With a new line of Trader Joe’s autumn items released in September, we put seven goods to the test in these classic fall recipes: iced pumpkin spiced latte, snack mix, and mini pumpkin pies.
Iced Pumpkin Spiced Latte
Ingredients: Salted Maple Cold Foam Creamer, Organic Pumpkin, Pumpkin Pie Spice
Making lattes at home saves money and is a fun opportunity to try unique recipes while embracing each month with seasonal flavors. The pumpkin spice latte is a staple for fall. Trader Joe’s might just be the place to pick up the appropriately festive—and a little over-the-top—ingredients to add to it.
Joe’s thick pumpkin puree was the perfect consistency, mixing right into warmed espresso. The strong pumpkin spice flavor was prevalent in every sip, complementing the pumpkin flavor base. The salted maple cold foam, a sweeter and stronger substitute for the classic whipped cream topping, was a standout ingredient. But, when combined with all of the other ingredients, the cold foam made the drink sickly sweet, and its flavor overwhelmed the beverage’s central flavors.
While each component individually excelled, when put together, these products demonstrated that there (unfortunately) can be too much of a good thing.
Autumn Snack Mix
Ingredients: Pumpkin Spiced Teeny Tiny Pretzels, Mini Maple Flavored Marshmallows, Caramel Sea Salt Baking Chips.
This seasonal take on ordinary snack mix attempted to elevate this not-so festive dish to a fall fantasy using three TJ snacks. The recipe was relaxed on how much of each ingredient to use and which ones were the best, allowing for adjustments based on personal preferences.
The first added ingredient was TJ’s Pumpkin Spiced Teeny Tiny Pretzels, which packed a punch with all the fall flavors; definitely a keeper in this recipe. Adding the Mini Maple Marshmallows brought the perfect softness to contrast the crunch in the mix. On the other hand, the caramel sea salt baking chips proved to be a mistake. It added an undesired artificial taste that compares to candy corn—grainy, stale, and chemical.
Overall, while the marshmallows were stars, worthy of more than just a few months on the shelves, the chips’ limited time status might be for the best.
Mini Pumpkin Pies
Ingredients: Pumpkin Pie Spice, Organic Pumpkin, Pie Crusts
These mini pies are perfect to bring to a friendsgiving or any fall-inspired celebration. Not only do these Trader Joe’s substitutes save time, but the flavors are very nostalgic.
For the filling, the pumpkin puree delivers a much subtler and sweeter pumpkin essence than the more traditional strong squash flavor found in other options. To flavor the filling, the pumpkin pie spice combines all the listed spices needed into one step—a great time-saver. The star of these ingredient substitutions goes to the pie crusts, which taste just as great as homemade batter, are easier to shape, and fit into the cupcake tins for each mini pie crust.
Overall, these limited-edition ingredients elevate the ease and simplicity of this recipe, producing a finished product good enough to make any grandma proud.
