I Tried 8 Of Trader Joe's Popular Fall-Themed Products So You Don't Have To

It isn’t fall without unnecessary pumpkin!

As you know, we're now well into fall. There's much to love about this time, but something I look forward to each year is the seasonal section at Trader Joe’s. They go above and beyond, putting pumpkin in literally everything (pumpkin vinegar, anyone?), and it’s always fun to see what new creations they come up with. While I wasn't bold enough to try their pumpkin spice hummus, I did try quite a few of their fall products, and I have many thoughts. So, without further ado, here's my list!

Pumpkin Pancake and Waffle Mix

Trader Joe's / Via traderjoesreviews.com, serraebell

First, we have the pumpkin pancake and waffle mix. Trader Joe's always delivers when it comes to pancakes, and this is no exception. It's about a 7/10 on the pumpkin scale because the flavor really comes through, but it isn't too much. The pancakes and waffles it makes also have just the right amount of sweetness, so you can still enjoy them with some maple syrup without it being too sugary. This is the perfect breakfast for a chilly, fall morning!

Non-Dairy Pumpkin Oat Beverage

Trader Joe's / Via traderjoes.com

This is one of my go-tos when I make my first Trader Joe’s trip of the season. I give it a 10/10 on the pumpkin scale because it's definitely very pumpkin-y, but not in a bad way. Even if you're not an oat milk fan, I would still give it a try because it just tastes like creamy, fall goodness. You can heat it up, drink it cold, or even add it to your pumpkin pancake and waffle mix for extra flavor!

Regular and Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bagels

Trader Joe's / Via traderjoes.com, Trader Joe's / Via traderjoes.com

I love bagels, so when I saw Trader Joe's had pumpkin ones, I obviously had to try them. And then I saw the gluten-free ones, which are pre-sliced unlike the regular, so I had to try those too. Was it necessary? No, but here we are. The regular bagels are an 8/10 on the pumpkin scale. They're pretty good, but you have to slice them yourself, which can be a hassle. The gluten-free bagels are a 7/10, but more pumpkin spice-y. They kind of have a donut taste pre-toasting, and post-toasting, they're super soft and perfect with butter. The only downside is the bag only comes with four bagels instead of five. Still, if I had to decide, I think they're better than the regular, but both are really good.

Gluten-Free Pumpkin Streusel Muffins

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Trader Joe's has a lot to offer in terms of muffins. I knew they would have a seasonal option, and I was lucky enough to get the last box on the shelf. These are a 9/10 on the pumpkin scale. They don't get that last point because of the cinnamon-y streusel flavor, but the tastes complement each other nicely. They have a kind of squishy, dense texture, and, like most Trader Joe's muffins, the best part is the top. I personally prefer the gluten-free cinnamon coffee cake muffins, but these are pretty good heated up.

Pumpkin Rolls

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These are your typical puff pastry cinnamon rolls, but make it ✨fall✨. They're super soft, super easy to make, and will have your whole house/apartment/dorm smelling super good. They're a 7/10 on the pumpkin scale, but the icing ups the score to an 8.5. I found the icing to be just a tiny bit sweet, but that's just me. You can always put on or leave off as much as you want. This is probably one of my favorite items on this list, and a must-try, in my opinion.

Pumpkin Ice Cream

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This is an interesting one for sure, and arguably unnecessary, but I've tried it, so it's here. It's a 10/10 on the pumpkin scale, and it would be higher, but that would defeat the purpose of the scale. The coolness of the ice cream balances out the extreme pumpkin flavor to make a somehow refreshing treat. It's even better paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It's not my favorite on this list, but it's definitely not bad!

Non-Dairy Maple Oat Beverage

Trader Joe's / Via traderjoes.com

We're moving on from the realm of pumpkin and into maple! I didn't even know this existed until I asked an employee if they had the pumpkin version in stock and he showed me this instead. Shout out to that guy, because this is amazing. It's a 0/10 on the pumpkin scale because...it's not pumpkin, but it's perfectly and delicately maple. The flavor is subtle, as it smells more maple-y than it tastes, but there is no oat milk aftertaste at all. You can use it to make French toast, put it in oatmeal, or even drink it by itself, warm or cold. It's great for any fall day!

Maple Leaf Cookies

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Last, but certainly not least, we have the maple leaf cookies. These are also a 0/10 on the pumpkin scale and also one of my favorites on this list. The cookies are somehow soft and crunchy at the same time, and the filling literally melts in your mouth. The maple flavor is strong, but it's not too much at all. These are pretty big for what they are, so having one is the perfect solution to satisfy your random sugar needs. I highly recommend these!

CBC / Via giphy.com

Okay, well, that's all for my list! I hope you enjoyed it or at least found it useful. Now, go to Trader Joe's and treat yourself. Thanks for reading, and happy fall!