6 Not-to-Be-Missed Trader Joe’s Groceries That Just Hit Stores, According to a Former Employee
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, especially for those of us who like Very! Tiny! Food! And no, I’m not commenting on shrinkflation per se, but rather the advent of tiny foodstuffs that make me feel like I am the giant’s wife from Jack and the Beanstalk. The newest groceries from Trader Joe’s really do capture the magic of diminutive, lilliputian, little snacks that are small in size but not flavor.
In fact, you’ll find that some of these new finds can even morph into a full-on meal pretty quickly, too (parties and potlucks included!). These are the six best new Trader Joe’s items I’ll absolutely be serving all month long.
1. Coffee Panna Cotta, $3.49 for 7.04 ounces
Trader Joe’s has yet to let me down with any of its coffee-flavored desserts. When “coffee” is on the package, it’s going to deliver it big time (see: Brownie Crisp Coffee Ice Cream Sandwiches). Unsurprisingly, this new coffee panna cotta does not shy away from that bold, intensely toasty, yet creamy coffee flavor. This light and delicate panna cotta, which means “cooked cream” in Italian, is reminiscent of the filling you might find in an espresso-soaked tiramisu.
Topped with a caramelized coffee syrup, this panna cotta only needs a simple flip on a fancy plate to be a deluxe-feeling dessert on its own. But why stop there? Top it with a crispy lace cookie to mimic panna cotta’s distant French cousin, crème brûlée.
2. Chạo Tôm Shrimp & Vegetable Skewers, $5.49 for 9.88 ounces
Some appetizers are actually so appetizing they become the entrée — which is exactly what happened when I sampled Trader Joe’s newest Chạo Tôm Shrimp & Vegetable Skewers. One skewer became two, which snowballed into three and then I added a side salad and dinner was basically set.
It’s easy to see why: Each piece of sugarcane is skewered with a sweet-savory mix of shrimp, jicama, onion, green beans, ginger, and garlic, with a punch of tangy lemongrass throughout. It was clearly the best new item I sampled this month, and one I hope will come in a larger format ASAP… like a new shrimp burger patty for next summer?
3. Butter with Brown Sugar & Maple Syrup, $2.99 for 4 ounces
After years of taste-testing Trader Joe’s items (and working in a store as well), you’ll find that some new products slowly gather hall-of-fame status or fall short of their admittedly high expectations, while others are just very obviously going to be incredible from the start. This butter is clearly the latter.
To be fair, it is butter — more specifically a butter compounded with brown sugar and maple syrup. It’s also in an adorable package, as if it was hand-rolled and dropped off at your local country store. And you know what? It tastes like it, too.
I did not even have a vehicle for this butter; I ate it directly off a spoon and it transported me briefly to a maple-flavored wonderland where houses were made of waffles. Slightly salty, rich, creamy, and punctuated with bits of brown sugar, this butter is for all us Maple-Heads out there. Why are you still reading this? Go buy this butter.
4. Mini Mushroom Tartelettes, $5.49 for 9 ounces
Did your mom ever host Avon nights or Pampered Chef parties? No? Just me? Well, that’s a shame because they were prime time for Me Eating All The Tiny Quiches After Everyone Went Home. And wouldn’t you know, these new Mini Mushroom Tartelettes taste just like the buttery, kitschy little tarts my mom made throughout the ’90s.
With ultra-savory cream of mushroom soup flavor, these teensy-weensy tartelettes manage to taste homemade and by someone with a pastry school degree. A flaky, doughy crown holds a shiitake and white mushroom filling that’s got plenty of nutty Parmesan, cream cheese, and ricotta to give it even more richness. Much like the aforementioned Chạo Tôm, don’t be surprised if a handful of these tarts become the majority of your dinner this month.
5. Jingle Jangle For Dogs, $4.49 for 6.8 ounces
I admit, my dog is S-P-O-I-L-E-D. Of course, she deserves an appetizer, too! Meet: Jingle Jangle for Dogs. Because the original (and wildly popular) Jingle Jangle is decidedly not made for dogs, it’s a Christmas miracle that dogs can now enjoy their own holiday snack mix.
Taking cues from the namesake Jangle (which is a sweet-salty snack mix full of crunchy cookies, pretzels, candies, and more), the dog version has bone, circle, star, and pretzel-shaped biscuits that are each coated in a peanut butter, carob, or bacon coating. My dog, Kiki, gives it two non-opposable thumbs up and is very willing to resume her “sit” lessons if a Jingle Jangle is on the line.
6. Mini Brioche Bites, $4.99 for 6.8 ounces
Like the coffee-flavored desserts, Trader Joe’s has yet to falter on any one of its many, many brioche offerings. So I knew I had to pick up the newest brioche on the scene: Mini Brioche Bites with Apricot & Creamy Brie Cheese Filling. This is another one of those products (like the compound butter) where each component is firing on all cylinders. What is not to love about tiny brioche balls filled with perky apricot jam and melted Brie?
Think of these as a baked Brie you can hold right in your hands and with zero fear of accidentally dripping molten cheese on your favorite blouse. The buttery, toasty brioche manages to be light and airy and give way to a tart, jammy center with a rich, creamy Brie. What I liked most was that the apricot jam seemed to be infused into the Brie, rather than having distinct layers. (Which brings up another plea for the team at Trader Joe’s: Make an apricot Brie, please? Thanks!)
Which new Trader Joe’s items are you adding to your cart? Tell us in the comments below.
Further Reading
The One Cookware Brand That Gordon Ramsay Can’t Stop Talking About
Ball Just Dropped the Most Beautiful Mason Jars for Its 140th Anniversary ("So Iconic!")
