Trader Joe's devotees will find the aisles of their favorite store suddenly packed with limited-time holiday treats to go along with year-round favorites. From traditional cookies to egg-nog protein smoothies, here are some of the most festive flavors at TJ's for your next cold-weather feast. (And here are 12 Things You Should Skip at Trader Joe's.)
Prices and availability are subject to change.
$9
Pop open this tin of goodness to satisfy your sweet tooth, and keep a few packages in reserve as easy gifts for holiday hosts. Jingle Jangle mixes milk chocolate-covered mini pretzels with dark chocolate-covered caramel popcorn, dark chocolate-covered Joe Joe's cookie bits, candy-coated milk chocolate gems, and mini peanut butter cups. Yes, please.
Related: Why Trader Joe's Employees Are Surprisingly Helpful and Happy
$5
If you ask us, mint and chocolate should be a flavor combo we embrace every month of the year. Sadly, this hot cocoa is only on the shelves at TJ's while it's cold out, so go slurp a big mug of this liquified candy while you can.
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$4
Set some of this creamy cheese out with crackers at any holiday gathering and listen to the compliments roll in. The sweet cranberry is a perfect counterpoint to the tangy goat cheese.
Related: Costco, Trader Joe's, Aldi: How Do They Stay So Cheap?
$3
Not to be confused with the Brewed Ginger Beer available at Trader Joe's year-round, Triple Ginger Brew is a seasonal ginger ale with a more intense kick. Though it's non-alcoholic, TJ's suggests "a squeeze of fresh lime and a few ounces of gin." Well, if you twist our arm.
Related: 20 Cold Weather Cocktails
$3
This staple of the TJ's holiday lineup is a classic for a reason, layering dark chocolate onto minty shortbread stars sprinkled with nonpareils. It's the type of snack that looks lovely sitting in a bowl next to other holiday treats. It's also the type of snack that you might scarf down in its entirety at 2 a.m. in your pantry. You've been warned.
$3
Eggnog lovers, rejoice: Your favorite flavor has gotten a waistline-friendly makeover. This smoothie packing 10 grams of protein is Christmas in a cup. If you're still stuck on fall flavors, you can also grab a pumpkin-spice smoothie with 11 grams of protein.
$5
Sweets aren't the only holiday indulgences at Trader Joe's. This blend of cream cheese, ricotta, parmesan, black truffle paste, and white truffle oil is as luscious on a steak as it is on a cracker or a sandwich made with leftover turkey.
$3.29
Perhaps the granddaddy of the chain's seasonal splendor, Trader Joe's Spiced Cider is a longtime customer favorite that devotees say is great straight from the fridge or gussied up with cinnamon sticks, cranberries, and maybe even a shot of bourbon.
$3
Candy Cane Joe-Joe's may give Spiced Cider a run for its money when it comes to Trader Joe's most iconic holiday treats. For the uninitiated, Joe-Joe's are TJ's answer to Oreos — with real bits of candy cane mixed into the cream. Some come coated in dark chocolate. Just try not to eat the whole box in one sitting.
$2.69
Lebkuchen, a favorite in Germany, are gingerbread cookies flavored with nuts and spices, including almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, candied orange peel, coriander, cardamom, and cinnamon. Available either iced or covered in chocolate, they're perfect with a steaming cup of tea.
$3
Bring the kids in on your holiday toasts with this nonalcoholic sparkling blend of plum and white grape juice, or treat yourself to something a little fizzy even if you're forgoing the bubbly this year.
$7
Plenty of us are looking at a smaller-than-normal holiday crowd this year, so why not take TJ's up on its offer to make your meal a whole lot easier? This juicy turkey breast is marinated in salt, sugar, black pepper, and garlic butter. It also heats up in under an hour.
$3
Trader Joe's knows its gnocchi: After all, the cauliflower gnocchi is one of customers' all-time favorites, and the gorgonzola gnocchi is on our list of best buys. So this decadent holiday dessert with a cocoa-hazelnut center seems like a no-brainer, especially if you dress it up with whipped cream and berries.
$7
Here's an appetizer for someone who harbors a secret love of mozzarella sticks but wants something a little fancier for a holiday meal. The brie is stuffed into a light, flaky pastry crust, and it's perfect for dipping. Serve it with crackers, fruit, veggies or anything else that tastes yummy doused in cheese (that's pretty much everything, if you ask us).
$8
This medium-dark Vienna roast is made with ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and allspice. A longtime TJ's holiday staple, it will make a house smell like Christmas morning any old day of the year.
$3
Chewy peppermint-flavored marshmallows coated in dark chocolate — what's not to like? Put a plate out for a festive after-dinner treat, but don't be surprised when they disappear quickly.
$5
Voilà: The perfect holiday side without any of the holiday stress. This heat-and-eat refrigerated dish fuses sweet potatoes, butter, cinnamon, and maple-roasted pecans for the ultimate in seasonal comfort food.
$1
Talk about an adorable and indulgent stocking stuffer. These individually wrapped plastic spoons come with a generous cube of dark and milk chocolate stuck on the end, topped off with marshmallows. Stir the deliciousness into a warm cup of milk, then enjoy.
$4
Don't get us started on how criminal it is that these are a seasonal item. The cones are made of thin almond-caramel Florentine cookies, and they're stuffed with cheesecake filling, and yes, you need to go get these right now. (For the record, The Kitchn agrees.)
$5
This buttery Italian cake made with candied fruit is one of the most versatile sweet treats of the holiday season. Eat it with a steaming mug of coffee in the morning, as dessert later in the day, or as a snack with a cup of tea. Use it to make French toast for an extra-special holiday breakfast. TJ's even carries a gluten-free version.
$7
It's a shame bacon-wrapped scallops are a seasonal item, because bacon anything is a winner in our book. If you need an easy but impressive appetizer for your next get-together, look no further than TJ's always-impressive frozen-food section.
$8
Voted one of the top bakery items in the chain's 11th Annual Customer Choice Awards, Wisconsin-made Danish Kringle is a ring of sweet, almond-flavored pastry with layers upon layers of flaky goodness, all topped with a drizzle of icing. They're delicious warm, but if you can't wait, a cold slice will do just fine.
$4
Winter Wassail punch, made with spices including cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and ginger, may leave you "spontaneously bursting into carols of the season with every sip," Trader Joe's warns. We'd say the chances of that are even higher if you mix it with red wine, bourbon, or another libation.
Related: 15 Best House Wines From Costco, Aldi, and Trader Joe's
$4
They're savory, they're sweet, and The Kitchn says they're bound to be a hit as a starter during your next shindig — even if this year that means your just devouring them with your immediate family. And these appetizers are party-ready after just 12 minutes in the oven.
$4
Here's a snack that may just keep you from diving into all that leftover Halloween candy (Okay maybe not). Still, these crackers are a crowd-pleaser because they're both sweet and savory. They're also the perfect canvas for any number of dips or TJ's decadent Brie en Croute.
$7
We know it's the holidays, but that doesn't mean you have to bake. TJ's is ready to help if you decide to outsource, offering temptations like this buttery shell filled with rich chocolate-and-pecan goodness. Serve it with ice cream or whipped cream, or just dig in with a fork. Plates are optional.
$2
This holiday sibling of TJ's tasty, cult-favorite chocolate-chip meringues are crunchy, soft, sweet, and festive all at once. Consider them a lighter, more diet-friendly alternative to cookies, but be careful you don't eat the whole package at once, Redditors warn.
$2
Another warm drink flavored with peppermint? Hey, we won't argue, and it gets near-perfect reviews on Amazon, where buyers pay three times what it costs in the store. It may even save you from splurging on that pricey peppermint latte.
$3
Tired of peppermint and gingerbread? This foil-wrapped TJ's staple is a luscious alternative, with orange-flavored chocolate pieces that easily break away. It's also so beautifully packaged that it's definitely gift-worthy (if you don't eat if first yourself, of course).
$4
It's a long name for a classic blend of salty and sweet. A crispy cracker is an unassuming base for layers of creamy chocolate, salted honey toffee, almond bits, and — surprise! — a hint of ground coffee.
$3
Scandinavian Tidings are the perfect little gummies to set out in a candy dish — with red ornaments, green trees, and white stars, they look just as good as they taste. Beware: Reviewers report scarfing down the whole bag in one sitting.
$3.49
It's hard to go wrong with a classic gingerbread man, especially one covered in a layer of white fudge icing. But these are small enough that you'll want to eat way more than one in a sitting. (TJ's says three cookies equals one serving, but we all know serving sizes and holidays don't mix.)
$3
Who says a holiday treat needs to be edible? We're all hoarding hand soap, so why not make it a little more festive with this coconut- and olive-oil-based cleanser? It's scented with real peppermint oil that makes it smell good enough to eat (but please don't).
$6
It's been a long year, and we can't blame you if all you really want is some comfort food for the holidays. Enter Trader Joe's Cauliflower Tater Tot Casserole, which is every bit as decadent as it sounds. The cauliflower tots are bathed in a ranch-seasoned béchamel and topped with shredded cheddar, making this a dish that will definitely warm you up on a cold winter's night.
