The $5 Trader Joe’s Cozy Snack I Look Forward to Every Fall

The arrival of pumpkin spice lattes in coffee shops seems to be the signal for everyone to go full-on pumpkin everything in stores. Because I’m not a coffee drinker, my morning craving is the Pumpkin Brioche Twist from Trader Joe’s. PBT? It could catch on. We all know Trader Joe’s has an extensive assortment of pumpkin favorites (pumpkin cheese cake croissants, anyone?), but my must-have is this brioche. The first time I tried it I couldn’t stop eating it, and in 24 hours I had managed to finish the entire loaf.

While talking about my love for the brioche on Instagram, I learned that there were in fact two different products: The West Coast had pumpkin brioche, and the East Coast had a twist version. I had only ever known of the classic loaf, pre-cut into thick slices with a light pumpkin-colored hue. I loved the subtle flavor, which was spiced just enough to give you that cozy fall feeling without being overpowering. I had never considered bread snackable before, but with the pumpkin purée and sour cream keeping it moist and not overly sweet, it was the perfect snack. 

But then, starting in 2022, Trader Joe’s discontinued the classic loaf and now, the twist is in all stores. I was already gearing up to start a petition, but decided I’d first give the twist a chance. I was pleased to find that it had the same fluffy texture that made the original so irresistible. I also loved the added swirls of warm spices that reminded me of a cinnamon bun. Approved! While I could see it being great for French toast, I’m still quite content with snacking on it straight out of the bag. If you want your very own, I’d suggest getting down to TJ’s sooner rather than later — we all know how quickly those pumpkin-flavored goods sell out!