I Tried 5 of Trader Joe’s Latest and Greatest Pumpkin-Flavored Groceries

Just when you thought #pumpkineverything had reached peak saturation, Trader Joe’s has raised the stakes (again) with even more pumpkin offerings than last year. We’ve already told you about a couple, but there are more, people! Many, many more.

So naturally, when October rolled around this week, I did as any card-carrying fall-lover might do and headed to my local TJ’s (in flannel, of course) and filled my cart with a little taste of the season. Really, I did it for you guys, though. Why waste your dollars on subpar pumpkin anything?

Read these mini-reviews and you’ll be in the know when it comes to Halloween parties, holiday brunches, and all autumnal snacking.

These sort of reminded me of the Lender’s bagels my nana used to eat, only doughier and not freezer-burnt. Still, I say skip these. They smell better than they taste. The pumpkin spice bits throughout are a bit much. The bagel, like most bagels, get better when you toast them and add a spread, but there are better pumpkin products on this list.

To be honest, I don’t love cream cheese frosting, but I liked this because it was laced with cinnamon, clove, cardamom, nutmeg, and black pepper. The icing was actually the best part of this loaf. It’s definitely not homemade, but it’s serviceable for a party or in a pinch. Cut the slices ahead of time for everyone, as it gets a little messy.

I’ve been fangirling hard over the classic Fig & Olive version of these crackers. They’re the perfect balance of sweet and savory, and they really class up a cheese board with their color and texture. But wait, there’s a pumpkin version? Mind blown, and if I’m late to this party, don’t tell me. I’m officially a convert, at least for the season. Expect the same crunch and a hint of pumpkin flavor, which is complemented nicely by a touch of thyme. They’re great with Brie, or you can add tuna to them for a little protein (which may or may not be a polarizing statement — feel free to discuss in the comments).

This new-to-TJ’s soy wax blend candle comes in a cute spice container-like tin. This particular scent is seasonal without being too sweet or cloying, the way most pumpkin candles are. There are spicy notes in there as well, so it’s not all sweet. Approximately 20 hours is the promised burn time. So far, I’ve had it going for a few hours straight (I told you I loved fall!) and the wick is holding up nicely.

My healthiest, fittest friend told me that these waffles are actually pretty low in carbs and sugar, so I had to buy them. They’re also low in pumpkin spice flavor, which I’m totally fine with. They still taste pretty pumpkin-y — just not overwhelmingly so. I ate them plain, but they might be even better with butter, syrup, and whipped cream.

Have you guys tried any of the other one million TJ’s pumpkin products? What’d you think?