Trader Joe’s fall lineup has returned, bringing an assortment of familiar pumpkin spice and maple-themed snacks. From cakes to sandwich cookies, some of the snacks were worth buying while others were not.
Pumpkin Spice Mini Sheet Cake (8/10)
Available in the bakery section the Pumpkin Spice Mini Sheet Cake ($5.99) is a perfect balance of a moist cake layer with cream cheese frosting. The frosting is not too sweet, pairing well with the pumpkin spice flavor of the cake. Trader Joe’s nailed the ratio of frosting to cake, with each bite not having an overpowering amount of frosting.
After leaving the cake in my pantry for a few days, the cake layer was still moist and it did not dry out. The pumpkin spice flavor in the cake was my favorite out of all the snacks due to the balanced blend of spices and sweetness. Overall, this snack earns an 8/10 because it was solid, and I would buy it again if I’m craving a sweet treat.
Pumpkin Spiced Teeny Tiny Pretzels (7/10)
Coated with a sweet, pumpkin spice-infused yogurt coating, the Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Spiced Teeny Tiny Pretzels are perfect for a pocket-sized snack on the go. While I felt the pretzels were sweet, the spices and salt cut through it, giving them a more complex flavor than regular yogurt-covered pretzels. The crushed pumpkin seeds on top gave the pretzels an extra crunchy texture.
Priced at $3.49, the pretzels’ mini size makes them an addictive snack. However, after eating multiple of them in a row, the sweetness was a little overpowering. While these pretzels were enjoyable, the blend of spices may be best for pumpkin spice enthusiasts. These pretzels earned a 7/10 because they were a nice blend of sweet and salty.
Spicy Pumpkin Samosas (4/10)
The Trader Joe’s samosas, located in the frozen food aisle, have a pumpkin filling inside a crispy, golden-brown crust. After air frying them for eight minutes at 390 degrees Fahrenheit, the outside crust became flaky. I was expecting the pumpkin filling to be slightly sweet, but it had a spicy kick. Priced at $4.49, the samosas were small, making them perfect to snack on. Overall, the pumpkin samosas are fitting for fall, but these samosas earn a 4/10 since I would rather buy the vegetable or chicken samosas compared to these.
Pumpkin Spiced Joe- Joe’s (3/10)
Out of all the snacks, the Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Spiced Joe-Joe’s were my least favorite. Priced at $4.49, these sandwich cookies are coated with a pumpkin spice yogurt coating and are sprinkled with sea salt. Even with the added sea salt, these cookies were too sweet for me. The pumpkin flavor was overbearing, and it needed a different flavor to combat the sweetness.
These Pumpkin Spiced Joe-Joe’s earn a 3/10, but I would recommend trying the other types of Joe-Joe’s that Trader Joe’s offers instead of this flavor. For those looking for a sweet and salty snack, the pretzels are a better option.
Overall, my favorites were the cake and pretzels, offering a balance between pumpkin spice and other flavors. From pumpkin spice to maple, Trader Joe’s has a variety of snacks to try but not all are worth buying.
