Pictured above: Trader Joe’s Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread & Muffin Baking Mix from Become Betty.
Fall is here, and that means it’s pumpkin spice season. And when pumpkin spice season hits, it hits hard. We understand that going into Trader Joe’s during October can be a bit overwhelming, so we tried some of TJ’s seasonal products so that you know exactly what’s worth adding to your cart (and what’s not).
Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread & Muffin Baking Mix
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I used this to make pumpkin muffins — and they were amazing. With just the mix, 1/2 cup coconut oil, and two eggs, it was extremely easy to make (bonus points, because we’re not all Martha Stewarts) and you can’t tell they’re gluten free. They were perfectly fluffy and moist, and not messy and crumbly like some muffins. Would pair well with an oat milk latte.
Rating: 5/5
Greek Nonfat Yogurt — Pumpkin
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I was a little skeptical going into this one, but the sweetness of the pumpkin spice cuts the bitterness of the Greek yogurt, and it’s a match made in heaven. It also packs a healthy punch — this Greek yogurt has 18 grams of protein!
Rating: 5/5
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Spread
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Again, it sounds funky, but there’s something about the combination of dairy and pumpkin spice that just works. Maybe that’s what the genius behind the Pumpkin Spice Latte figured out. This pumpkin spice cream cheese tastes like a less-dense cheesecake filling and would be great on bagels.
Rating: 5/5
Pumpkin Joe-Joe’s
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This is TJ’s take on the classic Oreo. With just the right amount of filling-to-cookie ratio, these cookies should definitely be on your pumpkin spice grocery list. The cookie is primarily vanilla, with hints of nutmeg and cinnamon, and pairs perfectly with the soft, sweet pumpkin filling.
Rating: 5/5
Pumpkin Tortilla Chips
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These taste nothing like pumpkin spice, despite having pumpkin pureé listed as an ingredient. But, this doesn’t mean they’re not good. They have all the crunch of your favorite tortilla chip, with a subtle cinnamon/nutmeg aftertaste. Would be amazing paired with guacamole or some mango salsa.
Rating: 5/5
Perfect Bar — Pumpkin Pie
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A healthy pumpkin spice treat is always a plus. The pumpkin spice Perfect Bar was good, but really dense (like you can only take tiny bites or you might choke kind of dense). They also don’t taste like pumpkin spice, but rather those Nutter Butter cookies you used to eat as a kid.
Rating: 4/5
Pumpkin Spiced Pumpkin Seeds
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TJ’s pumpkin spiced pumpkin seeds is a mouthful to say, and a mouthful of flavor. These are like those warm, cinnamon-roasted pecans you can get during the holiday season, but a lighter, crispier version. They’re also not too sugary, and less filling than their nutty counterparts.
Rating: 4/5
Pumpkin Bagels
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These bagels taste pretty much the same as a plain bagel. But, a grocery store bagel, not like the bagel you get from your favorite deli or bakery. I don’t think TJ’s Pumpkin Bagels would make a New Yorker proud, but they’d be good with some melted butter in a pinch. Heads up — they do make this product gluten-free as well.
Rating: 3/5
Pumpkin Spice Granola Bark
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I had high hopes for this one. It sounded really good, and with a silky coating of dark chocolate on top of each granola square, they looked promising. However, when you bite into the bark, you’re hit immediately with the taste of a stale Nature Valley bar that you dug out of the bottom of your purse.
Rating: 2/5
Pumpkin O’s
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TJ’s has its own brand of Cheerios cereal, which is gluten-free and comes in tons of flavors. The pumpkin one tastes like a spicy, stale fruit loop. They also leave the roof of your mouth sore, like when you burn it on something that’s too hot.
Rating: 1/5
Organic Frosted Toaster Pastries — Pumpkin
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The most important part of any toaster pastry experience is the filling-to-pastry ratio, and this is where TJ’s pumpkin pastries fell short. There was no filling, which left me with a mouth full of dry, flavorless pastry.
Rating: 1/5
Pumpkin Spice Cream Liqueur
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This one is definitely up to individual preference (I’m not an eggnog lover). Those who can’t wait for December to have their glass of eggnog will be happy to indulge in a glass of pumpkin spice liqueur this October. Or, you could add it to a PSL if you’re having one of those days.
Rating: 1/5
Madison Muller is a senior at Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism, learning to navigate the contemporary media environment with compassion and candor. She enjoys writing about health, travel, and humanity. You can always find her with a coffee in hand. Madison is a proud supporter of the National Eating Disorders Association.
