6 Not-to-Be-Missed Trader Joe’s Groceries That Just Hit Stores, According to a Former Employee
If Trader Joe’s made commercials, I might suggest it use a cover of The Rolling Stone’s “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” as the backing music with a few lyrical tweaks. Namely, I’d change the chorus to “You can’t always get what you NEED / but if you try sometimes, you get what you WANT.” Why is that? Well, the grocer seems to really be leaning into new, fun items I really don’t need, but very much want.
And look, I’m not mad about it! I may need to make an extra stop at Wegmans, or Costco, or Lidl for some actual needs, but my wants? They were very much taken care of this month with a cart full of chocolate-covered cookies (and candy), a snazzy new seasoning blend, savory nuts, and more.
1. Dark Chocolate French Butter Cookies, $3.29 for 4.76 ounces
As soon as I spotted this box, I knew there was a 100% chance these would be incredible. You’ve got dark chocolate coating crispy, salty, thin French butter cookies (aka sablé breton) — the making of a bonafide hit, in my book.
Upon closer look, these cookies are actually 13% cultured butter(!!!), which you can truly taste. They’re crackly and sweet with a dark-chocolate coating that balances the subtle saltiness. As a card-carrying member of Team Crispy Cookie, the Dark Chocolate French Butter cookies would get the gold at my own Cookie Olympics. My main plans this week might just be layering these into a supremely rich, frosty icebox cake, and I suggest you do the same.
2. Ranch Seasoned Cashews, $3.99 for 8 ounces
With a bag that looks so modest, I wasn’t expecting these ranch-seasoned cashews to be my instant favorite of the month. Maybe there’s a lesson in there? Probably. Regardless, these irresistible cashews (with a creamy, herbaceous, and tangy coating) have temporarily de-throned some of my other favorite ranch-flavored snacks.
How is that? Well, somehow Trader Joe’s managed to pack even more rich ranch flavor into such a small package (maybe the dried sour cream and buttermilk? I may never know). Either way, pick up a bag or two of these and enjoy with a hoppy beer, or use as a topper for salads, or as the base for a cashew cream sauce or dip.
3. Crunchy Chili Onion Sprinkle Seasoning Blend, $1.99 for 2.64 ounces
Sure, you could just settle for the already very good crunchy chili oil, but why stop there? Now you can fit even more spicy-crunchy-oniony-salty-sweet flavor into things you’d rather not get overly oil-logged or soggy (see: popcorn, hummus, french fries) with this new Crunchy Chili Onion Sprinkle Seasoning Blend.
Let me say that I can handle my heat (I eat the OG Crunchy Chili Onion as if it’s as mild as ketchup), but this newest seasoning blend made my lips tingle for a lot longer than I anticipated. For all the spice fiends out there, they’ll be happy to know this spice mix is loaded with a nose-clearing amount of dried Szechuan pepper, fried onion pieces, and roasted garlic that’ll add plenty of zip and crunch to whatever you choose to sprinkle it on.
4. Milk Chocolate-Covered Gummy Bears, $3.99 for 8 ounces
Perhaps the top example of Trader Joe’s giving me what I want, but perhaps not what I need, I give you (drumroll): Milk Chocolate Covered Gummy Bears. The milk chocolate coating is crackly and coats each juicy, sweet bear just enough so you can still taste the fruitiness of the gummies.
I certainly will bring these to all the outdoor movies I’m going to this summer, and I’m excited to see what would happen when they get a bit melty in the sun at the beach … so perhaps they are a need and a want after all?
5. Mocha Latte Pretzels, $2.99 for 7 ounces
If you’re a fan of all the coffee-centered sweets at Trader Joe’s (Brownie Crisp Ice Cream Sandwiches, Coffee & Dark Chocolate Joe-Joe’s) you’re going to want to clear some shelf space for the newest member of the gang: The Mocha Latte Pretzels.
With a coffee-chocolate-laced yogurt coating salty pretzels, these Mocha Latte Pretzels are actually the result of a customer poll from earlier this year, where this flavor emerged as the winner (beating others like birthday cake, chocolate donut, and PB&J). I’m so glad it was! These mini pretzels are incredible when added to a bowl of vanilla ice cream or crumbled on top of a frozen coffee-frappe situation.
6. Cacay Oil Body Butter, $6.99 for 8 ounces
Smell, like taste, can usher in an avalanche of memories and feelings. Trader Joe’s ultra-popular Brazil Nut Butter, for example, makes me think of past tropical vacations. The newest Cacay Oil Body Butter generally just makes me feel supremely warm and cozy. It almost reminds me — and I mean this in the best way possible — of my mom’s lightly scented Avon perfume collection in the ’90s.
It seems I’m maybe not too far off, as South American cacay oil has long been used for its cosmetic properties (maybe even in my mom’s ’90s beauty routine?), which pairs super well with a faint scent of pink dragonfruit and jasmine. Beyond aromatics, this affordable body butter packs so much goodness to the ounce. It just might transport you to some ultra-soft skin.
Which new Trader Joe’s items are you adding to your cart? Tell us in the comments below.