At the bleakest time of the year, few things bring us as much joy as new items hitting the shelves at America’s favorite bougie grocer. Trader Joe’s recently released a handful of seasonal and year-round products, each quirkier than the last.
Discover 10 new items you can find at TJ’s nationwide that shoppers already have strong opinions about. Have you tried any of these yet? If so, share your thoughts on them in the comments!
Fig Whole Milk Greek Yogurt
$0.99
Trader Joe’s is starting off the year gut-friendly, with its newest Fig Greek Yogurt made with whole milk, fig purée, and a touch of honey. One 5.3-ounce container supplies 10% of your daily calcium needs and includes 11 grams of protein.
Flavor-wise, people are divided, with some saying it tastes more like prunes and raisins than figs, and others calling it top-notch.
“I just had this for a snack! It is incredible!” shared one Redditor. “They are fantastic! Will definitely be buying these again,” added another.
It will be on shelves for a limited time, so if you’re into live-and-active cultures, make sure you stock up.
Onion Flowers
$5.49
Trader Joe’s goes as far as describing its newest vegan appetizer as worthy of a sonnet, and even goes on to compose one (I’ll spare you). According to shoppers who’ve already tried it, the onion flower is solid but certainly not worthy of Shakespearean praise.
“Just tried this! Not bad, not great. The breading is almost identical to the shrimp tempura breading, if not the same,” shared one Redditor.
“Mine didn’t have enough batter in the middle. Taste was good; texture wasn’t,” said another.
TJ’s says it takes less than 15 minutes in an air fryer and a little longer in a conventional oven to crisp up beautifully.
Cookies ‘n Cream Mini Sheet Cake
$5.99
To say that fans of TJ’s beloved sheet cakes were pumped to hear about the newest addition to the line would be an understatement. The Cookies ’n Cream mini sheet cake is a seasonal item at the grocer, made with vanilla cake batter mixed with bits of chocolate crème sandwich cookies and topped with sweet cream cheese frosting and crumbled cookie pieces. As is the case with many Trader Joe’s products that stir emotions on the internet, opinions on the cake range from spectacular to meh to nah.
“My new favorite. Not too sweet and solid cake-to-frosting ratio,” wrote one Redditor. “It was fine, but I won’t repurchase. It just wasn’t outstanding to me,” said another.
The naysayers complain about the dryness and denseness of the cake, with some comparing it to Little Debbie’s cupcakes. “Just tried this tonight, and it was shockingly bad. I’ve loved every other cake in this line, but this one was very dry, and the frosting at first bite had almost a minty taste,” said one user.
“It’s dry and suuuper dense. It’s like putting a fork in a Little Debbie’s cupcake if it’s been left on the counter for a couple of hours,” another agreed.
Pizza Bianca
$4.99
Unlike the sheet cake, Trader Joe’s newest savory treat in the frozen aisle has nothing but good reviews. TJ’s Pizza Bianca was apparently inspired by its product developer’s favorite pies in Los Angeles. It’s made with dough that’s risen for 24 hours, then spread with a Parmesan cheese sauce and topped with mozzarella and sharp Parmesan cheeses, onion, and rosemary, before being baked in a wood-burning oven. So far, the one thing TJ’s shoppers don’t like about it is the lack of it, with some expecting it to be bigger than it actually is.
“My only thing with this is I wish it was bigger. Idk the box made me think it was going to be bigger; otherwise, I would’ve picked two up,” said one shopper on Reddit.
“I had one last night. Added a sprinkle of chili flakes and some arugula. It’s probably one of the best products TJ’s has released in a long time. Couldn’t fault it,” said another.
Morning Buns
$4.99
Trader Joe’s has the perfect antidote for the January winter blues, and it includes flaky dough and cozy spices. The Morning Buns are made with the very same dough as TJ’s Almond Croissants and Chocolate Croissants, with twenty layers of dough covered in a cinnamon–brown sugar mix and orange zest.
You should overnight-proof these and bake them in the morning for up to 16 minutes. Shoppers are mostly on the yay side, but naysayers don’t like the overt sweetness of the pastry.
“I tried them today. I thought they were delicious,” shared one shopper.
“Tried these today. Way. Too. Sweet,” said another.
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Porridge Bread
$4.49
TJ’s claims that its latest addition to the bakery section, Porridge Bread, is the best thing since sliced bread. The 17.6-ounce bag features sliced bread made with a sourdough starter and a combination of wheat and rye flours, as well as rolled oats, honey, and brown sugar. While still new to shelves, positive reviews are already overflowing online.
“It’s incredible. I don’t usually like sourdough because of the crust texture, but this is simply the best,” said one Redditor.
“So good! Hopefully it stays,” added another.
“PB&J”Oat Bites
$3.99
Trader Joe’s is nothing if not a master at coming up with quirky snacks that quickly gain a cult following. But the grocer’s latest PB&J Oat Bites probably aren’t entering the TJ Hall of Fame anytime soon. The 7.8-ounce box comes with six gluten-free treats made with rolled oats and peanut butter, with a gooey strawberry-filled center. Those who’ve tried them say they’re on the sweeter side and that the peanut butter flavor is almost nonexistent.
“Can barely taste the peanut butter. The oat bite is too firm/hard,” reads one review.
“Too sweet. I like other brands,” said another.
Milk Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Hearts
$4.49
Just in time for Valentine’s Day comes TJ’s Milk Chocolate–Covered Marshmallow Hearts — the seasonal sweet treat made with strawberry-flavored, heart-shaped marshmallows covered in milk chocolate. They work as a gift for the love season, or simply because … chocolate.
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Birds Eye Chile Hot Sauce
$2.99
Trader Joe’s latest Bird’s Eye Chile Hot Sauce is made with piri-piri chiles, and it’s just shy of habanero-level spicy. Early reviews say that, given Trader Joe’s hot sauces aren’t always consistent, this one is promising.
“Trader Joe’s hot sauces have been hit or miss for me, but this is excellent,” said one Redditor.
“Just bought a bottle and tried it, and it’s a good-tasting hot sauce,” added another.
Dark Chocolate Sticks With Crispy Rice
$2.99
Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Sticks with Crispy Rice are made with 60% Colombian dark chocolate and puffed rice. Shoppers are already praising what is a no soy, no dairy choco treat. “I thought they were REALLY good in case anyone is wondering,” said one Redditor. “The dark chocolate is DARK and very rich. Has some fruity notes to it, absolutely delicious & perfect crunch.”
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- Trader Joe’s Unveils a New $6 Sheet Cake, and Shoppers Are in a Frenzy — Here’s what shoppers are saying about the new sweet treat.
- 10 Popular Trader Joe’s Wraps and Sandwiches, Ranked — I tasted 10 popular Trader Joe’s wraps and sandwiches, and ranked them from best to worst.
- The Only Trader Joe’s Desserts That Are Worth Your Money — Whether you want a bakery-worthy treat, cookies, ice cream, or something more unexpected, here are some of the tastiest and most popular desserts you can buy from Trader Joe’s.
