15 Popular Trader Joe’s Fall Products Ranked & Reviewed by a Food Editor

Perfecting the art of an at-home pumpkin spice creamer is no easy task, and sadly, for me, this Trader Joe's version fell short. A quick whiff pre-pour left me excitedly optimistic—it smelled fresh and bright with a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg. But when mixed with coffee, the artificial notes took over, and any "pumpkin pie" adjacent flavors were completely washed out. Plus, as a creamer, I was expecting a bit more body. As is, the consistency felt thin and watery.

I’m sorry to say this, but this is giving potpourri. The sweetened pumpkin base has a great texture and nice balance, thanks to lemon juice and honey, but man, they went hard on the cinnamon, clove, ginger and nutmeg (particularly the clove). I think if you were to have this with something sweet, like cornbread or pancakes, or serve it with something tangy and acidic, like cream cheese or yogurt, it’d round out the flavor more.

Don’t let the image on the bag fool you: These pretzels are indeed teeny-tiny. Like, so tiny that you could eat them by the fistful. I like the tang of the yogurt coating and how it complements the salt of the pretzels, but 1) I wish they were bigger, because they feel less crisp under all that coating and 2) they definitely give pumpkin spice more than pumpkin. I also feel like the crushed pepitas are so small and powdery that their flavor is hard to detect; I would have kept them bigger and sized up the pretzels.

Made in the U.K. in small batches, the cookies are packed with dried apples, apple juice concentrate and a shocking amount of butter. (Seriously: Each cookie is nearly 25 percent butter by weight.) The cookies themselves are very crunchy but turn tender as you chew them. The apple flavor is semi-vibrant and authentic, but I wouldn’t have minded if it came through stronger or offered more tartness to the cookie.

If pancakes and kettle corn had a baby, you’d get this seasonal Trader Joe’s snack. Think caramel corn, but with a thinner coating that won’t bog you down after a few handfuls. The maple comes through strongest on the nose, IMO, but I appreciate the color and brown sugar-y note it gives to the sweet-and-salty seasoning. The popcorn itself is also very crisp and fluffy.

It’s a sweater season extravaganza in here. The rolled oat base is zhuzhed up with maple syrup, brown sugar and EVOO for a uniquely sophisticated, sweet-and-savory flavor. There are also dried tart cherries, pumpkin seeds, coconut flakes (which somewhat dominate the overall flavor), pistachios and pecans. The sourness of the cherries and the earthy richness of the pistachio clusters are my favorite highlights.

Corn lovers, please stand up. If you're in charge of sides this Thanksgiving, look no further than this creamy corn pudding featuring sour cream, Parmesan and cheddar cheese. Sweet, savory and just the right amount of cozy, it's a delicious way to transition this summer-forward produce into fall. Yes, you'll find this offering in the pre-made refrigerated section, but don't let that deter you from giving it a try. With bits of corn, thyme and diced onion you can actually see, no one will assume it wasn't homemade (unless, of course, you tell them).

These Indian-inspired pastries are stuffed with spiced pumpkin filling and paneer cheese. If you bake them in the oven instead of heating them up in the microwave, the wrapper will be shatteringly crisp and provide a stellar foil for the potato-and-pumpkin interior. The flavor is savory and mild; it doesn’t bash you over the head with fall flourishes, or even pumpkin itself.

Trader Joe's offers these classic creme sandwich cookies in a rotation of seasonal flavors (including candy cane and pumpkin spiced), but my favorite has to be the spooky, smiley Halloween variety that hits shelves every October. These treats feature the classic Joe-Joe's flavor pairing (chocolate and vanilla) with a fun jack-o'-lantern cookie cut-out and orange-hued creme. Made for lunchbox snacking, they'll be a hit at school all month long (Oreogate be damned).

Tahini gives each spoonful a pleasant nuttiness that pairs beautifully with the creamy pumpkin base, while apple cider vinegar keeps the flavor bright and balanced. (I’d venture to say that its acidity makes this soul-soother what it is, don’t @ me.) Comforting, garlicky and not excessively warm-spiced, it’s an easy win for true pumpkin lovers, since purée is the first ingredient.

These mini mousse cakes are as delicious as they are adorable. Moist chocolate cake is layered with a generous amount of silky chocolate mousse, shaped like a festive pumpkin and drenched in a thin layer of vanilla-flavored white confectioners coating. Decadent without being fussy, I was thoroughly impressed by the layers of flavor and texture packed into this bite-sized dessert. (Plus, I'm a sucker for anything pumpkin-themed around this time of year!)

Your Black Friday leftover turkey sandwich will taste a million times better with this seasonal snack by its side. The chips’ piney scent will win you over the moment you open the bag. They’re stunningly thick and crunchy with the optimal amount of salt, but Trader Joe was not shy with the rosemary either. Savory and just a touch acidic, these chips are begging to be noshed on at a wine tasting, fall dinner party or Thanksgiving cocktail hour.

This seasonally inspired cream cheese is a fan favorite for a reason. The pumpkin spice ingredients (think vanilla, brown sugar, ginger, cinnamon and, of course, pumpkin) pair perfectly with the tangy cream cheese base, and the lightly whipped texture lets you pile it on without haste or hesitation. Smeared over whole wheat toast or a cinnamon raisin bagel, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better way to start each crisp fall morning.

These mini sheet cakes have a cult following amongst the TJ's regulars—and the pumpkin spice flavor is a strong contender for a top spot on this list. The flavor of the cake is everything I want in a fall dessert: sweet and spicy thanks to a mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, vanilla and, of course, pumpkin puree. The crumb is delectably moist, and the tangy cream cheese frosting-to-cake ratio is inarguably spot on.

I’ve wanted to try this frozen mashup of mezzi rigatoni (equipped with thick ridges that hold sauce like a dream), three-cheese béchamel and butternut squash purée for years. The scent alone lived up to my expectations: sweet, luscious and herbaceous (hello, nutmeg and sage), and the flavor is delightfully cheesy—think lightly aged and semi-sharp. It's pasta perfection all around, so stock up now before TJ's sells out.