At our house, the apple cider donuts have already been opened and devoured; it’s fall food time at Trader Joe’s! If you don’t traditionally shop there, this time of year demands that you stop in and see the seasonal offerings (and one of our key bits of guidance is that if you see something you might like, get it...because the next time you’re there, it may be sold out). Trader Joe’s concocts a sort of old-timey newspaper called the Fearless Flyer, and this is where you can learn about any new products—and the return of those you’ve waited for all year. Here’s 2023’s listing of the best fall foods!
1. Apple cider donuts
They may be a little more sugary than a traditional New England apple cider donut, but it’s okay; first thing in the morning, these feel more authentically “autumn” than a glazed donut or a chocolate frosted.
2. Honeycrisp apple granola
You adore the snap and succulence of a Honeycrisp apple; now you can have it incorporated into the granola in dried form, along with rolled oats, cane sugar, molasses and spices. We recommend it by the handful, sitting in cold milk, or even atop the next item on the list.
3. Salted maple ice cream
Ooh, we just love salty with sweet, and this cold seasonal ice cream fits the bill. This with a slice of apple pie would be Vermont on a plate.
4. Maple flavored fudge
This is a new rollout this year, and we know it will be a winner. Perhaps a more substantial treatment of the traditional maple sugar candies, this fudge is inspired by English butter fudge. Cooked in copper pans in the U.K., the fudge is cooled for two days before being packaged.
5. Pumpkin non-fat Greek yogurt
The second ingredient is pumpkin puree, and this is a perfect way to splurge on flavor but not calories. We think layering this in a parfait glass with Honeycrisp apple granola would bring great joy.
6. Mini pumpkin ginger scones
These cute triangular pumpkin scones with crystallized ginger and a zig-zag glaze come ready to bake. Look for them in the freezer section.
7. Butternut mac and cheese
We love the look of the stubby mezzi rigatoni pasta—which holds a nice cling of the béchamel sauce, the butternut squash purée, spices, and a three-cheese blend of gouda, parmesan and cheddar.
8. Fall leaf tortilla chips
We look out for these multi-colored tortilla chips each year. They’re cut into various leaf shapes (maple, oak, beech), so you can enjoy crunching into the leaves without raking anything.
9. Mini maple marshmallows
They’re tiny with a maple/caramel flavor. Float them on your hot cocoa or make them into rice krispy treats for an autumnal take on an easy, no-bake treat. They’re gluten-free, gelatin-free, vegan and kosher (pareve). Have at ‘em!
10. Ceramic skulls with brain cactus
Well, you can’t eat them, but they are adorable and part of some awesome, low-cost décor. And if the cactus dies (they are not easy to keep alive, despite what everyone says!), then they transition into a cute vessel to hold candy corn.
RECOMMENDED: Eat this magnificence at home, or better yet, pack a picnic and take a ride on one of these fall foliage trains.