For countless devoted customers, a trip to Trader Joe’s transcends the typical shopping outing and becomes a beloved tradition. The store, often hailed as a haven for families navigating dietary restrictions, offers an array of distinctive and innovative products at budget-friendly prices.
However, not every bakery item earns the same acclaim from its patrons. After gathering input from actual Trader Joe’s shoppers, we’ve compiled a list of six bakery items that consistently receive high praise, alongside four that many believe are best left on the shelf.
6 Beloved Trader Joe's Bakery Items On Shelves Now
1. Apple Cinnamon Buns ($4.49)
Trader Joe's is now offering these delightful Apple Cinnamon Buns, Danish-style pastries with sweet dough filled with a cinnamon-apple compote. Twisted into a knot and sprinkled with a light, streusel-like crumb, these treats are baked to a perfect golden brown. Popular Trader Joe's-themed Instagram account @trader_joes_treasure_hunt recently uploaded a post dedicated to the item. Fans in the comments section praised it, with one writing that they were "Pretty good!" One fan advised others to "eat them warm!!!!"
2. Chocolate Mousse Pumpkins ($3.99)
Grab these before they're gone! These seasonal little desserts continue to garner rave reviews from fans on social media. These delightful treats, shaped like pumpkins, feature a rich chocolate cake paired with a velvety mousse. Despite their festive appearance, they contain no actual pumpkin, achieving an ideal balance between the mousse and the chocolate cake. As per the comments section of a recent post from Instagram account @traderjoeslist, customers can't get enough of them. "These are the BEST treat!" one user wrote, before going on to say that they are "gems of perfection." Someone else commented: "I get these every year!" Another exclaimed: "So yummy in the fridge!"
3. Teeny Tiny Pecan Pies ($4.99)
Trader Joe's fans are buzzing over the Teeny Tiny Pecan Pies. Each charming mini pie, measuring around three inches in diameter, boasts a luscious brown sugar and pecan filling enveloped in a tender, buttery crust. According to the brand, these are topped with a Junior Mammoth pecan half and baked to a flawless golden brown. Many are finding them ideal for satisfying pie cravings without committing to a full-sized dessert. In the comments section of a post about the pies from @trader_joes_treasure_hunt, one fan described them to be "what thanksgiving dreams are made of" as another commented that they are "the cutest."
4. Vegan Banana Bread With Walnuts ($5.49)
Trader Joe's vegan banana bread has long been a favorite among customers, cherished for its delightful sweetness, tender crumb, and the impressive feat of being made without any dairy or eggs. As evident in the comments on the official @traderjoes Instagram page, where a post highlighted the item, fans shared their enthusiasm and confessed their obsession with the banana bread. "Freaking delicious!!!!" one wrote as another added: "My new staple item I love it." Someone else chimed in: "Easily the best banana loaf I’ve had."
5. Pumpkin Loaf ($4.99)
Another seasonal Trader Joe's items fans never seem to get enough of is its bakery's pumpkin loaf. This loaf, crafted from wheat flour, features pumpkin purée, a medley of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, and cloves, enhanced with a touch of vanilla and topped with a delightful layer of crunchy sugar. As one fan recently wrote beneath an Instagram post from @traderjolene: "Pumpkin everything!!!!!!" as someone else noted: "My store was sold out of the pumpkin loaf today." (Snag it fast if you see it this fall!)
6. Pancake Bread ($4.49)
This product has been flying off the shelves over recent years, according to fans. Beneath a post from @traderjolene, one fan who tried it wrote: "I buy this & eat the whole thing every time… No regrets." One other added: "A fave in our house." Someone else commented: "I never leave the store without Pancake Bread..it’s a staple in our household."
4 Trader Joe's Items Best Left On The Shelf, Fans Say
1. Raspberry Croissant Carré ($5.99)
Trader Joe’s Raspberry Croissant Carré features dough that has been meticulously layered with butter and filled with a tangy raspberry mixture, sweetened slightly with sugar and enhanced with a hint of lemon juice to boost the fruity flavor. As described by the retailer, the dough layers envelop the luscious filling, are topped with coarse sugar crystals, and then baked to perfection. Despite this enticing description, many Trader Joe’s enthusiasts on social media have expressed their disappointment with the product. TikTok user and Trader Joe’s crew member named Liz (a.k.a. @onemorehour617) said in a recent TikTok video: "Some of you may hate me for saying this, but the raspberry croissant carré is just not it. If you don’t mind chewing on some tin foil, this might be for you, but it definitely gets stuck to the bottom of the pan."
2. Portuguese Bacalhau Tartelettes ($4.99)
Another Trader Joe's item that hasn't won over fans is the Bacalhau Tartelettes. According to Trader Joe's, these codfish pastries boast an all-butter laminated crust encasing a rich filling of bechamel sauce, egg yolks, diced potatoes, and salted cod. The taste is further elevated with the addition of onion, garlic, nutmeg, and a touch of piri piri chilis. "I’m not sure how authentic these are but I really didn’t like these at all," TikToker @onemorehour617 said in her aforementioned video. She added: "The texture was super off-putting."
3. Cauliflower Pizza Crusts ($4.99)
Trader Joe's cauliflower pizza crusts haven't won much affection on social media. Crafted from shredded cauliflower, whole eggs, and grated Parmesan, they remain somewhat underappreciated by fans. Beneath a post about the item from the @traderjoes Instagram page, one user wrote: "I have purchased multiple crusts w no cardboard backing and the crust is HORRIBLE." Someone else added:
4. Oven-Baked Cheese Bites ($2.99)
These crispy, cheesy bites are loaded with protein and contain virtually no carbs (under one gram per serving), yet they have not resonated with fans. "They are the worst product I've ever had at my store. It tastes so bland and it's not worth the macros in my opinion," wrote one person on Reddit. Someone else added: "These were so bad, I tried to feed them to my dog, and even he didn't want it."
Can't win 'em all! However, there are still plenty of TJ's items that fans continue to praise and commend on social media.
