The 10 Best Trader Joe's Finds for August
When a new month rolls around, you can guarantee that Trader Joe's has something new (or many new things) up their floral-patterned sleeve. Finding the new products on a towering endcap display or looking for those "NEW" signs in the freezer case is a sport for some.
Redditors can't get enough of the Trader Joe's treasure hunt, either, reporting dutifully back to others when they track down the new products in their store.
We headed to our local TJ's to take a peek at what's hot before the summer ends. Here are the top Trader Joe's finds for August.
Here at Parade.com, we're all about sharing products we love with our audience. When you purchase an item seen on this page, we may earn a commission, however, all picks are independently chosen unless otherwise mentioned.
Related: The 20+ 'Perfect' Trader Joe's Items, According to Reddit
1. Root Beer Float Bars
Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel
People are already hyped over these new limited-edition summer bars which are supposed to be like a root beer float in ice cream bar form. Trader Joe's says these new nostalgic pops are "root beer-flavored ice pops, filled with vanilla ice cream and served on a stick." Seems simple enough. One Redditor says they're her new favorite: "I always liked the root beer pops in those multipacks growing up so I really like these." Others think the distribution of the root beer in the pop was a bit off: "Purchased them today. Agree that the distribution of root beer was strange; the top third of my bar was solid root beer. They are okay, but I will return to my favorite brownie coffee crisp ice cream sandwiches next time."
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2. Pomodoro Cremoso Salad Kit
Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel
The creative bagged salad options are TJ are numerous and it's tough to choose just one. The new Pomodoro Cremoso salad is a blend of five lettuces, a creamy tomato dressing, rosemary focaccia croutons and tiny Parmesan cheese crisps. Redditors are making this one into a full-on meal saying "I really liked this! I added cucumbers, cherry tomatoes and some herb pork loin. Super easy and fast dinner." Others weren't fans of the creamy tomato dressing but were enticed by the croutons. "It was good. My husband and I both thought the dressing tasted a bit “taco-ey,” said one commenter. "I can see how the dressing could be a hit or miss for someone" and "The rosemary focaccia [croutons] is what sold me!!"
3. S'mores Bars
Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel
TJ's brought both their s'mores ice cream and s'mores clusters on board this summer, and now these thick, gooey, three-bite bars are the dessert everyone is loving. Whether you choose to eat them thawed or warmed up (try them in the air fryer), the s'mores taste will be there. The bottom layer is a graham-cracker-crumb crust, followed by a decadent brownie and topped with a toasted ooey gooey marshmallow. One Reddit post is just titled "S'Mores Bars....yup, my diet is ruined" so that gives you an idea of what you're in for.
Related: From Chile Lime to Ketchup Sprinkle, These Are the 20 Best (& Worst) Trader Joe's Seasoning Blends
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4. Tiny Fruity Cuties Cereal
Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel
This new sweetened oat and corn cereal in a very pretty box has definite nostalgic-like vibes, but Redditors are torn. "I was getting Froot Loops but not as airy maybe a little Cap'n Crunchy without the shredded palate. It's really hitting the spot right now, but this isn't the kind of thing I eat very often. I'm glad to know it's there, at least for now" says one. "Tastes like Trix," says another.
The folks at Trader Joe's would probably argue that it's more of a Froot Loops dupe. "Our Tiny Fruity Cuties may cause you to reminisce about the fruity, hoopy cereals of your past," reads the product description on the TJ's website. The cereal has no artificial flavors or colors, is extra crunchy and promises "notes [of] tangy tangerine with whiffs of lemongrass." That seems like a stretch for a bowl of cereal, but aim high, Trader Joe's!
Trader Joe's Tiny Fruity Cuties Cereal Net Wt. 16 Oz (1 Lb) - Pack of 1
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5. Trio of Soft Licorice Twists
Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel
Most users on Reddit have been commenting that they have been super excited to find these new bite-sized candies in green apple, raspberry and mango on the shelf but once they get them home, the excitement falls flat.
"I love TJ's black, strawberry, and mixed berry (when they have it) soft licorice twists. I was really excited for the trio. It looked so promising but was sooo disappointing! I love chewiness, but these were unpleasantly hard and chewy," says one user.
Still, some aren't giving up on the candy, comparing it to their favorite go-to, Darrell Lea Mixed Flavor Licorice. "I just so happened to buy a bag of Darrel Lea soft Australian licorice today, and it does look very similar to this TJ's product (which I haven't tried yet). Only 7oz vs. 8oz, and strawberry instead of raspberry. But the packaging and color scheme have a strong resemblance."
Trader Joe's Trio of Soft Licorice Twists Raspberry Mango Green Apple, 8 oz (Pack of 1)
6. Celebration Cake Gelato
Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel
It doesn't have to be your birthday to dig into the newest pint from Trader Joe's. "Gotta taste that celebration cake! Sounds amazing! 😍" says one excited Redditor. And the excitement is contagious on the TJ subreddit with users saying it tastes like cake batter ice cream with just the right amount of sweetness.
"The sprinkles kept their crunchy yet soft texture, but unfortunately my pint didn’t have a lot of cake in it," says another (this writer can back that claim up, too). The creamy, cake batter-flavored gelato has pieces of cake and bright, rainbow-hued sprinkles throughout the pint. We won't tell if you eat it all in one sitting (and you just might).
Related: The Trader Joe's Freezer Staple Reddit Is Obsessed With —' I Can and Will Add Them to Anything'
7. Vegetable and Cheese Enchiladas
Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel
With bell pepper, corn, zucchini, green chile, nopal cactus, Monterey Jack cheese and salsa roja, these revamped enchiladas are popular with Redditors.
"Saw these Vegetable & Cheese enchiladas at my TJ’s yesterday. Taste just the same as the old ones but these do have zucchini. Little less cheese but still just as yummy" says one and "I used to live on these; I’m so glad they’re back! I would always doctor them up with more cheese/toppings, anyway." Even better, like most TJ frozen items, the package lists cooking directions for the microwave, oven or air fryer.
8. Pickle Curds
Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel
Arriving on the heels of the frozen breaded cheddar cheese curds this summer, these new pickle curds are confusing some shoppers. "These cheese curds are amazing! Are they new or have I just missed them for a decade?? I could easily eat this entire, tiny little pack."
People are getting creative with the little 4-ounce bag with one saying "I like them but think they're a little dry, though that hasn't stopped me from grabbing a pack or two every trip lol... but I added them to the dill-icious salad mix once and it was great!"
Need more ideas? "The display at my store suggested putting them on a burger, so I grabbed a pack to do that with," said another commenter. "Has anyone already put them on a burger? If so, I’d love some suggestions for what other toppings would go nicely!"
Related: The 7 Best Trader Joe's Pickle Products, According to Fans
9. Hold the Dairy! Salted Caramel Cones
Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel
Vegans, rejoice! There's yet another delicious dessert option in the freezer case at Trader Joe's. This time it's tiny, chocolate-lined salted caramel ice cream cones. The other version (chocolate) has some solid fans on Reddit already and people are ready for the caramel version.
"I really like all the dairy-free frozen treats TJ's has been coming out with. They taste super yummy! (and my stomach is happy haha)," says one. "So excited for the caramel cones," added another. "Literally just said the other day how I wished they had another non-dairy flavor because I don’t like chocolate. Caramel is my absolutely favorite flavor!"
10. Dairy-Free Shredded Spicy Mexican-Style Blend Cheese Alternative
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Trader Joe's is always there for folks who don't do dairy. Their new Mexican-style shreds are flavored with cayenne, cumin and dried jalapeño and come from a supplier in Greece that specializes in plant-based cheese alternatives. This product is so new that stores may not have it yet and it also doesn't have a lot of chatter on Reddit, but we bet it'll make the rounds soon since other TJ dairy-free cheeses are so popular. This one looks like an amazing addition to your late-summer tacos, burgers and nachos.
Next: 13 Groceries to Help You Break Out of Your Trader Joe's Rut
