Was it just me or did it feel like Trader Joe’s pumpkin products came and then vanished this year? I suppose it’s always like this, but this year I felt a responsibility to try as many pumpkin products as I could to report back to you all. I believe most of these favorites I selected this month should still be available at Trader Joe’s, but run grab a few more if you’re trying to keep savoring pumpkin through November! When I was choosing only five of the products to highlight, I went for products that were (mostly) lower in sugar, not super sweet or indulgent and able to be incorporated into my daily lifestyle. I cannot wait to hear what your favorites are. Comment below or on social media so I can hear what you loved/disliked/are stocking up on.

Pumpkin Spice Rooibos Tea

I drink this tea almost every single day of fall. Whether it’s before bed in relaxation mode or in the afternoon at work, I love this herbal tea. Rooibos (pronounced roy-bus) is one of my favorite tea blends. It originates from Africa and usually a has a reddish tint. Paired with milk, the fall spices makes it a nice fall alternative to chai.

Pumpkin Butter

Of course classic Pumpkin Butter made my list! While this does have a surprisingly high sugar content per serving size, I really only need that one teaspoon to flavor my morning yogurt parfait or add into a smoothie. Also, one spoonful into a marinara sauce added a deliciously sweet surprise flavor into my pasta sauce the other night. This version has more of a honey and citrus flavor to it, which adds a nice contrast to the pumpkin. The options are endless with this PB! How do you use yours?

Pumpkin Macarons

These baby bite sized macarons are amazing! I decided to purchase these as a pumpkin dessert because I love how tiny they are. It’s like they’re already portioned for you to have one (or three) for dessert. Trader Joe’s macarons are made in Italy with real pumpkin puree and taste amazing even right out of the freezer without being defrosted.

Pumpkin Tortilla Chips

While it is easy to think Trader Joe’s overdid it with pumpkin items (like, tortilla chips…really?) I actually loved these. The tortilla chips would be amazing in a warm cheesy appetizer for holiday parties. They have a very subtle pumpkin flavor with accent of cinnamon and nutmeg. I also am envisioning trying these with a green chile queso for the savory and smokey combination.

Pumpkin Soup

Trader Joe’s pre-made soups never disappoint. They are a great thing to have on hand for a soup and salad or grilled cheese night. This pumpkin soup was delicious and allowed me to enjoy without having to deconstruct, seed and roast a whole pumpkin myself. I wish I would’ve bought a few because I didn’t see it when I went shopping on Sunday!

Out of Stock + Not so Favorites

You know an item is popular when it flies off the shelves. I desperately wanted to try the fall harvest pasta sauce with squash and pumpkin, but the day I went to buy it it was completely gone. Did anyone get it? How was it? I also heard the pumpkin spice almond milk was a hit. Were you into it? The pumpkin bark with chocolate also sounded really good for dessert, but I couldn’t find it at my store!

As far as the “not so favorite” items, I tried the fall harvest salsa and was not a huge fan. I think it will be a great dressing to a taco salad with meat, beans and sweet potato, but on it’s own with tortilla chips – I wasn’t into it. The pumpkin waffles were okay. I was hoping for some more noticeable pumpkin flavors, but they were pretty subtle and felt more like Eggos. The honey roasted pumpkin ravioli was delicious, but definitely indulgent. I paired the ravioli with sautéed kale the other night and that was a nice way to breakup the carb load.

Now, let’s chat. What did you think? And are you going to give any of these five favorites a try? Happy Trader Joe’s shopping!

Love food. Love self. Love life.
Gabriela