I Tried 10 Trader Joe’s Fall Foods — These Are the Ones You Have to Get

When I first removed these pastries from their packaging I was skeptical, but Trader Joe’s did not disappoint. These Pumpkin Cheesecake Croissants were everything I’d hoped they would be and more —  just the right amount of sweet, mildly cheesy, flaky, and delicious. If there’s one fall item you try before the season ends, may it be the Pumpkin Cheesecake Croissants. They are more than worth the 26 minutes you have to wait for them to bake.

Honeycrisp Apple Cinnamon is undeniably the Greek yogurt flavor I never knew I needed. It’s just a little sweet and has the perfect amount of cinnamon spice. I wish this were a flavor Trader Joe’s offered all year round because it might be my all-time favorite. If yogurt didn’t have an expiration date, I would buy every single-serving cup in the refrigerated section of my nearest Trader Joe’s.

Maple syrup is a must on pancakes, and that goes double in the fall. Trader Joe’s Organic Vermont Maple Syrup is bourbon-barrel aged and tastes like fall in a bottle. If you’re having a hard time getting into the autumnal spirit, pour a little of this syrup on your waffles!

Until my first bite of Trader Joe’s Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese, I never knew mac and cheese could taste like autumn, but the addition of butternut squash and thyme really transformed the classic dish into a seasonal favorite. If mac and cheese is your jam, you’ll definitely want to give this item a try, so don’t skip the frozen food aisle on your next trip to Trader Joe’s.

Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Sticky Toffee Cakes come out of the oven looking exactly like the photo on the box, which was impressive in and of itself, and the cake itself is quite delicious. The combination of pumpkin, toffee, and just the right amount of spice makes this cake the perfect dessert for a cozy fall evening. 

Made with butternut squash, Trader Joe’s Organic Fall Zucchette Pasta is shaped like adorable little pumpkins. I couldn’t bring myself to cover them up with tomato sauce, so I dusted the pumpkin-shaped pasta with a little Pecorino Romano and butter, and it was delicious. Who says novelty pasta shapes are just for kids? 

I’m not exactly sure what I expected when I put these in my cart. While Trader Joe’s Fall Leaf Corn Tortilla Chips are undeniably cute and festive, they are essentially just regular tortilla chips shaped like leaves. Their autumnal colors encapsulate the spirit of the season but there’s nothing particularly exciting about this fall item. They’re still great with some Trader Joe’s salsa, though.