As Trader Joe’s rolls out with their yearly fall specials, The Mirador’s best food connoisseurs put their seasonal snacks to the test. With 17 years of Trader Joe’s grocery runs, Caroline de Bourbon and Kirstin Parker didn’t fall past this challenge. 

Pumpkin spiced teeny tiny pretzels: 10/10

We honestly didn’t know what to expect when we first tried these pretzels. Needless to say, we were huge fans. The pretzels were smaller than your average pretzel twist but packed with lots of flavors. The sweet-to-salty ratio was spot on and the yogurt coverage and pumpkin spice toppings were consistent with every bite. 

Pumpkin Cinnamon bun spread: 10/10

If you are tired of cream cheese, butter, or any other conventional breakfast spread, you need to try this cinnamon bun-infused spread. The spread had a smooth consistency with a flavor that would leave you wanting to eat it straight out of the jar. You can put it on toast, pastries, sandwiches…it will be good on anything. 

Pumpkin spiced pumpkin seeds: 9.5/10 

These pumpkin seeds are the perfect grab-and-go snack. The natural saltiness of pumpkin seeds in combination with the sweetness of pumpkin spice made this snack addicting. They brought a good crunch and texture, not to mention the catchy item name. Thanks to their salty sweetness and excellent “munch,”  we think these pumpkin-flavored pumpkin seeds are top-tier. 

Spiced Pumpkin cider: 9/10

Though a fall classic, we were excited to try this spiced apple cider. It is a staple drink full of flavor that is good warm or cold. It’s hard to beat the classics. 

Pumpkin oat milk: 9/10

For all those lactose intolerant, this Pumpkin Oat milk may be your new best friend. This light beverage has a pumpkin flavor that is not too overpowering. It will make your coffee, tea, or other drinks feel like fall. 

Maple kettle corn 8.5/10 

This kettle corn crossover with maple syrup satisfied our cravings for something light yet tasty. The combination of sweet and salty with a subtle aftertaste of maple was absolutely addicting. The popcorn was a fun orangish/brown color which helped put us in the fall mood. 

Butternut squash Mac and cheese: 7.5/10

This mac and cheese was a great spin on the classic. It brought a savory flavor with a hint of sweetness that did not disappoint. A short five minutes after placing the tray in the microwave, we had a yummy and 

filling meal.

Maple almonds: 5/10 

We were skeptical about trying this item, and our suspicions were right. Though they had a nice crunch, the flavor was a bit off with an odd aftertaste. Plain or salted almonds prove the better option over these maple-flavored ones.

Gluten-free pumpkin streusel muffins: 3/10

To give our gluten-free friends some representation, we decided to try these muffins. Don’t get us wrong, these muffins looked absolutely delicious, but we learned that gluten is what makes food taste good. 

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