnut biscotti are my ideal snack with an afternoon coffee.The coffee helped balance out the walnut flavor of the biscotti.Paige BennettAs expected, the biscotti had a tough, crunchy texture that was begging to be dipped into a hot drink.When paired with coffee, the biscotti was elevated — I could taste more of the walnut flavor as it balanced out the sweet maple.The pumpkin biscotti wasn't the most intriguing snack at first glance.I loved the smell of Trader Joe's pumpkin biscotti.Paige BennettTrader Joe's pumpkin biscotti didn't have an icing drizzle or any other flourishes. However, the cookies did smell like real pumpkin, which was delicious.The biscotti's authentic pumpkin flavor worked well with coffee.I'd buy Trader Joe's pumpkin biscotti again.Paige BennettThis biscotti was even tougher to bite into than the maple-walnut one, but the flavor was great. I tasted real pumpkin with a hint of spice.The pumpkin flavor went great with black coffee, and the cookies softened up nicely when I dipped them into my hot drink. Though I preferred the maple-walnut flavor, I'll keep both flavors in my snack rotation this season.This story was originally published on September 13, 2023, and most recently updated on September 8, 2025.Read the original article on Business Insider

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