This $3 Trader Joe’s Frozen Dessert Is the Best Thing Since Apple Pie

Despite apple pie being one of the most iconic desserts in the U.S., I didn’t grow up eating it in my Mexican American home. It wasn’t until I met my husband — who introduced me to Dutch apple pie after a trip to Julian, California — that I discovered the beauty of apple-based desserts. The buttery crust! The spiced apples! The streusel topping! It was love at first bite.

When I first came across Trader Joe’s Apple Blossoms, I immediately knew I had to try them. The frozen dessert, which has been a customer favorite for more than 20 years, packs everything I adore about Dutch apple pie into a cute single-serve portion. (And for less than $3!) I bought it once and it immediately became my go-to grocery-store dessert.

Roughly the size of a handheld pie, these pastry blossoms are filled with slightly sweet and spiced Northern Spy apples and topped with a crumbly cinnamon-y streusel. They come in packs of two, and each one is individually wrapped, which is a nice feature if you’re planning to save one for later. My husband and I have a Friday night apple blossom tradition, where we heat up a couple of them and top them with a scoop of our favorite ice cream.

Although the instructions on the box suggest heating them in the oven or microwave, I’ve found they’re even better cooked in the air fryer. I heat them in two (eight-minute) intervals at 275°F. After the first interval, I stick a fork in the middle a few times to break up the icy center (biting into a cold center is not pleasant at all!), then put them back in for the remaining time. The result: perfectly warm apple filling and crispy, flaky crust.

Once they’re out of the air fryer, I immediately top each one with a scoop of ice cream so it can melt a bit. In the past we’ve alternated between vanilla and coffee ice cream, but it’s fun to experiment with different flavors. Lately I’ve been reaching for Trader Joe’s new Horchata Ice Cream. (If you haven’t tried it, it’s one that’s not to be missed.)

Combined with the crunchy streusel topping, the sweet and creamy horchata ice cream transports me back to my childhood in a way that other flavors just can’t match. And it feels like the perfect marriage between my upbringing and my husband’s.

Find it in stores: Trader Joe’s Apple Blossoms, $2.49 for 8.04 ounces

Do you have a favorite frozen dessert from Trader Joe’s? Tell us in the comments below.