This week, I once more find myself roaming the aisles of Trader Joe’s for a work assignment—thrilling, right? Beyond the small thrill of being required to frequent my beloved grocery haunt for my job, I also get to indulge in one of my favorite parts of the task: dish the dirt on groceries. Some folks may call it dull, but everyone has their vice, and I won’t tolerate grocery grumbling.
Among everything we hauled back from Trader Joe’s this week for evaluation, a couple of items really stood out and captured our interest. That sparkle doesn’t automatically mean they’ll survive the ultimate acid test—the taste test. So here we are, ready to spill the beans on these picks. Are you primed?
- Pumpkin Caramel Kringle
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Yes, I admit it’s nearly September and I’ve been itching to try this seasonal Kringle, so I gave in. I tend to defend summer’s moment in the sun, but this pastry simply called to me. Trader Joe’s kringles are a familiar love of mine, and this edition didn’t disappoint. The pastry stays reliably flaky, and the combination of a creamy caramel with warming spices felt wonderfully comforting.
What I genuinely appreciated is that pumpkin appears as the second ingredient instead of being outshined by spices alone. The flavor leans more toward the caramelized pumpkin notes, balanced by a light glaze that brings in a touch of cinnamon warmth. The pecan topping adds a crisp autumnal flourish. It could benefit from a touch of salt to balance the sweet, though it’s quite enjoyable as is.
