I Tried Trader Joe’s New Frozen Cannelés, Here’s My Honest Review

Trader Joe’s knows how to appeal to the food snob in me. They just released frozen cannelés. Cannelés! That’s a deep cut French pastry to just stock next to the ice cream sandwiches, my dudes! If you aren’t familiar, cannelés (aka cannelés de Bordeaux) are traditionally made in fluted, cylindrical copper molds. They have a caramelized outside and a chewy, custardy inside—they’re absolutely delicious when made correctly. And they’re notoriously tough to bake from scratch. But Trader Joe’s has the audacity to sell frozen versions that can be air-fried or baked at home. Are they any good? I baked two up—one in the air fryer, one in the oven—to find out.

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Trader Joe’s Cannelés

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Pros: I won’t beat around the bush: I LOVE these new Trader Joe’s pastries. After 11 minutes in the oven, they’re bubbling with buttery sugar, which cools into a burnished crust that tastes wonderfully bruleed. The insides are like flan—custardy and tinged with vanilla. It’s like warm pudding. It’s a problem that I know these exist, because I’m going to buy every box at my local TJ’s and maybe even the one in the next neighborhood.

Cons: While the oven-baked cannelé came out fully cooked and hot, the air fryer cannelé was still frozen in the middle—even after I doubled the time recommended on the package. Definitely stick with the oven. Also, the innards, while incredible, are mushier than a truly classic cannelé. Still good, though!

Verdict: Sometimes Trader Joe’s really knocks it out the park and that’s exactly what happened with their frozen cannelés. These things are special. Run out and get them now before they’re gone after May!

Credit: Liv Averett / Trader Joe’s

Rating:

7.5/10

Sporks

About the Author

Hi! I’m the editor-in-chief of Sporked. I will never turn down a fresh-shucked oyster but I’ll also leap at whatever new product Reese’s releases and I love a Tostitos Hint of Lime, even if there is no actual lime in the ingredients. Why you should trust me: I have been writing about food and beverages for well over a decade and am an avid at-home cook and snacker. I began my career writing about fine dining and recipes, moved into cocktails and spirits, and now I talk about groceries. If you can eat it or drink it, I’ve probably written about it. What I buy every week: Trader Joe’s dried okra. Appleton Farms prosciutto from Aldi. Some sort of Trader Joe’s cheese (I’m into the aged gouda at the moment). Frozen waffles (usually the Eggo Cinnamon Toast Minis). Spindrift water (loving the Cosmopolitan right now). Favorite ranking: Smoked salmon. Imagine me as Scrooge McDuck but instead of coins I’m diving into a vault of slippery smoked salmon slices. Pure joy. I also found some real steals in that taste test! Least favorite ranking: Canned oysters. I had such high hopes for this but it quickly became a chore. The kitchen smelled like an uncleaned aquarium.