I Tried Trader Joe’s New Products for March 2024

Trader Joe’s released many new products recently, from popcorn to pizza-flavored chips to chocolate-filled ice cream cone tips. I went to my local Trader Joe’s to try their new items for this month. I taste tested and reviewed these products, so if you want to decide which items to pick up on your March grocery run, here’s my list.

1. Chocolate Cheesecake Bites – $4.99

We’re starting the list off super strong with Trader Joe’s new Chocolate Cheesecake Bites. These decadent little guys are found in the freezer section and should be thawed for about two hours before enjoying.

These bites have a creamy, velvety texture and intensely rich chocolatey flavor. There’s a chocolate cookie crust on the bottom, which amps up the chocolate factor even more. My only complaint about these is that the crust is insanely crumbly, and by the time you transport it from the plate to your mouth, your table will be completely covered in crumbs.

Rating: 9/10

2. Vegan Pepperoni – $4.99

I’m not a vegan, but I’m always open to a plant-based alternative, so I had to pick up this pepperoni to give it a try. I tried a few slices plain and a few warmed up — they’re significantly better warm, and I have a feeling they’d be even better crisped up in the oven.

These have less of a chew than real pepperoni, but the flavor notes are similar — smoke flavor, garlic, and paprika being some of the main players. If you’re looking for a super similar substitute to actual pepperoni, you might be disappointed with this. But if you don’t mind something slightly different, these might be worth picking up.

Rating: 6/10

3. Brookie Caramel Candy Clusters – $3.99

Brownies, chocolate chip cookies, caramel, and a chocolate drizzle. Need I say more? Probably not, but I will anyway. Trader Joe’s new Brookie Caramel Candy Clusters are a sugar bomb in the best way possible.

Each cluster features bits of chocolate chip cookie and brownie, a dollop of caramel, a drizzle of dark chocolate, and a sprinkling of sea salt. The “brownie” here has more of a hard, cookie-like texture, which was slightly disappointing because I was hoping for a fluffier bite.

Luckily, there are so many other flavors and textures going on here that it doesn’t matter. The mix of buttery caramel, rich chocolate, sugary cookie, and a sprinkle of salt makes each bite slightly different.

Rating: 8.5/10

4. Black Garlic Cream Cheese Spread – $2.79

Get excited, bagel lovers. Trader Joe’s new Black Garlic Cream Cheese Spread is the perfect way to level up your breakfast game! The tub of cream cheese is flecked with bits of fermented black garlic and mixed with roasted garlic powder for a super savory, garlicky taste.

The texture is very similar to plain cream cheese but slightly more whipped and fluffy. I’ve already put this on my toasted bagel a few times, but I also used it instead of mayo on my sandwich, and it was absolutely delicious. Trader Joe’s even recommended mixing it into a pasta sauce for a garlicky, creamy kick, which I plan on trying later this week.

Rating: 9/10

5. Pizza Party Potato Chips – $2.69

These thick, kettle-cooked Pizza Party Chips surprised me with just how similar they tasted to pizza — it was a little unnerving, to be honest. Three different seasonings help achieve this flavor, and each chip features one of those seasonings. There are cheese & garlic chips, which are made with buttermilk powder, garlic, and grating cheese.

The pizza sauce chips have a seasoning made with tomato, garlic, and celery seed oil. Finally, the pepperoni chips (which don’t include any actual meat) feature a seasoning blend made with garlic, beet, and onion powder, plus black and red pepper.

It’s hard to tell which chip has which seasoning by appearance alone, but try to get one of each chip in a bite for the ultimate pizza flavor.

Rating: 8/10

6. Cinnamon Sugar Almonds – $3.99

If you’ve ever wanted your almonds to taste a bit more like a Snickerdoodle, you’re in luck! Trader Joe’s recently released these Cinnamon Sugar Almonds, which are about half candy and half nut.

Each roasted almond is enrobed in a thin toffee shell and then dipped in a cinnamon vanilla coating, which has a texture similar to white chocolate. Then, the outside is rolled in cinnamon sugar for some added warmth. The outside coating is smooth, rich, and velvety, and the almond inside is super crunchy with a nice toasty flavor.

I’m hoping these will stay at Trader Joe’s for at least a few months — I’ll pick up another bag or two on my next visit.

Rating: 9/10

7. Blueberries & Cream Yogurt – $0.69

Trader Joe’s has carried this Blueberries & Cream Yogurt for years, but this is the first time you can buy it on its own rather than in a pack. That means if you’ve considered trying it, now is the time. Even if you don’t like it, you’ll only be out 69 cents. Chances are you’ll enjoy this yogurt. It’s sweet and creamy with a tart, fruity bite from the blueberries.

There are tiny specks of the fruit throughout, but the yogurt is super smooth overall. I prefer their Vanilla & Cream Yogurt, but this was a fun deviation that I’ll probably pick up once in a while when I want something a little different.

Rating: 7.5/10

8. Mini Mochi Rice Nuggets – $1.99

The Mini Mochi Rice Nuggets were probably my favorite of all the new Trader Joe’s products I tried this month. I wasn’t expecting much, but these blew me away. They’re perfectly salted, and each little flower-shaped nugget has a delightfully crunchy, crispy bite to it.

I’ve already used these on top of my tomato soup and in my homemade Caesar salad, but my favorite way to eat these mochi rice nuggets is straight from the bag, like you would with popcorn.

These have a mild flavor, but the salt and rice flavor is just enough to keep your taste buds interested. They’re even crunchier than most chips and popcorn, which is why I like them so much.

Rating: 9.5/10

9. Hold the Cone Tips – $3.99

We all know the best part of a Drumstick (or a Trader Joe’s “Hold the Cone” ice cream cone) is the chocolate-filled tip, right? Lucky for us, Trader Joe’s agrees. That’s why they made Hold the Cone Tips, which are miniature ice cream cones filled with smooth dark chocolate.

I love the contrast of the crunchy waffle cone to the luscious chocolate inside. Plus, neither the chocolate nor the cone is too sweet, so I can easily eat a handful of these in one sitting. This is another product that I hope sticks around for a while.

Rating: 9/10

10. To The Power of Seven Red Organic Juice Beverage – $4.99

One of Trader Joe’s newest drinks is To the Power of Seven Red Organic Juice. This drink features the juice of several fruits and veggies, including strawberry, cranberry, watermelon, elderberry, and apple.

It tastes like a liquified watermelon Jolly Rancher but isn’t overly sweet like the candy is. Instead, it’s refreshing and hydrating — I can see this being a huge hit when the weather gets warmer. There’s also beet juice inside, which I was relieved to find out I couldn’t taste in the slightest.

Rating: 8.5/10

11. Spaghetti Carbonara – $4.29

Trader Joe’s has a pretty good track record with frozen pasta, but their new Spaghetti Carbonara was slightly disappointing. The pasta itself didn’t have much flavor at all, and the sauce was super thin and not very creamy.

There are bits of smoky pancetta, which lent a nice flavor to the dish but didn’t make up for the lack of oomph elsewhere. The sauce is made with egg, Grana Padano, and Pecorino Romano, which made me think it would be creamy and thick, and the actual texture and flavor were a letdown.

Rating: 5/10

12. Piquant Popcorn – $2.99

This popcorn stands out from the other Trader Joe’s popcorns, which is a feat considering there are usually five or more varieties on the shelves. This new Trader Joe’s item, Piquant Popcorn, is seasoned with nutritional year, onion, sea salt, and garlic.

The super savory, umami flavor of this popcorn works well in keeping you coming back for “just one more” bite

Rating: 8/10

13. Chocolatey Drizzled Strawberry Kettle Popcorn – $3.49

I see the vision for the Chocolatey Drizzled Strawberry Kettle Popcorn; I really do. After all, who can resist a sweet and salty combo? Unfortunately, the execution just didn’t work out.

The salty popcorn paired with freeze-dried strawberry and covered in dark chocolate somehow had a slightly metallic taste when all mixed. I love popcorn and chocolate as a pair, and I love chocolate and strawberries as a pair, but combining all three gave the snack a muddied taste with too much going on.

I will say that the texture of this popcorn is great. It’s crunchy with a crispy outside, and then bits of freeze-dried strawberries add even more interest.

Rating: 5/10

14. Snickerdoodle Cookies – $4.99

Trader Joe’s new Snickerdoodle cookies aren’t anything groundbreaking, but they’re a good all-around cookie, and Snickerdoodle fans will be happy with them. The edges are crispy, and the middle is chewy and soft.

There’s a good balance of cinnamon and sugar in each cookie, with cinnamon bringing some serious warmth and coziness. I would’ve been content with just a little more cinnamon flavor. Coarse sugar grains top the cookie, which adds a nice little crunch.

Rating: 7.5/10

15. Joe’s Os Cereal Bars – $2.99

This next Trader Joe’s item is the ultimate salty and sweet snack. These bars are made with Trader Joe’s Os, which are like their version of Cheerios, plus peanut butter, dry roasted peanuts, and sea salt.

The peanut butter drizzle is my favorite part, and I’m impressed with how crunchy the cereal is. A mix of sweet and salty plus crunchy and smooth makes for an interesting, versatile snack. These aren’t super filling, so I see myself eating them as a snack rather than having one for breakfast.

Rating: 8/10

16. Spicy Meat Pizza – $5.99

This pizza is a 10/10 in the looks department — just look at that meat and the crispy, golden crust! But unfortunately, it’s closer to a 6/10 in the flavor department. That’s because there’s zero spice, despite the name being “Spicy Meat Pizza.”

It’s made with Calabrian chili smoked sausage, which is where the spice is supposed to come from, plus meatballs and grilled red bell peppers. There are plenty of good flavors going on here, but they lean more sweet than spicy (thanks to the balsamic vinegar in the pizza sauce, I suspect), so the name and packaging are a bit misleading.

I will say that the crust on this pizza is great — it’s nice and chewy with just the right amount of thickness.

Rating: 6/10