3 Not-to-Be-Missed Trader Joe’s Groceries That Just Hit Stores, According to a Former Employee

I swear, as soon as I feel like I can put away my sweaters I’m convinced my taste buds change for the season as well. Maybe you’re the same? Seemingly overnight, my fridge is clearly ready for whatever is the snack equivalent to a sundress, too.

Luckily, Trader Joe’s and I are on the same page. My shop this week featured bright zaps of lemon, technicolor flower blooms, and many, many reasons to celebrate (Daylight Saving Time alone is cause for a cake, don’t you think?). So what ended up in the basket this week? Let’s take a look!

I’m a March baby, which not only means I’m a Pisces, but also that I’m the kind of person who celebrates all month long. It took very little convincing for me to keep the party going with this new Funfetti-esque cake mix that just arrived at Trader Joe’s. If you’re a from-scratch baker like I often am, you don’t want to sleep on this baking mix. 

It really nails the nostalgia factor of confetti cake, while also tasting more semi-homemade than other box mixes. You just need to add the wet ingredients (butter, oil, eggs), and I also love that it provides a frosting mix as well (just add butter). Like the other Trader Joe’s baking mixes, this one will definitely be great for endless riffing; I anticipate using this mix to make some confetti-style biscotti ASAP.

For just a moment, cast aside all bad experiences you’ve ever had with anything pretending to be banana-flavored. We’ve all been duped by strange, alternate-reality banana-flavored treats. But these? These are the genuine (banana) article. I really wasn’t expecting to like these so much, but they have a complexity I’m very much for. 

A crackly milk chocolate shell gives way to a soft, creamy banana filling reminiscent of banana bread, “nice” cream, or dried bananas. They even have a secret crunch I’ve yet to put my finger on that only makes my brain and taste buds go “?!?!” If you’re a fan of the frozen version it’s based around, I have a feeling you’ll really enjoy this more portable version of the treat. I mean, can you imagine just how cute these would be used for decoration on a banana cake?

Blueberry and lemon, like strawberry and rhubarb, is a duo I “ship” all throughout spring. It’s basically the flavor equivalent to a spoiler alert for all the fun produce that’s about to emerge throughout the summer, right? So when I spotted this spring-y iteration of the hand pies Trader Joe’s offers (the other being the apple & pumpkin hand pies), I didn’t hesitate to get my hands on them. 

I popped one in the air-fryer for a few minutes to mimic a fresh-baked pie experience and it didn’t disappoint: A buttery, crackly sugar-dusted crust gives way to a sweet-tart blueberry lemon filling. I topped mine with a generous flourish of whipped cream, and I really think you owe it to yourself to do the same as soon as you possibly can. 

Spot anything new we missed this week? Tell us about it in the comments below!