I Tried 20 Groceries That Just Dropped at Trader Joe’s — These Are the 6 Most Delicious (and 2 to Skip)

Maybe I’ve gotten too into my Fantasy Football and Basketball teams, or perhaps I’m just really in the holiday spirit (or both). I’ve started treating my December grocery shops at Trader Joe’s like a March Madness bracket to find out which will be my newest Holiday Table Contenders. I love how the grocer specifically always manages to roll out some homemade-seeming apps, sides, and desserts that I *add a few zhuzhes to* and bam, I barely broke a sweat making Christmas dinner. 

What did cause me to break a sweat, though? Trying 20 new Trader Joe’s items this month to see which champs would make it onto my table, into a friend’s stocking, or in my fridge well beyond the chaos of December. Not everything can be a contender, so I’ve rounded up the six items you should definitely snag (and two you can leave in the store) this holiday season. 

My mom, who I worked with for two years at a Trader Joe’s, often texts me about her day at work. “It’s the ‘Hunger Games’ out here,” is her most often-used choice of words. Her warnings are almost enough to get me to swear off the store until January, but then I met this new Truffle Risotto. There’s very little I wouldn’t brave to grab a few bags, in truth. I’d definitely volunteer as tribute, etc.

As I’m sure many have experienced, there’s a real drop-off point for many truffle-infused items (a lot of it doesn’t contain actual truffles, usually just an oil of sorts). Not this one, which has all the earthy, nutty savoriness of a freshly shaved black truffle. You can even see the little speckles of black truffle throughout, which just makes me feel all the safer, you know? 

This super rich-tasting risotto would make a great side for a romantic dinner for two or a decent-size dinner portion for one; add a little drizzle of dense, inky balsamic vinegar and no one would know it came from a freezer.

It’s kind of tragic that Americans’ distaste for fruitcake has turned so many off from adding the far superior, fruit-studded cake, Italy’s panettone, to their holiday eating to-do list. But Trader Joe’s panettone-inspired gelato is an excellent place to start, distilling all the key parts of the rich, sweet, and eggy brioche-adjacent cake into a single pint. It not only has pieces of the fruitcake, but all the parts that make it holiday-worthy and special, like chewy bits of candied orange peel and a chocolate swirl throughout the sweet custardy gelato. 

No one asked for my predictions, but I think 2026 is about to be panettone’s year; she might as well be the next Cronut as far as I’m concerned. Think about it!

I’m as guilty as anyone for buying something for the beautiful packaging, but luckily Trader Joe’s newest bottle of Greek extra-virgin olive oil contains a product that more than matches its elegant exterior. At my last count I had maybe eight different bottles of olive oil in my cupboard, but this one more than merits a spot on my counter as my newest Drizzling Oil. 

It’s buttery, not too spicy, yet super smooth and has that distinct fruitiness that makes it more of an ingredient you want to feature as a star (rather than a cameo). Think: marinating white beans, for dipping with bread and an herby spice mix, or drizzling over steak and roasted vegetables just before serving. I would not be mad if I found one of these in my stocking!

Truth be told, one of the best meals I’ve had in a minute was the aforementioned truffle risotto with this punchy, bright salad kit on the side. Fruit belongs in salad, IMO, but if you’ve yet to be convinced, I think this loaded salad mix will more than move you. First, we’ve got fluffy spinach greens here, ready with all that nice surface area to capture the tart, vinegary citrus dressing. Excellent start.

Then, what is all that in the bag? Behold, for there are So Many More Toppings. Yup, there’s pungent blue cheese crumbles, chewy dried cranberries, and honey-roasted pecans to add even more intrigue to the bowl. It’s a road trip through all the best textures you can have in a salad and basically dinner-ready as soon as you mix it. Maybe grab two bags, just to be safe.

Trader Joe’s is not known for being a one-stop shop. But what if I told you that it just might have cut out an extra trip for me this holiday season?! A gift among gifts. 

You see, I used to have to schlep all the way to World Market for my very favorite, very particular big blue tin of Danish gingerbread cookies every year, but no more! I can spend all that extra driving time eating these spicy, festively shaped cookies. Much like my usual favorites, these buttery cookies are ultra-crisp, snappy, and full of all the traditional flavors of this iconic treat, like potent bits of ginger, clove, and cinnamon. Plus, they really hold their own in a multitude of recipes, like icebox cakes and crushing into a pie crust.

When I worked at Trader Joe’s, there were a few items us employees would wait all year for and then buy as soon as they were unloaded off the truck. One of those items was always the woodsy Cedar Balsam candle, but I’d reckon to say that this new trio is going to be something you’ll also want to snag. 

Not only does it feature a mini candle with a scent that’s very much Cedar Balsam with a twist (Noble Fir, a more sweet and resin-y aroma), but the trio also features a tart and fruit-forward Foraged Cassis scent as well as a woodsy, cozy Cinnamon Pinecone to go with it. It’s basically a Nancy Meyers’ movie in candle form. Grab your shawl — it’s about time to hibernate and rewatch Baby Boom. 

There are some discontinued items that continue to haunt me with their absence, and the delicious tubs of Trader Joe’s Rice Pudding (gone but not forgotten in ~2020) is absolutely one of those. Oftentimes an item gets discontinued due to cost rather than a lack of popularity, which typically means a long-awaited return as Trader Joe’s finds a new supplier (and a new recipe). 

Sometimes new recipes are great! Sometimes they’re exactly the same! These new snack-size cups of rice pudding are such a sad substitute to the custard-y versions of yore. Watery and not at all rich and creamy, this rice pudding needs to go back to the drawing board.

These very much overhyped mini beef wellingtons did not at all match any of the raves I heard from Trader Joe’s employees (or Instagram). First of all, these mini filet mignon en croûte is mostly just en croûte with a whisper of steak-mushroom filling. 

The little pockets are cute and look très fancy on their own, but all the compliments end there, especially when the box of 10 will set you back $10. To paraphrase the great Derek Zoolander, “What is this, a filet mignon for ants?” 

What new Trader Joe’s item are you most excited about? Tell us in the comments below.