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It's the best time of year to share a good treat with family and friends. Here are the best Trader Joe's Christmas items to stock up on for seasonal snacking.
The Best Trader Joe’s Christmas Items for 2024, Ranked
Published on Dec. 05, 2024
Trader Joe’s Christmas items run the flavor gamut from peppermint to cranberry to maple. To find the best of the best, we scoured the store from the produce section all the way to the freezers.
Just like with year-round Trader Joe’s snacks, we carefully analyzed every wintry product to make sure it was worth the splurge. The items in this roundup are ranked based on taste and visual appeal. Since this is a season filled with so much from-scratch baking, we also took into consideration how the treats stacked up against a homemade version of the dish.
While you’re stocking up on ingredients for Christmas dinner, add these TJ’s items to your cart. And hey, if the package turns into a car snack and doesn’t make it home, we’ll never tell!
15. Maple Flavored Fudge
This small box of rich and buttery English fudge gets a hint of sweetness from maple syrup. The bite-sized pieces are ideal for a sweet treat after a big meal. They would also make a great addition to a Christmas cookie platter or dessert tray.
Though we loved the distinct maple flavor, we did find that the fudge squares were on the drier side and tended to crumble in the package and in our hands. In terms of texture, they were closer to a maple candy rather than a tender fudge.
14. Trio of Almonds
Nuts are another staple of the holiday season. It’s nice to place some out in a small dish for guests to nibble on before a meal or while opening gifts. The Trader Joe’s Trio of Almonds caught our eye because the tin contained three options. We liked the variety! These would look so pretty in an elegant candy dish or as an addition to a festive charcuterie board.
Inside were crisp and shiny caramel coffee almonds, gorgeous sesame honey almonds and roasted salted almonds. After the first few bites, we were hooked. The caramel coffee almonds and the sesame honey varieties were outstanding. The roasted salted almonds felt less inspired, however. We would have loved if TJ’s added one more interesting flavor to the mix.
13. Stollen Crisps
We were intrigued when our eyes caught this box of Stollen Crisps in the cracker aisle of Trader Joe’s. The sweet, crisp crackers are inspired by the classic German holiday bread. Each one is studded with raisins, orange and lemon peels and finished with a dusting of confectioners’ sugar.
The texture and flavors were lovely, even if the dried fruit inside was a bit sticky. Pair the crackers with whipped chevre, aged Gouda or warm baked Brie.
12. Organic Peeled and Cooked Chestnuts
Do you dream of chestnuts roasting on an open fire? Look no further than the Trader Joe’s produce section. We spotted a bag of whole, in-shell fresh Italian chestnuts, as well as this convenient package of peeled and cooked chestnuts.
We loved the convenience of these prepared chestnuts, which are ready to go straight from the package. They are a delicious accompaniment to roasted meats and poultry. You can even try them in savory stuffings (there’s a recipe on the box!), sauteed with fresh vegetables or in luscious Christmas desserts.
11. Jingle Jangle Pretzel Twists
Take a moment and imagine large, salted pretzel twists covered in a peanut butter coating, then loaded with candy-coated dark chocolate gems and crushed Joe-Joe’s cookie bits. The result is a crunchy treat reminiscent of an over-the-top kitchen sink cookie. Every bite is a little bit of the best of everything in one wildly addictive snack. They are even more delicious when dunked in a warm mug of hot cocoa or coffee.
We thought these were fun, and the variety of colors and textures were delightful. They are certainly more of a kid-oriented snack rather than a sophisticated or unique treat for adults. Then again, aren’t we all just big kids during the holidays?
10. Mini Brioche Bites
It’s exciting to scour the Trader Joe’s freezer section for new appetizer ideas. There’s always something fun to serve at a party, and these mini brioche bites are no exception. The little French appetizers combine the butteriness of brioche, the mild cheesiness of Brie and the sweet flavor of apricot jam.
They are easy to prepare in the oven or air fryer and are ready to serve in about 10 minutes. Our only complaint with these brioche bites is that they were sweeter than expected, which overpowered the subtle notes we looked forward to from the Brie.
9. Danish Butter Cookies
Is there anything more iconic during the holidays than a festive tin filled with Danish butter cookies? They are an annual favorite for a reason. The Trader Joe’s version of these cookies comes in a gorgeous reusable and giftable tin adorned with blue, red, white and gold Scandinavian designs.
Each cookie was light and crisp, with a rich, buttery taste and a subtle hint of coconut. The pretzel, starburst, honeycomb, ring and square shapes add visual interest as well. Three of the five varieties are dusted with a sprinkle of sugar on top for extra crunch.
8. Mini Panettone Classico
Italian panettone is another Christmas staple and Trader Joe’s does not disappoint with its variety of options. I found elegantly gift-wrapped chocolate creme-filled panettones, a large, traditional panettone perfect and a mini panettone ornament.
This individual panettoncino is about the size of a large muffin and is ideal when you want to savor a panettone all by yourself. It was rich, moist and full of candied orange and raisins. It can be enjoyed any time of day but is particularly delicious with a morning espresso for breakfast or as a light dessert after a holiday feast. We found the bread to be delightfully tender with an airy texture.
7. Peppermint Flavored Mini Hold the Cone Ice Cream Cones
No trip to Trader Joe’s is complete without picking up a box of Hold the Cone ice cream cones from the freezer section. While the vanilla and chocolate varieties are available year-round, this seasonal peppermint version was stellar.
We suggest picking up a box or two as soon as you spot them because they do tend to disappear quickly. Each package comes with eight mini crispy chocolate cones filled with rich peppermint-flavored ice cream dipped in a chocolate coating. Best of all, the serving size is three cones for 260 calories, which means each one is only around 87 calories. We love reaching for this small indulgence during a season filled with sweets.
6. Cranberry Butter Cookies
These unassuming cranberry butter cookies were nestled in a corner, almost overshadowed by the tidal wave of fancy Christmas treats that flood Trader Joe’s this time of year. They are classic French butter cookies made with sweetened dried cranberries and a touch of cinnamon.
We found these to be simple yet sophisticated and elegant. Upon looking at the ingredient list, we discovered what made these cookies stand out. They are made from cultured butter, resulting in a more dynamic and complex flavor than traditional butter. Cultured butter has a slightly tangy and nutty taste. It makes these delightful cookies worth hunting for!
5. German Iced Gingerbread
These iced gingerbread cookies from Germany are absolutely gorgeous. Inside the box are two large, rectangle-shaped cookies embossed with a festive pattern and topped with a thin icing glaze that settles into all the nooks and crannies. They are filled with the warm spices of the season: cinnamon, ginger, clove, black pepper and nutmeg. All the flavors shine through without being overpowering.
What we enjoyed most about these cookies is that they are inherently interactive and sharable. The large rectangle shape is perfect for breaking off bite-sized pieces and enjoying with loved ones.
4. Winter Wassail Punch
We were impressed by the variety of holiday beverage options at Trader Joe’s. They had everything from spiked egg nog to glühwein to an “ugly sweater” themed bottle of red wine. For the purpose of this ranking, we wanted to sample something the whole family could enjoy, so we picked up a bottle of their winter wassail punch.
Wassail is an old English drink accompanied by rituals believed to influence a plentiful apple harvest the following year. It has evolved to become a mulled beverage made with spices and served in a large communal bowl, frequently served at social gatherings during yuletide.
This festive blend of apple, cherry, blackcurrant and lemon juice is infused with holiday spices and orange peel. Enjoy the punch chilled, warm or even spiked for the 21+ crowd. As a bonus, it’ll make your house smell divine!
3. English Toffee with Nuts
A batch of homemade English toffee is a delight to eat and gift during the holidays. However, candy-making can be a time-consuming and delicate process. That’s why when we discover a high-quality version in stores, it is certainly a find. The English toffee with nuts from Trader Joe’s definitely fits the bill.
Each log-shaped piece in the generously sized 30-ounce tin has a crunchy and buttery toffee center enrobed with a chocolate coating and sprinkled with chopped nuts. These classic Christmas treats are made using traditional confectioners’ kettles over an open flame. There are pieces of fresh almonds in the crunchy toffee center with lots of chopped nuts on the outside as well.
Don’t arrive at your next holiday party empty-handed. Bring this as a hostess gift, and you will be asked back again next year!
2. Dark Chocolate Peppermint Joe-Joe’s
Joe-Joe’s sandwich cookies are another staple on Trader Joe’s shelves. They offer the classic version year-round as well as special limited-edition seasonal varieties. These have never been overly impressive to us—until now. The dark chocolate-covered peppermint Joe-Joe’s are over-the-top and fabulous, just as a holiday treat should be.
Two chocolate cookies are sandwiched together with a creme center that is filled with crushed peppermint candies. Then, the whole sandwich cookie is dunked in luscious dark chocolate. Finally, it is sprinkled with more crushed peppermint candies for visual interest and texture. These chocolate minty sensations have to be tasted to be believed.
1. Marzipan Stollen
Taking the top slot in our Trader Joe’s Christmas items list is this elegant loaf of marzipan stollen imported from Germany. This is another one of those holiday food items that can be a time-consuming and challenging recipe to execute at home. That’s exactly why we fell in love with the Trader Joe’s version.
Stollen is a traditional sweet, fruit-filled bread made in Germany to celebrate the holidays. We loved that this stollen was made with the luxurious marzipan rope throughout. While every bite is a delight, there is something extra special about the nibbles that come with some of this almond-flavored filling as well. The small loaf was made in the traditional fold-over shape and topped with a generous coating of confectioners’ sugar.
