The best thing about my grocery store boo, Trader Joe? He always has a delicious range of crowd-pleasing appetizers, heat-and-eat mains, surprising snacks and seasonal desserts to choose from. Below, you'll find 13 of my new favorites to shop this August, from ranch seasoned cashews to a summery peach raspberry crisp. Meet you there in ten—I'll bring my roomiest tote bag.
What’s New at Trader Joe’s in August? Mocha Latte Pretzels, Spicy Knife-Cut Noodles and More
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Savory, salty, herby—what's not to like about ranch dressing? That's exactly what these seasoned nuts taste like, since they're dusted with a mix of powdered garlic, onion, sour cream and buttermilk. They'd make a great addition to your next charcuterie board, IMO.
2. Spicy Squiggly Knife Cut Noodles
Inspired by the knife-cut noodles of Shanxi, these are air-fried and wavy with thin, slippery edges and thick, toothsome centers. As for the sauce, it's loaded with soy sauce for umami and red and cayenne chili powders for heat. Sesame paste lends nuttiness and a lush texture.
4. Crunchy Chili Onion Sprinkle Seasoning Blend
PSA: Your all-time favorite condiment is now on shelves in seasoning blend form. It still has all the essentials—onion, garlic, bell pepper, chili flakes, brown sugar and dried Szechuan pepper—to create an impeccably balanced, delightfully tingly topping. Add it to eggs, grilled meats, salads, tofu or popcorn.
5. Smoked Ghost Pepper Cheddar Cheese
Jalapeños, habaneros and ghost peppers unite to create a uniquely spicy cheese. Even more unique, the whole wheel is smoked over aromatic hickory for complexity, making it the ultimate finishing touch for chili dogs, burritos, quesadillas or plain crackers.
6. Everything but the Kitchen Sink Cookie Mix
If you think cookies are only as tasty as the crunchy bits that go in them, these are right up your alley. The add-ins (chocolate chunks! oats! walnuts! coconut flakes! caramel bits! mini pretzels!) make up a whopping 43 percent of the mix. All you need to do is add butter and egg, stir, scoop and bake.
Chosen by customers after much debate, these fan-favorite coated pretzels are finally for sale. A luscious white candy coating acts as a sweet, vanilla-like foil for bold, intense coffee and dark chocolate drizzle. It's sweet-and-salty bliss, if you ask me.
Wheat crackers crowned with tangy tomato, fragrant oregano and garlic—any questions? Finish them with your choice of cheese (I'm partial to fresh mozz), then snack on this pizza alternative cold or hot.
Yuzu is having its moment in the sun this year, and TJ's isn't letting it go to waste. In case you've never had it, yuzu is a citrus fruit that tastes like a Mandarin-grapefruit hybrid. Thanks to the umami-rich miso, this is a stellar topping or marinade component for ribs, roast chicken, sandwiches, fries or white rice.
Crafted by a Thai supplier, this dessert-turned-snack stars sticky rice, coconut milk, sweetened dried mango, mango syrup and sesame seeds. Good luck not devouring the entire bag in one sitting (the crunch is pretty irresistible—you've been warned).
Complete with a nostalgic, all-butter oat streusel. This sweet-tart summer stunner won't be around for long, so snag one (and a pint of vanilla ice cream to scoop on top of it) while you still can.
12. Coffee Mochi
Chewy on the outside, silky on the inside and ready for their close-up, these mochi get their sweetness from real cane sugar—not high fructose cane syrup. A hint of cocoa in the rice flour wrapper adds subtle chocolatey flavor to every bite.