By Emily Chan & Arielle Nguyen
We fell for it. This year we decided to try some of Trader Joe’s autumnal treats. These treats included the Pumpkin Overnight Oats, Rustic Apple Tarte, Salted Maple Ice Cream and the Pumpkin Pie.
Trader Joe’s is renowned for its unique products (ghost pepper chips), low prices and seasonal offerings. So it’s not surprising that they’ve come out with a new line of treats and snacks for Trader Joe’s connoisseurs to test out during the fall season. From pumpkin gnocchi to Apple Mochi ice cream, they had it all. That is, until we set foot into the store on November 4th, only to see that the original fall items we chose to try were already out the door to make way for more ‘festive’ foods.
Either way, we scavenged through the halls of the fall-themed grocery store and came out with a small bundle of treats, seasonal or not!
That said, just a word of caution, make sure you’re aware of how seriously Trader Joe’s takes their seasonal selections!
Trader Joe’s describes their Pumpkin Overnight Oats as “an excellent (and easy) way to start an autumn morning on a fun and festive note.” Additionally, they are gluten-free and dairy-free, providing customers with a more inclusive breakfast experience. This product is easy to take on-the-go, as well! All you need is a spoon.
Please note that this product is made with almond butter, cinnamon and nutmeg!
The design of this product was cute and retro — most likely, they’ll grab your attention with its bright and pale orange color and tiny, compact size.
At $1.99 per container, these overnight oats prove to be both delectable and not too burdensome on your wallets.
Arielle’s review
Pumpkin has never been one of my favorite foods, but from the few times that I have tried them, I can say confidently that the Pumpkin Overnight Oats don’t taste like pumpkin. Instead, it tastes of cinnamon and nutmeg, as these two spices tend to overpower other tastes. Additionally, this will depend on your preference, but the oats were thicker than your typical overnight oats. I didn’t mind the texture, but you can always thin out the oats with your choice of milk or water. I think because of the texture, the oats leave a residue/lingering taste in your mouth. I don’t think I’ll get this again unless I’m really desperate.
Overall, 7/10. The packaging is adorable, the price is cheap and the vibes are cute. It’s just the taste and texture that throws me off.
Emily’s review
The concept of pumpkin-flavored overnight oats is one of the most Trader Joe’s concepts I’ve seen from this batch. It’s healthy, the packaging is cute and aesthetically pleasing and it feels like it’d be in an autumnal blog. However, it simply fell flat when it came to the pumpkin aspect of the product. Perhaps my taste buds have been tainted by Starbucks pumpkin spice chai lattes, but the overnight oats just didn’t taste like pumpkin. In all honesty, if someone were to give me the oats and cover up the labels, I don’t think I would’ve been able to guess that pumpkin puree was on the ingredient list.
The Pumpkin Overnight Oats had a thick consistency, one that I wasn’t used to as an inexperienced overnight oats consumer. However, I did come to enjoy it besides the thin residue the oats leave. They aren’t the greatest thing I’ve ever tasted, but they certainly aren’t the worst.
Overall, 5/10. The packaging was very cute and would be great for someone who isn’t a fan of super sweet breakfast options. However, it’s just not something I’d reach for again.
Rustic Apple Tarte
NOTE: Trader Joe’s unfortunately does not have a website page for their Rustic Apple Tarte! You can reference this site.
This apple tart was found in the freezer section! Described as “made the old-fashioned way using Northern Spy apples…blended with cream cheese, cinnamon and sugar.” It’s rather petite and small with a serving size of four. The Rustic Apple Tarte would be perfect for a mini get-together, Thanksgiving (if you’re willing to buy more than one!), or as dessert in general.
Please note that this product contains milk, eggs, almonds, wheat, and traces of coconut, pecan and soy.
The packaging is made of cardboard, containing the tarte wrapped in plastic inside. Additionally, the picture of the tarte on the packaging is identical to what you receive. It manages to preserve the freshness of the tarte before it’s baked. Speaking of baking, the tarte has to be baked at 350°F for 20-25 minutes. It’s quick enough if you’re in a rush for a small dinner party!
At $4.99 per box, these quick and presentable desserts are perfect for impressing your friends and family.
Arielle’s review:
The Rustic Apple Tarte tasted like something from a professional show. The crust was crispy and flaky, and, along with the almonds on top, it provided a contrast between the softer apples. However, it didn’t feel very unique to Trader Joe’s. I feel like I can get this product anywhere else, but for the price? Decent.
But because this dessert requires baking, it might not be as convenient as your regular apple pie from your local grocery store. Unless you’re into warm pies and toasted almonds, I would think about a simple apple pie.
Overall, 8/10. The price is cheap for how much you get, the design is explanatory and the taste and texture are great contrasts. I think I’d buy this again!
Emily’s review:
The Rustic Apple Tarte was exceptional in my mind. At first I was skeptical of the quality of a pre-frozen apple tarte, and especially if the product itself would live up to the image on the front cover. Luckily, it very much did. The tart had a crispy crust and a gooey apple filled center; topped with almonds for some extra crunch.
That being said, since baking is required, it’s not the most convenient dessert option if you’re rushing into a Trader Joe’s in hopes of purchasing something that’s ready to be served.
Not only that, there’s nothing super special about the tart itself except for the almonds. However I think it’s the simplicity of it that really makes it shine.
Overall, 9/10. I really enjoyed the textures of this tarte and the price was spot on. This was definitely my favorite Trader Joe’s treat I tried within this batch!
The limited edition salted maple ice cream is described as a “gloriously thick, decadently creamy, and decidedly rich ice cream flavored with real Maple syrup and balanced with a sprinkle of sea salt”. To continue to tap into the maple flavor, maple syrup is also swirled into the ice cream. The Trader Joe’s website also recommends adding their Just the Clusters Maple Pecan Granola Cereal on top of the ice cream for a bit of crunch.
Do note that this contains milk and eggs.
Representative of the maple flavor, the container features plenty of maple leaves and various shades of orange. The packaging is just bright and eye-catching enough for this fall season.
This flavor can be found in the freezer section next to the rest of Trader Joe’s fun frozen treats. This ice cream is an especially great choice for a spooky movie night at just $3.79 per pint. Or, counter a bitter drama ending with the sweet taste of salted maple ice cream.
Arielle’s Review
The ice cream is smooth and creamy! The maple syrup isn’t infused, rather, it’s swirled into the vanilla ice cream base. It’s very simplistic, but I think if you want to spice up your brookies (brownie-cookies) or pies, you can scoop some maple ice cream onto your desserts!
The maple ice cream is definitely one of those ice creams that are very customizable to your taste, too. I imagine that you can add different toppings or foods, and it wouldn’t change the taste much.
However, it’s as if you just took vanilla ice cream and drizzled maple syrup over it. But if you’re into that, I’d make it yourself.
Overall, 7/10. The ice cream tasted good and was presented as nicely as it could in a pint. It’s the simplicity and lack of originality that got me, though.
Emily’s Review
What originally drew me to the Salted Maple Ice Cream, except for the absence of the pumpkin flavor, was the fresh and unique packaging. I’m a sucker for brightly saturated packaging and themed graphics, so this flavor attracted me instantly.
Aside from the packaging, I also enjoyed the flavor of this ice cream. The ice cream has a smooth texture and the swirl of maple syrup really helps create a cohesive and flavorful ice cream. It was obvious to me that this was indeed maple ice cream, no doubt about it.
It is important to note that this is a very soft ice cream, in the sense that it does melt quite quickly. In fact, just a few minutes after scooping it, it began to soften almost instantaneously. Oftentimes, most store bought ice creams are slower to melt, so this was a little bit of a shock.
Overall, 8/10. The flavor was good and the packaging was very on parr. It’s just a bit too sweet for me and you have to eat it quickly unless you’re a fan of ice cream soup (no judgment here!).
From first glance, you may regard this pumpkin pie as ordinary. And in many ways, it is. However nothing within such a store is exempt from a little bit of Trader Joe’s flair. The pie is packaged in a sturdy cardboard box, adorned with leaves surrounding the pie. The packaging is simple, yet practical and tells you exactly what you plan on purchasing from the get go.
Please note that this product contains milk, egg and wheat. Furthermore, it may contain traces of soy, peanut, almond, coconut, pecan and walnut.
This pumpkin pie can be found towards the back of the store on a round table, surrounded by other seasonal snacks such as the Apple Fritters. The price is also pretty good, considering that it’s only $6.99 for a 9” pie. Serve it at a family gathering and top it off with vanilla ice cream to be the cornerstone of deserts.
Arielle’s Review
Trader Joe’s… where’s your unique foods?!
This pumpkin pie was as basic as it could be, but that doesn’t beat the nostalgic taste of autumn! The pumpkin filling is smooth and sweet and actually tastes of pumpkin! It’s not overpowering at all. Additionally, the crust was perfectly crunchy and crumbly, adding texture to the smooth taste of the pie.
Again, this was really basic. But you know, maybe you can add a scoop of maple ice cream and maybe it will taste better!
Overall, 6/10. Basic, nostalgic, and delectable.
Emily’s Review
This is honestly just a basic pumpkin pie. There’s nothing super “wow” about it, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that’s still very tasty. The pumpkin custard in the center is silky smooth, there’s just enough spices present in the pie and the pie crust has a good amount of crunch.
Just keep in mind that this is typical of many other grocery store pies. But for the price of $6.99, I would be more than comfortable taking one or two of these to a thanksgiving party. Now although this Pumpkin Pie isn’t going to be the talk of the town, it definitely does the job.
Overall 7/10. It’s simplistic, or what Trader Joe’s calls “traditional”, but there’s definitely beauty in that.
Conclusion
Trader Joe’s treats are often a hit or miss, depending on your taste. However, these substitute treats offered a bit of a redemption for the chain’s quick seasonal resets.
Of course, please read the packaging for any allergy notes, and please, try not to fall for it.
