5 Not-to-Be-Missed Trader Joe’s Groceries That Just Hit Stores (Plus 1 to Skip!), According to a Former Employee
Just when I thought I knew myself, well, I found out something entirely shocking recently: that I do, in fact, have a sweet tooth. Gone are the days when I assumed I only had salt teeth, and I have only Trader Joe’s to blame thank?! Yup, the grocer’s new items this month have me asserting my newfound sweet tooth allegiances.
It was really only a matter of time, to be fair. Look outside, and there’s a grocery cart’s worth of reasons why days need more sweetening, and I think these new releases from Trader Joe’s do that and more. These are the items I’ll absolutely be adding to my cart again. There’s one you can safely sidestep to save space in your budget, perhaps for an extra treat.
1. Cinnamon Sugar Almonds, $3.99 for 8 ounces
Once again the mad scientists of Trader Joe’s HQ have schemed a creation that is so silly and yet so necessary. The treat in question — Cinnamon Sugar Almonds — imagines if those roasted cinnamon nuts à la the mall or street cart got even more decadent.
Taking all the roasted, sweet-spicy elements of the aforementioned nuts and bagging them was just clearly not enough for ol’ TJ. They then get enrobed in a crackly vanilla-toffee coating, and the result is a candy almond that’s way more than the sum of its parts. Toss these in your next trail mix for a crunchy, nostalgic flavor trip.
2. Portuguese Donuts, $3.99 for 7.76 ounces
If there’s one thing I’d shout from the rooftops, it is that we all must realize the most incredible pastries in Europe are actually in Portugal (sorry, Italy and France). I’m not just talking about pasteis de nata, either. Now thankfully Trader Joe’s is helping to spread my message by way of another Portuguese treat, with a new hazelnut-chocolate-loaded, sugar-coated Portuguese Donuts (aka malasadas).
While malasadas are traditionally fried and piped with a variety of fillings, Trader Joe’s version comes frozen and yet manages to maintain the integrity of its freshly made equivalent. These are yeasty, fluffy donuts that aren’t anywhere near cloying, with a filling that’s more rich and fudgy than a spreadable, sugar-forward hazelnut-chocolate spread. Plus, all they need is a quick thaw on the counter for an hour. The power! The possibilities! Malasadas all the time!
3. Chocolate Coffee Granola, $3.99 for 12 ounces
On the odd chance I’m not making granola at home, I’m anxiously awaiting what new granola flavor ends up at Trader Joe’s. It’d been a minute since I’d spotted a fun granola on the shelves, but this Chocolate Coffee Granola was well worth the wait.
Not only does it distill all the flavor notes of the coffee-charged Brownie Crisp Coffee Ice Cream Sandwiches in a more socially acceptable-at-breakfast-time form, but it also magically turns your resulting cereal milk into its own iced mocha latte. It’s equal parts witchcraft, Java Chip Frappuccino-infused deliciousness and a not-insignificant jolt from that potent espresso-chocolate flavor.
4. Gluten-Free Yellow Mini Sheet Cake, $5.99 for 14 ounces
Gluten is a dear frenemy of mine, but that shouldn’t stop any of us from enjoying one of life’s simplest pleasures: a yellow sheet cake. Sheet cakes are so back, baby, and Trader Joe’s has at long last crafted a gluten-free version of its ever-popular sheet cakes, with a yellow cake base and chocolate buttercream frosting.
Truth be told, I’d heard from old Trader Joe’s coworkers of mine that they only knew this cake was gluten-free by the label alone, as it’s moist and buttery, not at all dry (as gluten-free baked goods can tend to be), with a proportionate piping of buttery chocolate frosting to top it all off. I can’t help but agree! This is a cake that everyone will want to party with, gluten-free or not. And wouldn’t you know, it arrived just in time for my birthday? Coincidence? I think not …
5. Nocciolini Tiny Hazelnut Meringues, $2.69 for 3.5 ounces
The best gifts come in tiny packages, and that’s absolutely the case for whenever Trader Joe’s comes out with teensy-weensy food items like these new Nocciolini hazelnut meringues. Imagine if something the size (and appearance) of a dried chickpea tasted like a nutty, crunchy cookie, and you’ll be pretty close to the delight of opening up a bag of this Italian confection.
I find meringues to be hit or miss. These manage to be crisp and crackly, not at all squeaky on the teeth (IYKYK), and taste more deluxe than their price suggests, thanks to the richness of the hazelnuts. They’re great right out of the bag, but here’s an alternate path for a choose-your-own dessert: Add a sprinkling of these meringues to the top of the aforementioned Gluten-Free Yellow Mini Sheet Cake.
Plus, 1 New Trader Joe’s Item to Skip
Ultra Rich Body Butter, $6.99 for 8 ounces
Trader Joe’s does dupes like no other — so much so that it’s well worth battling crowds to stock up on its $6 version of Ouai’s $30 Leave-In Conditioner. This new body butter (that some former coworkers have told me is a near-exact dupe for Sol De Janeiro’s $48 Delicia Drench), is simply … not worth it. Even though the ingredients are almost identical, with a vanilla-orchid scent that overlaps as well, the scent is way more potent than the Sol De Janeiro version, with an overly thick texture that seems to sit on my skin for way too long without being fully absorbed.
Truth be told, I actually had to take a long shower after putting it on. The scent gave me an immediate headache, and I simply had to get rid of the sluggy slickness ASAP. Your mileage may vary, but I’m going to say this one gets a solid skip from me.
Which new Trader Joe’s items are you adding to your cart? Tell us in the comments below.
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