While some grocery stores are content to simply start selling cinnamon brooms and boxed stuffing, Trader Joe’s celebrates fall with a full god-damn collection of Trader Joe’s fall items. The whole place turns into a scavenger hunt for fall flavors like pumpkin spice, of course, as well as butternut squash, maple, and apple. But, like so many TJ’s products, some Trader Joe’s fall foods are amazing, some are okay, and some taste like strange edible experiments made by an overly ambitious aunt.
We tried all the foods and drinks we could find in Trader Joe’s fall 2024 lineup (yes, even the Pumpkin Spiced Chardonnay, which you will not see on this list, but I do think you should try it, just for fun—it tastes like cider). And we found all the best Trader Joe’s fall items for you. We dare you to buy them all in one visit and enjoy a lovely conversation with the checkout person about your intense devotion to fall. Tell them about us, too. We say hi.
- Trader Joe’s Petite Pumpkin Spice Cookies
-
If you love those little pink and white frosted animal cookies, and you love pumpkin spice, you’re going to flip for these. The cookies are gingery and the frosting coating is smooth and creamy. But my favorite feature are the little sprinkle beads, which add unbeatable texture and crunch.
Credit: Liv Averett / Trader Joe’s
- Trader Joe’s Pumpkin & Spice Snickerdoodle Cookie Mix
-
This Trader Joe’s fall-flavored cookie mix does require some work on your part. It’s not place-and-bake. You need to cream butter, crack an egg, and mix it all together before rolling balls of dough in the provided cinnamon-sugar mix. But it’s still easier than fully making cookies from scratch. And the resulting cookies are really good. They taste like snickerdoodles. They taste like pumpkin spice. They even taste like pumpkin. And they’re delightfully chewy. You could bring these to a party or a dinner or your office and everyone would be really impressed. Plus, your house will smell great after you bake them.
Credit: Liv Averett / Trader Joe’s
- Trader Joe’s Greek Nonfat Pumpkin Yogurt
-
I still can’t believe this is nonfat Greek yogurt. It’s so decadent! It’s so creamy and thick! And it actually tastes like pumpkin rather than pumpkin spice. The pumpkin is earthy and a little bit fruity, and it’s a fun change from the usual berry or stone fruit you find in a flavored Greek yogurt. Paired with a little granola or even just some crunchy pumpkin seeds, this is a great way to start a fall morning.
Credit: Liv Averett / Trader Joe’s
- Trader Joe’s Maple Pancake Snaps
-
Big round of applause for food science. These cookies taste exactly like melted, salted butter mixed with maple syrup. They really capture the flavor of a stack of flapjacks, but they’re small, crispy, and buttery. I feel like I should be hearing more about these Trader Joe’s cookies. Don’t sleep on them.
Credit: Liv Averett / Trader Joe’s
- Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Spiced Joe-Joe’s Sandwich Cookies
-
Regular Pumpkin Joe-Joe’s are good. But why eat those when these Pumpkin Spiced Joe-Joe’s Sandwich Cookies exist? They’re coated in pumpkin spiced yogurt-flavored coating and topped with a touch of sea salt. They are BIG and they bring big flavor, too. Take a bite and you’ll get flavors of pumpkin and ginger and spice and cream and salt. It’s a lot to pack into just one cookie.
Credit: Liv Averett / Trader Joe’s
- Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Bagels
-
I will be buying these pumpkin bagels again. They’re so chewy and pumpkin-y with just a hint of pumpkin spice. We tried these untoasted and still loved them. But hot from the toaster with a crunchy exterior? This is the kind of breakfast you enjoy wrapped up in some sort of shawl-sweater hybrid while taking in the color-changing fall foliage.
Credit: Liv Averett / Trader Joe’s
- Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Cheesecake Croissants
-
Imagine if a Danish and a croissant and some pumpkin pie had a tasty pastry baby. That’s what you get with this treat (which you’ll find in the frozen breakfast section). The filling is tangy and fruity (in that pumpkin-y way), and the pastry is perfectly flaky and layered and crispy. These croissants rival pastries I’ve gotten from local coffee shops.
Credit: Liv Averett / Trader Joe’s
- Trader Joe’s Butternut Squash Bites
-
Looking for a Thanksgiving appetizer? Not anymore, because you’ve got this. These little pastry bites are topped with ricotta and squash puree. The pastry is flaky as all get out, the cheese is creamy and salty, and the squash is seasoned so it’s not too sweet. I’ll admit, these didn’t come out looking Insta-ready. But they taste so good, you won’t have time to photograph them before they’re all gone anyway.
Credit: Liv Averett
- Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Brioche
-
Out of all of Trader Joe’s fall products, this is probably the one I look forward to the most. You just can’t find it anywhere else. The bread itself is airy and chewy and just a bit pumpkin-y. The cinnamon swirl adds the right amount of sweetness—you won’t feel like you’re eating dessert for breakfast, but you will feel like you’re getting a treat. And you can eat it on its own or toasted. (It’s truly spectacular toasted.) When I bought this for our taste test of the Trader Joe’s fall 2024 lineup, the checkout guy said I should try it as french toast. Hell yeah.
Credit: Liv Averett / Trader Joe’s
- Trader Joe’s Butternut Squash Lasagna
-
Trader Joe’s really went all out with this autumnal lasagna. The egg noodle sheets are layered with butternut squash sauce and cheesy bechamel sauce, and it’s topped with breadcrumbs, cheese, and crunchy pumpkin seeds. It’s a textural fall wonderland. And it’s so, so, so cheesy. If you are looking to sneak some butternut squash into someone’s diet, feed them this. While it certainly takes time (45 minutes in the oven!), it’s worth it.
Credit: Liv Averett / Trader Joe’s
- Trader Joe’s Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
-
I have one word for this jewel within the mountain of Trader Joe’s fall items: incredible. It’s savory, cheesy, and creamy. And it has a hint of sweetness from the squash puree. It’s hard to stop eating it. It’s so well seasoned and that hint of black pepper really puts it over the edge. Folks really hyped up this frozen mac and cheese, but it surpassed even the highest praise.
Credit: Liv Averett / Trader Joe’s
Best Sprinkle Cookie
Best Baking Mix
Best Yogurt
Best Cookies
Best Cookie Sandwich
Best Bagel
Best Frozen Breakfast
Best Frozen Appetizer
Best Bread
Runner-Up
Best of the Best
Other Trader Joe’s fall products we tried: Pumpkin Spice Cream Liqueur, Pumpkin Spice Chardonnay, Harvest Chili, Maple Leaf Cookies, Pumpkin Biscotti, Pumpkin Pie Bagels Gluten Free, Maple & Sea Salt Kettle Popcorn, Pumpkin Flavored Joe-Joe’s, Pumpkin Butternut Squash Bisque, Pumpkin Bread and Muffin Baking Mix (gf), Non Dairy Oat Creamer Cinnamon Bun, Toscano Dusted with Cinnamon, White Stilton with Apple and Pear, Pumpkin Spice Flavored Cold Brew, Pumpkin Cheesecake, Fall Zucchette Pasta, Autumnal Harvest Soup, Autumnal Harvest Creamy Pasta Sauce, Honey Roasted Pumpkin Ravioli, Gluten Free Pumpkin Ravioli
Can you do a fall list for those of us who are pumpkin spice haters? More apple pie and less pumpkin please
The squash mac is so, so good, every year I like it even more. Next time I go – TJ’s is not close to me – I’m going to pack an entire insulated bag full of it if I can.