35 Trader Joe's Fall Favorites Ranked From Worst To Best

During the second week of September this year, Trader Joe's grocery stores across the country started stocking the shelves with all manner of fall offerings. Favorite items all over the store suddenly had pumpkin spice and butternut squash counterparts. Orange packaging with autumn imagery popped up on every aisle. It was reason enough for Trader Joe's enthusiasts everywhere to start flocking to stores to find the latest "Pumpkin Palooza" offerings.

If you're not familiar with all of the festive seasonal offerings Trader Joe's has this time of year, we're here to fill you in — which is no small task. While Trader Joe's isn't an especially large grocery store, it manages to pack in products quickly and in great numbers. No two stores are exactly the same, so there's a chance that your store might or might not have something that a store on the other side of the country (or on the other side of town) is carrying. Or it might not be in stock right now, but it could show up in a few weeks. That's the allure of Trader Joe's.

There's also the matter of narrowing down the essentials. Everyone has their own personal opinion of course, but we took a look at products that have come back season after season, as well as new products making a splash this year. From worst to best, here's a deep dive into the fall favorites at Trader Joe's.

If you're deep into the Trader Joe's house-brand cookies, you've probably had Joe-Joe's, Trader Joe's version of Oreos, which are often flavored with seasonal fillings or coated in flavored chocolate. The Halloween Joe-Joe's cookies don't offer any out-of-the-ordinary flavors, as the cookies are still made with vanilla creme sandwiched between crunchy chocolate cookies. But the creme is dyed orange and the cookies are stamped to look like Jack-O-Lanterns, which is cute. 

Unfortunately, that's about it. If you're a loyal Oreos fan, these cookies are not going to appeal to you. Maybe kids won't be able to tell the difference, or maybe if they're part of a Halloween party snack table they'll be a nice touch, but flavor-wise they're kind of a dud. Yes, the Halloween Oreos cost a few cents more, but you're also getting 4 ounces more worth of cookies — so in this case, we think you should stick with the name brand. But don't let that discourage you from trying some of the other flavors of Joe-Joe's cookies, which we think are generally more exciting than the classic.

While overnight oats aren't new to Trader joe's, the pumpkin overnight oats are a brand new seasonal offering. In fact, it was one of the very first pumpkin-flavored items to hit shelves, a few days before the rest of the special fall items showed up in many stores. If you're not familiar with overnight oats already, it's basically oats that have been soaked in water or dairy overnight in the refrigerator, often with fruits and spices so when you wake up in the morning they're ready for a hearty breakfast. No cooking required.

The pumpkin version of these oats includes pumpkin puree as well as cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. It's sweetened with date paste and includes almond butter, we assume for a thicker and creamier texture as well as a small protein addition. The reviews seem to all agree that it tastes like eating pumpkin pie filling, which doesn't sound bad if you're into dessert for breakfast, but the texture of the oats isn't the most appetizing. Some describe it as "goopy" without enough oats to really anchor all the pumpkin paste, while others say they prefer hot oatmeal to cold. At only $1.99, you're not making a huge investment in these oats, but maybe just buy one to see if you like it before deciding to stock your fridge with it for the next few months.

If you took our advice and skipped the Halloween Joe-Joe's cookies in favor of the pumpkin-flavored Joe-Joe's, we think you made the right call. These cinnamon-spiced pumpkin cookies have a sweet creme filling and a pumpkin spice cookie that's got a little bit more going on than the Halloween cookies, although they don't have cute jack-o-lantern faces — even though they're actually pumpkin-flavored, ironically. 

The creme filling comes on strong, with the sweetness of the creme almost overpowering a lot of the more subtle pumpkin and spice flavors of the cookies. While we liked this version better than the Halloween version, and we wouldn't turn them down if they were offered to us, ultimately we think there are better options when it comes to the seasonal cookies Trader Joe's has to offer. We found the cookies for $2.49, which is admittedly, a very good price for a whole box of cookies that's going to last you through several rounds of packed lunches or late-night snacking. 

On the other hand, one serving is only considered two cookies, which will run you 160 calories — not especially fulfilling for how many calories they pack. Keep reading to see which cookies we think you really should lay your hands on instead.

One of the new pumpkin offerings that is making a big splash this year is the new pumpkin spice hummus. While the main ingredient in this hummus is still garbanzo beans/chickpeas, that's about where the similarities to traditional hummus end. Instead of tahini, the sesame seed paste that helps give traditional hummus that special savory creaminess, pumpkin puree is added. Additionally, this hummus includes a good amount of sugar which is not typically included in hummus, and the traditional pumpkin pie spices to give the dip the full pumpkin pie effect. Be warned, this is not a savory dip, it's a "dessert hummus" and it's made for those who are looking for a pumpkin pie dip they can eat with graham crackers.

Our first question was, is this necessary? There are already so many other pumpkin spiced offerings out there. We can't imagine eating this hummus with a crudites platter, although slathered on some naturally sweet carrots might be a nice semi-healthy snack. But people who have tried it have been enthusiastic about it, recommending it with cookies and sweet crackers, but also slathered on an English muffin or as a bagel spread. From what we can tell, it's also vegan which will appeal to a broader range of pumpkin lovers.

Spaghetti squash has been used as a pasta substitute since at least World War II, offering good nutrition and zero gluten. Sometimes, though, buying a whole squash, cooking it, then cutting it open and digging the spirals out with a fork can be too time-consuming. Or maybe you just don't have the energy for all of that. This is where Trader Joe's dried organic spaghetti squash nests come to the rescue. Just boil them to rehydrate.

It's squash, so the flavor is on the bland side. But honestly, it isn't bad with just a little olive oil, salt, and pepper. And a heavier sauce is really nice addition as well. It does behave more or less like conventional spaghetti, though the noodles from these nests like to clump together a tad more than fresh squash doesh. There is more texture here than with a fresh squash, however. The nests are always the same, while the moisture in a fresh spaghetti squash varies from one to the next. Plus the dried squash lasts longer.

We have the same serving suggestions here as with the gnocchi. Though if you are choosing spaghetti squash over conventional spaghetti due to gluten intolerance, maybe nix the side of bread.

You might be turning up your nose at this one, but hear us out. You aren't pouring maple syrup over a salad — it's a maple vinaigrette dressing, and the sweetness of the maple is balanced by the sourness of the vinegar. It definitely tastes like maple, but is that really a bad thing?

Trader Joe's category manager of grocery, Jasmine, said on episode 55 of the Inside Trader Joe's podcast that this idea came from one of the company's maple suppliers. He once told her that his mother made a maple vinaigrette, and Jasmine was immediately inspired. She also added, "The easiest preparation is to pair it with like a dark leafy green. Like the ones that are a bit more bitter ... The sweetness really cuts through."

Co-host Matt suggested tossing the vinaigrette with roasted sweet potatoes, which does sound pretty delicious and would be a terrific addition to any fall feast. Here, you are only limited by your imagination.

As we make our way through the seasons, we can take this opportunity to give banana bread a rest in favor of more seasonal pumpkin bread, or muffins. And Trader Joe's takes almost all of the work out of baking up these loaves if baking intimidates you. For both the flour-based and gluten-free mixes, you'll need a few additional ingredients. Both call for eggs, oil, and water, which is pretty typical for boxed mix breads, muffins, and cakes. Both mixes are portioned for a standard 9 x 5-inch loaf pan, or about a dozen muffins.

Most people who tried the mixes out like them fine, and suggest using the bread for breakfast, as a side at dinner with salty butter, or for holiday gifting. Both the pumpkin flavors and the spices are mild, so if you're enjoying it with people who aren't quite as pumpkin crazy, there's a good chance that they'll still enjoy the bread. But some people want more. Author Brian Rowe suggests adding a whole 15-ounce can of pumpkin puree and two teaspoons of additional spices to the mix to really take the whole thing up a notch. However you decide to make this mix, there's a good chance you'll enjoy it, and hopefully even impress some people with your baking.

Compared to some of the other boxes of cookies available at Trader Joe's, you're getting a little less bang for your buck with these spiced pumpkin madeleine cookies. We found them for $3.29, which is the same, or more, than some of the other boxes of cookies. But oh, are they worth it. The package comes with six beautiful shell-shaped madeleines, unfrosted and unfussy. Each cookie is tender and, despite probably not having been baked that morning, very fresh tasting. The spices are beautifully balanced and make the cake-like cookie fragrant enough to enjoy with tea or coffee, but not so heavy that everything you eat afterward is going to taste like cinnamon. Since these cookies come in a neat little package, they'd also be a nice little gift for a friend or when visiting with family members during the upcoming holidays.

Unlike some of the other cookies that have a shelf life of six months or more, these spiced pumpkin madeleine cookies have a more imminent sell-by date printed on the front of the package. We find it unlikely that you'll struggle to eat them all in time, but just in case you don't think you'll get to them all, you can wrap them tightly and freeze them till you're ready to eat them. We'd also suggest crumbling a few on some vanilla or pumpkin ice cream.

Trader Joe's made a classic buttermilk pancake mix that can also be turned into waffles and has garnered its own following, so why not dress it up a little bit for fall? Enter the Pumpkin Pancake & Waffle Mix, fit for all of your pumpkin-themed breakfasts from now until ... whenever you've had enough pumpkin. It looks like a typical pancake batter, with a noticeable difference in color which is definitely more orange than typical pancakes. It includes pumpkin, as well as cinnamon, vanilla, ginger, allspice, and nutmeg for the perfect spiced pumpkin pie flavor. The batter in pancake form is runny, much like you'd expect from a comparable batter like Bisquick or Aunt Jemima, and makes classic pancakes that aren't too thick but still puff up nicely. For a pancake with so much flavor, you might want to consider using a more robust maple syrup, like grade B syrup which is slightly less refined and will stand up to the stronger flavors in your pancakes.

Not to leave anyone out, Trader Joe's also makes a gluten-free version of the pumpkin pancake mix. Unfortunately, it doesn't include directions for turning this mix into a waffle batter, but testers have given it the same seal of approval as the wheat-based pumpkin pancakes.

The popularity of Trader Joe's butternut squash mac & cheese has ushered in a new seasonal meal this year, with the unveiling of the butternut squash mac & cheese bites. These mac bites are ready for the oven or air-fryer and we were both excited and skeptical to try them. But when they were done cooking, we were pleasantly surprised by how creamy and cheesy they are. The butternut squash doesn't overpower the cheese but accents it with a touch of sweetness and vegetal richness. 

The bites are coated with crumbs and hold their shape even when hot, but are still a little on the tender side and could very easily be eaten with a fork instead of your fingers. One serving size is three bites, which didn't seem like much when we were hungrily baking them but were very filling once we actually sat down to eat them. Two servings, or six pieces, could be a whole meal for some people. But be warned that there are only 3.5 servings per box, which might not be quite enough for a family of four. The biggest divide actually came from those who don't like a crumb topping on their macaroni and cheese, and would prefer to enjoy this particular mac without the crumbs — which of course would make them better suited to the classic Trader Joe's Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese.

That's right, another new ice cream to fall in love with. Salted caramel has been a popular dessert addition for several years now. Here comes a new contender: salted maple.

If you want to get into the technical side, Matt from Inside Trader Joe's explained, "This would be considered a super premium ice cream because of the amount of butterfat and what's known as overrun. Overrun is the amount of air whipped into ice cream. This has very little air so it's a heavy ice cream." This makes the texture thick and rich.

Ribbons of maple are swirled throughout the maple-flavored ice cream. Co-host Tara called it "a ribbon of mapley goodness." We could not agree more. Matt waxed poetic by saying that it was "like a New England getaway in a pint of ice cream." We're not sure how true that claim is, but we can say this ice cream is a must-try for fans of ice cream, maple, and even salted caramel who want to try something a little different but in the same salty-sweet vein.

The non-dairy oat maple beverage was one of the first seasonal items to make a reappearance on shelves across the country this year — to which most people were thrilled. Trader Joe's fans were excited to see it hit shelves again, with an Instagram post quickly gathering 35,000 likes.  Some might say that they'd like even more of a maple flavor, to which we'd suggest adding a few drops of maple extract, or even a little maple syrup to your beverage to boost the maple goodness.

For those who regularly drink oat milk, you may notice that the texture is a little thinner than some other brands like Oatly or Planet Oat. Where those brands are more creamy, even resembling full-fat milk, Trader Joe's brands of non-dairy oat beverages tend to resemble the texture of skim or low-fat milk. We're especially excited to try this oat milk with the Pumpkin Spice Coffee or the Pumpkin Spice Rooibos Tea. Additionally, Trader Joe's Food Reviews says that the maple oat beverage is great for French toast and bread pudding, which we think sounds incredible.

One serving of these relatively small pumpkin-shaped cookies is supposed to be four pieces, but don't be surprised if you eat the whole box without even noticing. The box describes them as "Shortbread Cookies with Pumpkin Spice and Yogurt Coating," which is an apt description for these crunchy and spiced little cookies. About half the cookies are dipped in a sweet white yogurt coating and the other half in a sweet pale orange coating that only vaguely resembles pumpkin pie. All of the cookies have contrasting nonpareil sprinkles, which add even more crunch to the whole cookie. Even if you're a soft and chewy cookie kind of person, we think you'll fall for these perfectly spiced snacks. Several reviewers compare these cookies to the Trader Joe's Pinks and Whites shortbread cookies, which are made of shortbread and also yogurt-covered.

This isn't the first year that Trader Joe's has released the petite pumpkin spice cookies, and we're thrilled they've made a comeback this season. The spices in these cookies include cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and ginger, with a little help from molasses and even a touch of cocoa powder. We've seen these cookies priced from $2.99 to $3.29, which either way is an absolute steal for something this fantastic. Just go ahead and pick up a box for every member of your household so you don't have to share.

The pumpkin ginger mini cones are one of the most uncontestedly popular seasonal pumpkin treats Trader Joe's offers. Returning for another year, people were reporting that the cones sold out within the first day they were available, but have hopefully been restocked by now. The miniature ice cream cones are both adorable and the perfect size for an after-dinner dessert, even if you've had several helpings of turkey and stuffing. The cone is gently spiced with ginger, then filled with creamy rich pumpkin pie ice cream before being dipped in a white chocolate coating.

"If you're not a big fan of ginger, the ginger flavor is not that strong," writes Trader Joe's Reviews. "The pumpkin ginger hold the cones are hands-down my favorite flavor!" The best part? Each ice cream cone is only 87 calories, making this basically guilt-free. Have two even. We can't imagine anything better, especially while it's technically autumn, but the temperature is still pretty high. But whatever you do, don't miss out on these perfect little ice cream cones before the winter holidays arrive.

The brand new pumpkin sticky toffee cakes are Trader Joe's latest twist on traditional sticky toffee pudding. They come frozen as two individual little cakes in one box and you just pop them in the microwave to heat them up. Once you take them out of the microwave, turn the cup upside down onto a plate, releasing the caramel to ooze down over the cake.

The pumpkin flavor is there in this one. The sweet cinnamon caramel poured over top is pure perfection. It's hard to believe these came out of a microwave. They are perfectly decadent on their own, but you certainly can't go wrong with a scoop of ice cream on top. Add some extra sweetness by using the salted maple ice cream or step up the pumpkin with a scoop of pumpkin ice cream.

The pumpkin sticky toffee cakes are hands down one of the best things to come out for fall at Trader Joe's.

Trader Joe's spiced cider is a thing of beauty. It's murky, which is how we assumed it was authentic and absolutely full of spices. It's just as sweet as apple juice, and can be enjoyed hot or cold, as-is or mixed up in a cocktail. While we think our opinion is pretty reliable, plenty of others tout the wonders of the Trader Joe's Spiced Cider as well. "I mean it when I say this is the BEST apple cider I've ever tried!" says Trader Joe's Food Reviews. "Juice from ripe apples and brewed spices (cinnamon, cloves, allspice, orange peel, and lemon peel). This tastes exactly how a spiced cider should with the freshness and sweetness of the apples and the warmth of the fall spices."

What's more, is that a 64-ounce bottle of spiced cider will only run you about $3.29! We're overwhelmed by how incredible it all is. Trader Joe's knows they're on to something too, because the store has been stocking the shelves with it every fall for over 20 years, according to the website — where you can also get a convenient recipe for Spiked Spiced Cider. Sure, you can make a batch of boozy cider for your next holiday party, but we won't judge you if you want to test it out any old night of the week.

"Bought one box and after trying I went back and bought 4 more boxes. It's amazing," reads one five-star review of Trader Joe's Cinnamon Roll Blondie Bar Baking Mix. Another simply said, "Wow!!!!" We understand why. These blondies taste just like a cinnamon roll but come in a slightly less gooey form. According to Inside Trader Joe's, even employees were blown away at a tasting panel.

This is actually a pretty versatile mix. You can pour on all the icing, just use a little drizzle, or leave it off entirely depending on how sweet you want the bars. Chopped walnuts or pecans could be added for an extra crunch. Devour them warm, or wait until they've completely cooled. They could be an indulgent breakfast treat, just like a real cinnamon roll, or served for dessert.

Because you are the baker, you can enjoy these cinnamon roll blondie bars your way. And enjoy them you definitely will.