"You know some of the people I’m really thankful for? The Trader Joe’s team members. My cart was so full for this haul of holiday treats, I was able to have a lovely conversation during checkout with two members of the TJ’s team about our holiday plans, in-laws, and the new Trader Joe’s holiday items this season.
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Below, I’m sharing some of my favorite Trader Joe’s holiday standbys as well as some treats I’m excited to try, from sweet desserts to savory snacks to festive beverages—plus some great gift sets, too. And, don’t forget Trader Joe’s always has the best affordable wreaths, garlands, flowers, and more to help with your decor and holiday hosting. Read on for the best of Trader Joe’s holiday items worth buying this year.
When do the Trader Joe’s holiday items come out?
The Trader Joe’s holiday items typically hit stores sometime in November. In my experience, the store’s seasonal treats usually shift from Halloween and fall items (think pumpkin spice everything) to Christmas and Hanukkah items around mid-November, just before Thanksgiving. Every store’s rollout timing is slightly different, but you can expect to see Trader Joe’s holiday items all over the store in much of November and all of December.
How long will Trader Joe’s holiday items be in stores?
As both Christmas Day and the first night of Hanukkah fall on December 25 this year, shoppers can expect the Trader Joe’s holiday items to stay stocked in stores through the end of December. If these seasonal treats are your favorites, I have good news: you’ll likely be able to buy them into the new year, too. Of course, this depends on each store’s individual stock of these items (and their expiration dates). But when I shopped at Trader Joe’s in early December to check out this year’s new items, my local store still had plenty of pumpkin spiced-flavored fall items available for purchase—so we can hope the holiday treats stay plentiful into 2025, too!
Trader Joe’s Holiday Sweet Treats
Joe-Joe’s Dark Chocolate Covered Peppermint
Everyone’s favorite Joe-Joe’s cookies dipped in dark chocolate and peppermint? Yes, please! These are already a kid-favorite at my house.
Dark Chocolate Star Cookies
Confession: I called my local Trader Joe’s to see when these delicious star-shaped shortbread cookies dipped in dark chocolate would be hitting shelves this year because they weren’t in stock on my last visit. Good news for me, the truck was arriving that day, so I was able to stock up! My daughter also loves the mini mint star cookies. I buy several boxes of these for daily treats all through the season, and they also look great as part of a holiday dessert board.
Candy Cane Joe-Joe’s Ice Cream
I love Trader Joe’s ice creams and this seasonal candy cane Joe-Joe’s flavor is no exception. It’s basically a holiday-themed cookies and cream flavor with peppermint and vanilla ice cream mixed with delicious chunks of candy cane Joe-Joe’s cookies. YUM!
Jingle Jangle
There is perhaps no more famous Trader Joe’s holiday treat than the iconic Jingle Jangle. If you’ve never had it, this festive tin is filled with mini pretzels covered with milk and dark chocolate and drizzled with white chocolate; dark chocolate-covered caramel popcorn; dark chocolate-covered broken Joe-Joe’s cookies; milk chocolate gems with a red candy coating; and milk and dark chocolate mini peanut butter cups. Need we say more?
Peppermint Crunch Popcorn
Within this treat’s cute striped packaging is delectable popcorn coated in dark and white chocolate and a crushed candy cane coating. I picked this up for my family to enjoy during our next holiday movie night.
Danish Butter Cookies
I’m officially obsessed with the Scandinavian-style packaging for these butter cookies. Not only are they delicious, but they’ll also look so nice displayed on my kitchen counter.
Astounding Multi-Flavor Mini Pretzels
The biggest hit at our family Thanksgiving was this mini-pretzel treat—as evidenced by the wear-and-tear on the package. Each of the four delicious flavors comes in its own separate bag that the adults and kids were fighting over. Personally, I preferred the dark chocolate with peppermint candy canes.
Chocolate Caramels
For those who, like me, have a weakness for chocolate-covered caramel, Trader Joe’s has no shortage of treats to delight. Grab a delectable box of Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels.
Dark Chocolate Dipped Candy Cane Marshmallows
The ultimate after-dinner dessert, these marshmallows are delightfully dipped in dark chocolate and adorned with pieces of candy canes. These would be so pretty to add to a Christmas treats board or to serve on their own during your next holiday gathering.
Cookie Mug Hangers
A perennial Trader Joe’s favorite, these adorable spiced cookies are made for cozy winter sipping. They’re expertly designed to fit on the rim of your mug to make any warm drink a delightful treat!
Peppermint Mini Marshmallows
Whether you’re adding these into your mug as a hot chocolate topping or using them in a Christmas cookie recipe, these peppermint mini marshmallows are wonderfully versatile and deserve a spot in your pantry this holiday season.
Mini Gingerbread People
My sister-in-law texted me a pic of these cookies with the caption, “If you don’t know, now you know.” Gingerbread cookies with white fudge frosting—yum! These gender-inclusive “gingerbread people” are just one more reason to love TJ’s.
Mini Chocolate Mousse Desserts
For a more sophisticated treat, try these mini chocolate mousse desserts with a shortbread crust or these adorable mini chocolate mousse presents. Just be sure to read the label: these tiny treats need two hours to defrost in the fridge before enjoying.
Hold the Cone! Peppermint Flavored Mini Ice Cream Cones
My year-round go-to treats at Trader Joe’s are the Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups and Hold the Cone! mini ice cream cones. My kids have been loving these peppermint-flavored Hold the Cones! for the holidays.
Peppermint Bark
There are few things more classic than a tin of peppermint bark during Christmastime. I love that the Trader Joe’s iteration comes in this festive red and green striped packaging—it would make a pretty hostess gift, teacher gift, coworker gift, etc.
Jingle Jangle Pretzel Twists
Another take on the famous Jingle Jangle snack, these pretzel twists are covered in peanut butter candy coating and topped with candy-coated dark chocolate gems and pieces of Joe-Joe’s cookies. They’re the perfect salty and sweet treat!
Mini Peppermint Meringues
According to the TJ’s website, these meringues have a “light, airy crunch and chewy little centers.” I didn’t need to read anything else before throwing these into my shopping cart—they look delish! I’m planning to add one or two to my Bento box lunches for in-office days this season for a midday pick-me-up.
Gingerbread Cake & Cookie Mix and Chocolate Peppermint Loaf & Baking Mix
I love when Trader Joe’s comes out with seasonal cake and cookie mixes in their baking aisle. This year, there’s both gingerbread and chocolate peppermint boxes and I picked up both to make cookies with—a fun (albeit messy) activity to involve the kids in, too.
Festive Chaos of Gummy Candy
I laughed out loud when I spotted this bag of “Festive Chaos” gummy candy in my checkout lane. The back of the bag says, “It’s an excellent enjoy-by-the-handful treat when you’re holiday shopping, buffet building, late night gift wrapping, seasonal card crafting, cookie baking, and deliriously decorating.” I’m in full magic-making mode this time of year and busier than ever, so this treat is clearly meant for me—and you too!
Christmas Sprinkles
Grabbed these on my latest shopping trip because there’s nothing worse than having all the ingredients for Christmas cookies, then realizing you’re missing one ingredient. Plus, the candy cane, trees, and snowflake shapes in this mix are so cute!
Trader Joe’s Holiday Savory Treats
Festively Shaped Pretzels
Jazz up your little one’s school lunches in the lead-up to Christmas with these festively-shaped pretzels that are oh-so-cute. With stars, bells, and stockings, toddlers and little kids will be delighted by these!
Brie With Truffles
This cheese had me at truffle. Since I’m hosting Christmas dinner this year, I grabbed this early to make sure it would be part of my holiday cheese board.
Spicy Snack Bar Mix
Add this snack mix to a charcuterie board or a bowl for a perfect holiday happy hour appetizer. A not-so-spicy mix is also available.
Spiced Cranberry Granola
With sweetened dried cranberries, almonds, and candied orange peel, this seasonal granola is delicious as a topper for yogurt or oatmeal or to eat on its own as a snack.
Trader Joe’s Holiday Beverages
Egg Nog
For those who prefer their ‘nog pre-mixed, Trader Joe’s has you covered too with this beautifully-packaged Egg Nog you can serve over ice.
Organic Hot Cocoa Mix
Having a pantry stocked with hot cocoa is a must this time of year. Simply mix hot water or milk with one of these hot chocolate packets for an easy-to-make steamed drink that’ll warm you and the kiddos up after an afternoon of playing in the snow or while or cozying up to watch a classic holiday flick.
Hot Chocolate Stirring Spoon and Hot Cocoa Polar Bear
Plus-up your hot cocoa game this holiday season with these extra-fun hot chocolate products. The stirring spoon can be swirled into a hot mug of milk to make a melty and marshmallow-adorned cup of cocoa. Or grab the adorable white and milk chocolate polar bear and watch as the bear melts into your mug of steamed milk to form the most delicious treat drink.
Candy Cane Green Tea
According to TJ’s Fearless Flyer, this tea garnered a surprisingly enthusiastic response when it was launched in 2009. It continues to be a holiday favorite 15 years later because it’s “astonishingly evocative of an actual candy cane.”
Cinnamon Spiced Coffee
Coffee-lovers will adore this seasonal take on Trader Joe’s medium roast. This cinnamon-spiced coffee (with notes of dark chocolate—yummm) is delicious to drink black or paired with your favorite creamer.
Triple Ginger Brew Sparkling Beverage
Grab this ginger brew for all your holiday mule recipes, like the berry mules on our festive drinks recipe list!
Sparkling Pomegranate Punch Beverage
Pomegranate is another festive flavor to drink on its own or use to create holiday cocktails.
Sugar Plum Sparkling Beverage
For those looking to make festive mocktails this season—whether pregnant, under 21, or trying to drink less alcohol, consider TJ’s Sugar Plum Sparkling Beverage! I’ll admit I haven’t tried it, but for under $4, this seems like a low risk worth taking.
Other Trader Joe’s Holiday Items
Gingerbread House Kit
Decorating gingerbread houses is a quintessential family Christmas activity, and one I can’t wait to introduce to my own kids one day. At just $8.99, this TJ’s kit comes with everything you’ll need: pre-cut gingerbread pieces to construct the house and decor pieces like icing, fruit gummies, and chocolate buttons. So fun!
12 Days of Scented Candles Advent Calendar
I love Trader Joe’s advent calendars—they’re so great to gift or to buy for yourself! This one (interestingly) includes 12 mini tin candles that smell like some of TJ’s most famous products with scents like tea tree, yuzu hot sauce, jalapeno limeade, blueberry waffles, and more.
12 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar
I couldn’t resist buying this advent calendar for myself because it includes mini versions of some of Trader Joe’s most popular self-care items like the rose glow facial oil, illuminating daily facial sunscreen, orange ginger moisturizing hand balm, and more.
Candy Cane Body Scrub
I’m such a sucker for the Trader Joe’s self-care aisle and was delighted when I saw this candy cane body scrub as a seasonal item this year. The packaging is so fun and would make a great gift for a mom friend—I bought one and will pair it with the matching candy cane body cream as an under-$15 present for someone on my list!
Lip Butter Balm Duo Gift Set
This little duo would be the best stocking stuffer. These lip butters are vanilla mint and brown sugar-flavored and look just like mini versions of the viral Summer Fridays lip butter balms. If you have a Sephora Tween on your gifting list this year, this budget-friendly dupe is a must buy!
Holiday Scented Candle Tin Trio Gift Set
Another lovely gift set to buy yourself or gift to someone else (my mother-in-law would love this), this boxed tin candle trio is adorably packaged and the included festive scents—cranberry pine, fresh currant, and nutmeg—seem so much more expensive than they are.
Jingle Jangle for Dogs
The famous Trader Joe’s Jingle Jangle but for dogs! This festive treat tin would make a great (and super easy) gift to wrap under the tree for your family’s pet or another furry friend. I bought a handful of these as presents this year!
Taste Test of Caramels
The ultimate holiday hostess gift, this yardstick-sized box of fancy caramels would delight any recipient. Plus, you can encourage a friend or family member to do a guessing-game taste test of all the flavors once they open it up!
Kathy Sisson, Senior Editor
A mom of two, Kathy is passionately committed to sharing the honest, helpful—and often humorous—stories of motherhood, as she navigates her own everyday adventures of work, marriage, and parenting. She honed her creative and strategic skills at advertising agencies in Detroit and Chicago, before pivoting from marketing to editorial. Now instead of telling brand stories, she’s sharing her own, with articles published across popular parenting sites—including hundreds of stories on The Everymom.
Julia Poulter, Senior Managing Editor
With more than 10 years of editorial experience, Julia is passionate about bringing motherhood stories to life and providing moms with interesting and informative parenting content. Prior to joining The Everygirl Media Group in 2019, she served as Executive Editor at Closer Weekly. As The Everymom’s Senior Managing Editor, Julia helps manage the brand’s editorial calendar and content strategy.