Trader Joe’s aficionados look forward to this season all year long. The store smells strongly of cinnamon spice, and the floor is brimming with so much pumpkin and squash that you’re not quite sure which varietals are edible and which are merely for decor.
There are the products you know will return from past seasons because of their popularity (Pumpkin Joe Joe’s, I’m looking at you), but there’s also an eagerness to see what new genius ideas will grace the perfectly stocked shelves, basically begging you to take them home.
The list of seasonal fall products at Trader Joe’s can be truly overwhelming, so we’ve selected some of the best to show you where to focus your efforts and your taste buds this autumn. Check out our favorites below!
Trader Joe’s Fall Breakfast Ideas
Pumpkin Pancake and Waffle Mix
Pumpkin pancakes—need I say more? I have been trying to branch out with my toddler breakfast ideas, and I’m going to give this one a go. While you could make these pancakes the traditional large size, I think it’d be fun to try them as silver dollar pancakes and top each with a little icing rather than syrup. Or if you’re omitting syrup for kids, a little pumpkin butter would be great!
Pumpkin Waffles
There’s not much to say here. It’s basic toaster waffles majorly upgraded with tons of flavor for those mornings when you just don’t have time to start from scratch. For a gourmet upgrade, top these bad boys with some sautéed apples and a nice drizzle of maple syrup. Grab them in the TJ’s frozen section.
Pumpkin Bread & Muffin Baking Mix
If you love pumpkin and cream cheese together, grab this baking mix. You can make pumpkin cream cheese muffins, pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting, or the traditional pumpkin roll. TJ’s also has a gluten-free mix.
Mini Pumpkin Ginger Scones
Pop these little scones in the oven for a quick and delicious before-school breakfast.
Pumpkin Overnight Oats
For the easiest fall-inspired breakfast out there, grab ready-made overnight oats flavored with pumkin puree and spices.
Trader Joe’s Fall Meal Ideas
Fall Zucchette Pasta
Pumpkin is great, but I somewhat prefer the milder flavor of butternut squash when it comes to savory dishes. This is at least the second year Trader Joe’s has carried this pasta and something I made almost weekly last fall. The pasta has a great bite-size, cooking up to the perfect al dente. Pair it with the Autumnal Harvest pasta sauce (it’s almost definitely on display within your store) or a basic butter and cheese sauce for the most amazing dinner. Looking to blow some minds? Fall Zucchette pumpkin mac and cheese.
Autumnal Harvest Creamy Pasta Sauce
Take any favorite noodle (or use the Zucchette pasta), and turn any pasta night into a fall-themed dinner with this sauce. Made with both pumpkin and butternut squash, it’s a perfect balance of hearty and creamy all in one jar.
Fall Flavored Raviolis
If you’re looking to whip up a satisfying fall supper in less than 10 minutes, look no further. While the ravioli boils, brown some butter and chop some sage for the best simple sauce. Don’t forget a sprinkle of parmesan cheese to top it off.
Pumpkin Gnocchi
The perfect toddler finger food, these gnocchi come together in about five minutes.
Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese
Another kid-favorite food, this mac & cheese (found in the frozen section) has butternut squash for some added nutritional value.
Turkey Harvest Salad
I always stop by the prepared salad section at TJ’s to grab easy work-from-home lunch ideas for me and grab-and-go lunches for my husband to help us both cruise into our workdays more quickly.
Trader Joe’s Fall Spreads, Salsas & Soups
Pumpkin Cream Cheese
This basically tastes like pumpkin cheesecake that’s appropriate for consuming before 9 a.m., so I’m all about it. Enjoy it on a cinnamon raisin bagel or your favorite whole-wheat toast with a sprinkle of cinnamon on top for good measure.
Autumnal Harvest Soup
Looking for an easy-to-pack lunch? This tomato-based soup gets an upgrade with the addition of pumpkin and butternut squash. Grab some seasonal crackers for a great desk lunch, or if you’re eating at home, pairing this with a grilled cheese is a must.
Pumpkin Bisque Soup
For a creamier, pumpkin-forward soup option, try their pumpkin bisque soup with some crusty bread for dipping.
Fall Harvest Salsa
When I picked this up, I had two great meal ideas: a solid snack option for my toddler with hidden veggies (score!) and a great topping for a pumpkin chili recipe, like this one from Pinch of Yum. This could also be great on a festive fall charcuterie board and paired with tortilla chips.
Trader Joe’s Fall Snacks & Treats
Pumpkin Chocolate Chunk Oatmeal Cookie Mix
The fact these cookies only require butter, egg, and water makes it a super easy and quick treat to whip up. Something sweet to enjoy after the pumpkin patch or while you’re curled up watching your favorite family Halloween movie!
Pumpkin Joe-Joe’s
There’s no way I could put together a list of the best Trader Joe’s seasonal products and leave these off the list. I love these cookies unconditionally, with pumpkin flavoring in both the cookie and the cream filling. Need I say more? Pro-tip: If you love the idea of celebrating the season but don’t love pumpkin flavoring, the Halloween Joe-Joe’s are an upgraded cookie design with the classic Joe-Joe’s (chocolate and vanilla) flavor.
Petite Pumpkin Spice Cookies
Well, this is where I show my true colors and admit that I have eaten an entire box of these in one weekend. I’ve always been a fan of the cookies with icing on them, like the pink frosted animal cookies from my childhood. These are even better because they’re pumpkin spice-flavored. You’ve been warned: these are delicious—and addicting.
Dry Roasted Maple Almonds
For a protein packed snack that’s salty and sweet, grab a handful of these maple almonds.
Teeny Tiny Apple Pies
These little pies had me at “brown sugar crumble”. I love to bake apple pies with our apple orchard haul in the fall, but these ready-to-eat pies are perfectly snack-sized.
Caramel Apple Dipping Kit
Another fun way to use up your apple-picking haul are DIY caramel apples. TJ’s Caramel Apple Dipping Kit comes with six sticks, peanuts, sprinkles, and, of course, caramel!
Ghosts & Bats Chips
Kids wait for these to come out every year because they make baked potato chips that much more fun! They’re a staple in our school lunches in the fall.
Pumpkin Tortilla Chips
Snack away on these light as air and super crispy chips with the perfect balance of salty and sweet. Dip away in your favorite salsa or my personal favorite, Trader Joe’s rich and creamy black bean dip.
Other Trader Joe’s Fall Favorites
Spiced Cider
My TJ’s was handing out samples of this delicious beverage and all I kept thinking was how lovely this would be warmed up and spiked with a little liquor. The “spiced” gives traditional apple cider a fall flavor kick.
Haunted House Chocolate Cookie Kit
For those who love spooky season just as much as the holiday gingerbread house season, grab this fun Halloween activity for the kiddos to do this October.
Fall Scented Candles
If you’re like me, then it’s not really fall until you’ve got a few autumnal candles filling every room in your house, with what can best be described as the smell of warm and cozy. Stock up on a few of these candles (you can basically buy 10 of them for the cost of some higher-end candles) because they smell that good. The Vanilla Pumpkin has a light fall scent and the Honeycrisp Apple will transport you straight to the apple orchard.
