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13 essential pumpkin foods at Trader Joe’s you need to try

Move over fall, autumn has a new name: Pumpkin Season. This brief interlude between summer and winter begins in October when grocery stores, restaurants, and coffee shops add this squash to nearly everything and ends when the last crumbs of pumpkin pie are cleared from your Thanksgiving table. With pumpkin mania growing at a fever pitch, there is no shortage of pumpkin-y foods available, but the store doing it best is new-to-Utah Trader Joe’s.

Trader Joe’s pumpkin obsession may seem like overkill when you wander through the squash-centric store displays, but it’s actually tough to keep these tasty products in stock!

As I wandered through the aisles of pumpkin cereals, bars, and breads I thought, “Someone should try all these out so I know what to buy and what not to waste my calories on.”

Unfortunately, I couldn’t find someone already doing that, so I took it upon myself to wade through the sea of spicy sweets and savory eats to find the best of the best in Trader Joe’s Pumpkinlandia. Tough work, but someone had to do it. I had help from other testers, and together we’ve graded our favorite items in terms of pumpkinness and spiciness from 1-10, and mentioned a few things to not bother buying at all.

 

1. Pumpkin Kringle

The crème de la crème of TJ’s pumpkin offerings, the Kringle was called the “best thing in the store” by local employees and is available only until their very limited supply runs out. This light, flaky pastry is shipped frozen from OH Danish Bakery in Wisconsin and you simply heat it until the caramel pecan frosting on top melts and the spiced pumpkin puree inside warms. Cut into slices and serve for breakfast or dessert. Sure, you could order it from the bakery and pay $19.99 a pop, but if you rush to Trader Joes you can get one for just $6.99.

$6.99

Pumpkinness: 7

Spiciness: 2

 

 

2. Pumpkin Biscotti

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A perfect dipper for a hot cup of coffee (especially Pumpkin Spice Coffee), these bite-size biscotti cookies are twice baked to up the crunch factor and packed with real pumpkin puree for a true fall flavor. Classic pumpkin pie spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves) round out the recipe without overpowering. A Trader Joe’s employee opened a box for me to try them and we both couldn’t resist sampling one…ok two. $3.99 for 8-ounce package.

Pumpkinness: 7

Spiciness: 6

 

3. Pumpkin Spice Coffee

If you love holiday spices but detest uber-sweet Pumpkin Spice Lattes, this coffee is for you. Forget the artificial flavorings of other brands, TJ’s uses smooth-drinking Brazilian medium-dark roast coffee packed with real spices: orange peel, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, vanilla beans, and pumpkin spice oil. I like it served black, but add a hint of vanilla creamer if you like yours dessertier. An annual sell-out since 2011, get a can before they’re gone. $7.99 for 14-ounce can.

Pumpkinness: 5

Spiciness: 7

 

4. Nonfat Pumpkin Greek Yogurt

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Thick, creamy, and filed with active cultures, TJ’s Greek yogurt is always on my shopping list. The Pumpkin edition, which boasts pumpkin puree as the second ingredient, does not disappoint and has a whopping 18g of protein and no fat. Lighter in pumpkin flavor and spice than the other products featured here so it’s ideal for the mild pumpkin lover. Top with Pumpkin Granola or Spiced Pumpkin Seeds for a more robust pumpkin experience.

$2.49 for 8-ounce container.

Pumpkinness: 4

Spiciness: 2

 

 

5. Pumpkin Spice Granola

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This granola won in our book for its crunchy clusters and pumpkin-y good flavor. It’s a great topper for yogurt–especially the pumpkin variety above—but is divine when heated with milk. I most commonly eat it straight from the box, but pay attention to portion size as the calorie and fat count is insanely high. $2.49 for a 16-ounce box.

Pumpkinness: 5

Spiciness: 7

 

6. Pumpkin Spice Pumpkin Seeds

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I’m a pumpkin seed (also called pepitas) fan to begin with, but these roasted and spiced bites were uniquely satisfying. Instead of a traditional salt coating, Trader Joe’s starts with a butter-sugar toffee glaze then tops them with cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and allspice for a combo that’s sweet and salty. Tasty straight out of the bag, but they’re also great on yogurt, salads, and sweet potatoes. I had to hide them from myself to avoid eating a whole bag…seriously.

$2.99 a bag.

Pumpkinness: 1

Spiciness: 8

 

 

7. Ginger Pumpkin Mini Mouthfuls

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Take creamy pumpkin ice cream and sandwich it between two bite-size ginger cookies to create my favorite treat of the season. These two-bite wonders are just 60 calories each, making them a perfect mini indulgence. Don’t do as I did and leave them on the kitchen counter. They melt fast and leave a sticky mess! $3.99 for 15-ounce package of 12 sandwiches. $3.99 for 12 sandwiches.

Pumpkinness: 8

Spiciness: 10

 

8. Pumpkin Butter

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Don’t be fooled by the name, there’s no actual butter in this jar. More closely resembling a jam, pumpkin butter is great on toast, waffles, oatmeal, crackers, and just about everything else you can imagine. Add it to a peanut butter sandwich or pair it with cream and heat for a simple, delicious pasta sauce for their Honey Roasted Pumpkin Ravioli. Price has stayed the same since 2008!

$2.29 for 10-ounce jar.

Pumpkinness: 9

Spiciness: 5

 

 

9. Pumpkin Bread Pudding

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Bring this show-stopping dessert to a party and act like you made it. They’ll think you’re an incredible chef, but the only work you have to do is move it from the freezer to the oven. The love child of two of my favorite indulgences, bread and pumpkin, this pudding is moist, dense, a bit custardy, and bursting with pumpkin flavor. Top it with whipped cream and a dust of cinnamon if you’re feeling sinful. $3.99 for 20-ounce box.

Pumpkinness: 9

Spiciness: 3

 

10. Pumpkin Cranberry Crisps

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Partner this crisp cracker with goat cheese and apple slices for an easy autumn appetizer. The pumpkin flavor stands out, but isn’t excessive, and the cranberries spread throughout each bitty cracker keep it interesting. They’ve added a hint of thyme, nutmeg, and turmeric to the recipe, but it’s negligent on the spice-o-meter.

$3.99 for 5.3-ounce box.

Pumpkinness: 6

Spiciness: 2

 

 

11. Pumpkin Soup

After sampling countless desserts, I loved satisfying my fall flavor craving with something savory. This creamy soup combines Wisconsin-grown pumpkin blended with spices that you just heat and serve. Add Pumpkin Croutons or sour cream on top if you like it fancy. The killer price of $1.79 makes it worth stocking up since it’s only available during Pumpkin Season.

$1.79 for a 17.6-ounce box.

Pumpkinness: 6

Spiciness: 5

 

 

12. Pumpkin Croutons

Trader Joe’s employees practically insisted I buy these, and I’m glad I did. The pumpkin flavor is incredible, and they’re versatile enough to top pumpkin, tomato, or tortilla soup, or a Harvest Salad. Think sweet potatoes, apples, cranberries, and goat cheese or any of your favorite autumn eats. Also perfect for Thanksgiving stuffing. The pumpkin croutons are so good that I may never want regular croutons again.

$1.99 for 8-ounce package.

Pumpkinness: 7

Spiciness:  2

 

 

13. Honey Roasted Pumpkin Ravioli

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A mashup of honey-sweetened pumpkin and ricotta and mozzarella cheese stuffed into a square pasta shell, these flavorful bites need little accompaniment to their standout flavor. Add a bit of brown butter on top if you can’t stand the thought of naked pasta, or add the homemade pumpkin sauce referenced in the pumpkin butter listing.

$3.49 for 9-ounce package.

Pumpkinness: 8

Spiciness: 0

 

Not all of Trader Joe’s pumpkin creations were wins this year. So save your money by skipping these less than amazing options.

 

Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Spice Caramel Chocolates

I’m a passionate dark chocolate fan, and a lover of caramels, but these didn’t work out as TJ’s planned. Employees lauded them as “the worst pumpkin item” and told me not to buy them, but I already had a box at home and felt it was my duty to try them. They’re not horrible, but also not especially tasty. The chocolate shell is way too thick and the interior liquid caramel is a bit over spiced. Compared to the Christmas caramels…these aren’t worth purchasing, despite the delightfully inviting packaging.

$4.99 for 6.2-ounce box of 12.

 

Pumpkin Mochi

Just don’t. It sounds inventive, and Mochi Ice Cream is delicious, but pumpkin ice cream is not best served in a chewy sticky-rice shell. Save yourself the disappointment and buy Trader Joe’s always-delicious pumpkin ice cream on its own instead.

$3.49 for a 12-ounce box.

 

What are your favorite pumpkin treats at Trader Joe’s? Let me know in the comments!