Grab your holiday grocery list and a pen, and get nice and cozy (preferably in front of a fireplace, with a fluffy blanket and a decadent mug of hot chocolate), it’s time for some seasonal shopping at our favorite grocery store chain. I’m talking about Trader Joe’s, of course, and its aisles filled to the brim with winter wonderland finds that could have even Scrooge swooning.
Whether you’re already fully immersed in the holiday spirit or you’re trying to muster up some seasonal cheer, you should make it a point to take a leisurely stroll through your local TJ’s and nab some of its wintry finds. I know the disappointment of finding a new favorite and knowing it won’t stick around into the new year, but hey, that’s part of the fun of seasonal shopping—nothing is special if you have it around 24-7-365.
Don’t know where to start? You don’t have to. Take a leaf straight from the employee handbook—or, in this case, podcast—and get in the know from the people who know the store best. Here are the holiday products TJ’s employees are going wild for this year, straight from the “Inside Trader Joe’s” podcast.
Allrecipes / Trader Joe’s
Have you ever indulged in actual chestnuts roasted over an open fire? Sounds like a lot of work— fortunately, Trader Joe’s has packages of already-cooked chestnuts this season, and you shouldn’t pass them by when stocking up on holiday goodies.
If you’re at a loss for how to use the seasonal staple, employees are full of suggestions: “You put them into stuffings, you put them into dressings, you put them into rice dishes, you add them to sides, might even put them into a salad. They require no work for you other than to open up the package and do what you want with them.”
Allrecipes / Trader Joe’s
Hot chocolate may be the famed beverage of the season (or peppermint mochas or eggnog, depending on where your preferences lie), but coffee is a year-round staple that deserves some dressing-up during the holidays. That’s where Trader Joe’s Cinnamon Spiced Coffee comes into play.
Employees recommend the coffee as a delectable pairing with chocolate, and they praise its gentle spice, saying, “It’s not overly like red hot cinnamon-y.” Another noted, “It’s almost like getting ready to be Cafe de Olla. You could sweeten it and make it really close to that.”
Allrecipes / Trader Joe’s
Need some easy mealtime staples this holiday season? As always, TJ’s has you covered. This year, the store is coming in clutch with a trio of sauces, ideal for your pantry shelf or your favorite foodie’s stocking: Puttanesca, Datterino Cherry Tomato and Roasted Garlic Sauce, and an Italian Tomato and Roasted Vegetable Pasta Sauce.
Why do employees love it? Aside from the variety of sauces, they’re versatile enough to adorn pretty much anything. One employee put it well when they said, “You don’t have to work hard to figure out, ‘What are we going to do with this?’ Make a favorite cut of pasta, top it with this sauce, done.”
Allrecipes / Trader Joe’s
“You definitely have to like truffles,” one employee said of Trader Joe’s next entry into the holiday foodie sphere. Trader Joe’s frozen Truffle Risotto (akin to the company’s Asparagus Risotto and Mushroom Risotto) is purportedly a prime example of what makes risotto so tasty—simple elegance that lets each ingredient shine in its own right.
It would seem that the combo of black truffles, Asiago cheese, and Carnaroli rice isn’t to be missed. Not only does the risotto have impeccable flavor, but prep couldn’t be easier. “That’s what I love about this. It’s real. It’s Italian from Italy and it’s so easy to make,” said one employee. “It’s an opportunity for a side dish to steal the spotlight.”
Allrecipes / Trader Joe’s
If charcuterie is a must on your holiday table, then Trader Joe’s 3 Spreads for Cheeses & Toast is also a must-have (or a necessary stocking stuffer, depending on how many foodie friends you’re gifting). The included spreads are: Strawberry & Black Pepper, Rhubarb & Vanilla Bean, and Mango & Yuzu.
Employees want to make it clear that, though these are stellar spreads to pair with cheese and bread, you shouldn’t limit their functionality. “You can use them for anything you want to use them for,” one said, before another added, “It’s true. Even on top of ice cream if the mood strikes.”
Allrecipes / Trader Joe’s
Do you constantly keep a stockpile of frozen Trader Joe’s appetizers on hand? If so, the store has a new one for you to add to your freezer: Mini Filet Mignon en Croute, and employees are apparently digging it.
Employees say to think of the app as mini beef Wellingtons. “It has pieces of beef tenderloin, AKA filet mignon, inside with that duxelles…and cooked down into this really umami-rich addition.” It’s a pretty heavy appetizer, too, perfect if you need to feed a crowd with just some small bites.
Allrecipes / Trader Joe’s
Fortunately, Trader Joe’s hasn’t forgotten those of us who love to enjoy ice cream even when the temperature reaches the single digits. If that’s the camp you fall in, go ahead and indulge in some Gingerbread Ice Cream Sandwiches, but be warned—they’re almost too cute to eat.
“It’s surprising having the warmth of the gingerbread spices … with the very cold ice cream in between,” one employee swooned. The only tough decision you’ll have to make is which limb you’re biting off first. Or, go as one employee recommends: “Head first.”
Allrecipes / Trader Joe’s
On the other hand, it’s totally okay if cold treats just aren’t your vibe in the frigid months. For those of us who couldn’t possibly get any colder, Trader Joe’s has introduced a bakery item that’s comforting enough to warm you right up: Cranberry Pecan Muffins.
It’s not the only cranberry-centric selection at the store, but it may be the best. “They’re just really good, solid, rich, cakey, crumbly, delicious muffins,” one employee gushed. They then waxed poetically about the ample maple flavor in the muffins, not to mention the streusel topping. The whole thing makes for a great breakfast pastry.
Allrecipes / Trader Joe’s
In the mood for greens? Believe it or not, you can totally make a winter-centric side out of summer’s favorite green dish. Obviously, we’re talking about salads—more specifically, Trader Joe’s Cranberry Orange Spinach Salad Kit.
If the name isn’t alluring enough, wait until you hear what’s in it: sweetened dried cranberries, crumbled blue cheese, honey-roasted pecans, and a citrus dressing. Employees love how easy it is to make, as typically when making a loaded salad, “It takes some time, right? You’ve got to get into it. You got to have all the ingredients on hand. This solves that issue entirely. It’s so easy.”
Allrecipes / Trader Joe’s
Of course, cookies have to be among Trader Joe’s holiday product releases, and, apparently, its seasonal Sleigh Ride Cookies don’t disappoint. “This looks like a kitchen sink holiday edition cookie,” one employee said upon opening the package.
The cookies include candy cane pieces and broken Candy Cane Joe-Joe’s, which, when combined with the sugar cookie dough base, make for a satisfying, crunchy cookie. “It would be lovely on a sleigh ride together with you or with anybody else. The smell of these cookies is so enticing. It smells like peppermint. It smells like chocolate. It smells like cookie.”
Allrecipes / Trader Joe’s
Trader Joe’s Kouign Amann (pronounced Queen ah-MAHN) is its own rendition of the classic French pastry, all prepped and ready for holiday munching in the store’s freezer section. Just give the pastries an overnight proof before baking them, and they’re ready to go.
After baking, you’ll be graced with a sweet, buttery, flaky pastry that has TJ’s employees swooning. “It’s like nicely caramelized at the bottom. The sugar’s really caramelized as it cooks underneath. I’m going to take a little bite. Smells so good. So buttery. Oh, my goodness. Even though there’s a lot of sugar, it’s not overly sweet.”
The bottom line? Trader Joe’s is full of can’t-miss holiday products this year, and they won’t stick around forever. This list may only be scratching the surface, but it does represent a delectable sampling of the store’s seasonal offerings.
Dining and Cooking