Tis’ the season for Trader Joe’s unique and seasonal goodies! As the holiday season approaches, the store rolls out an array of festive snacks and treats that have people flocking to their aisles. With its distinct branding and engaging products, Trader Joe’s has cultivated a loyal following, with many eagerly awaiting the return of their holiday favorites. From peppermint-infused goodies to spiced cookies and chocolates, the holiday lineup has become a tradition for some. With the buzz surrounding this year’s seasonal selection, you know The Lance had to dive in and try them. 

Maddie: staff writer, pretzel lover

Jelena: staff writer, popcorn enthusiast 

Eva: staff writer, chocolate obsessed 

Erica: staff writer, cookie connoisseur 

Four savory:

French Onion Popcorn 

Overall Rating 8.5/10: The French Onion Popcorn was definitely one of our favorites from the list. If you love french onion soup, caramelized onions, roasted garlic, or anything along those lines you’ll definitely enjoy this popcorn! With the amazing seasoning and flavor, it left us wanting more after each bite. Because we were raving so much about it, of course others in our class had to try it. Arts Editor Dylan Woo on The Lance even said, “This is the winner.” Overall, this may be the best popcorn to eat during the holiday season. 

Erica: 8/10 “Such a tasty snack”

Eva: 9/10 “SPECTACULAR”

Jelena: 8 /10 “So much flavor”

Maddie: 9/10 “Love love love”

Stuffing Flavored Popcorn 

Overall Rating 7.63/10: This Stuffing Popcorn wasn’t particularly amazing, but also wasn’t revolting. We thought it was underwhelming since it didn’t really taste like stuffing even though it had a lot of the common ingredients found in actual stuffing such as rosemary, thyme, and sage. The popcorn itself was a nice texture and had a good crunch, but it was lacking the traditional stuffing flavor. On the other hand, Eva thought this popcorn should’ve been given a higher rating so tastes may vary. Overall, this holiday snack is a good option for someone who wants to try something new instead of the classic butter and sea salt popcorn.

Erica: 6.5/10 “Didn’t wow me”

Eva: 10/10 “The best popcorn flavor ever”

Jelena: 7/10 “Interesting”

Maddie: 7/10 “Pretty decent”

Festively Shaped Pretzels 

Overall Rating 8/10: We were pleasantly surprised by these pretzels. The initial buttery flavor was unexpected yet delightful, and the satisfying snap made them even better. While they’re essentially just pretzels, the holiday shapes on this snack bring a festive twist that makes snacking feel extra special, appearing in the shapes of bells, snowflakes and stockings. They’re a great seasonal treat, but the novelty factor is doing some of the heavy lifting here. Overall, this treat is a solid snack to get you in the holiday spirit. 

Erica: 8/10 “Simple, yummy snack” 

Eva: 10/10 “You can’t go wrong with these pretzels”

Jelena: 6.5/10 “Just like any other pretzel”

Maddie: 7.5/10 “Tasty snack”

Nuts About Rosemary Nut Mix

Overall Rating: 5/10: If you have ever wondered what biting into a delicious Christmas tree would taste like, Lance advisor Ms. Kulick claims that this nut mix embraces just that. Fusing both the nuttiness from the nuts and the piney flavors from the rosemary, this snack mix employs a strong woodsy flavor which may not be everyone’s cup of tea. While Eva really claimed it to be her favorite, Erica, Maddie, and Jelena believed it was bland and lacked that special holiday feeling. Overall, this product is perfect for anyone who wants to snack on natural spices, but is not a must have for anyone who really wants to capture this holiday season’s iconic flavors.

Erica: 2/10  “Makes me feel like a grandma”

Eva: 10/10 “This is the best snack I’ve tried so far”

Jelena: 4/10 “No thanks”

Maddie: 4/10 “Uh pass”

Four sweet: 

Teeny Tiny Pecan Pies 

Overall Rating 7.125/10: This dessert left us puzzled. Besides Eva, the rest of us–Erica, Jelena, and Maddie–agreed that the treat tasted more like an apple pie than a pecan pie, which was definitely unexpected. The pecans were scarce, only appearing on the top, and left us wishing for more throughout. While the flavor wasn’t bad, it didn’t match up with our expectations for a pecan pie. Overall, it was decent, but a bit of a letdown given its name.

Erica: 6/10 “Confusing”

Eva: 9/10 “I just discovered my love for pecan pie”

Maddie: 6/10 “Tastes like apple pie” 

Jelena: 7.5/10 “What is this??”

German Iced Gingerbread Cookies

Overall Rating 6.9/10: There is nothing more iconic this holiday season than freshly baked gingerbread cookies. This seasonal product at Trader Joe’s is a spiced gingerbread cookie, coated in sugar icing to add that extra notch of sweetness without being too overpowering. With these cookies, we recommend sharing these with a friend as they are massive. Unfortunately, the treats were also very dry and we wish that they had a more distinct hint of holiday spices, as they were slightly underwhelming. Overall, you’ll enjoy these German Iced Gingerbread Cookies if you want to enjoy a simple treat this holiday season.

Erica: 6.5/10 “Simple”

Eva: 7/10 “So dry”

Jelena: 7/10  “Pretty basic”

Maddie: 7/10 “Nothing Special”

Peppermint Bark 

Overall Rating 1.9/10: This Peppermint Bark NEEDS to come with a warning label. It is a safety hazard to even try biting it, and many of us (especially Erica) almost broke our teeth while trying it. Though the flavor was not atrocious and somewhat tolerable, this bark should not have been released to the public due to the possible teeth injuries that may occur. Overall, we do not recommend buying this snack unless you want to pay a visit to the dentist.

Erica: 0.1/10 “Would give a zero, almost broke tooth”

Eva: 2/10 “Peppermint is overpowering”

Jelena: 3/10 “Thick”

Maddie: 2.5/10 “SO thick” 

Dark Chocolate Dipped Candy Cane Marshmallows 

Overall Rating 9.5/10: Leaving the best for last, the Dark Chocolate Dipped Candy Cane Marshmallows had a great ratio of chocolate and candy canes to marshmallow. With the hard shell of chocolate on the outside and the soft marshmallow inside, the snack left a very satisfying after-taste. Each of us felt like the treat had the perfect amount of sweet and peppermint. Overall, if you’re looking for a quick pick me up treat, we totally recommend this treat for a truly satisfying holiday bite. 

Erica: 8/10 “Sweet, fluffy goodness”

Eva: 10/10 “WOW!”

Jelena: 10/10 “Yummers” 

Maddie: 10/10 “YUM”

Trader Joe’s holiday snacks truly offer a mix of festive flavors. From the surprisingly addictive French Onion Popcorn to the perfectly balanced Dark Chocolate Dipped Candy Cane Marshmallows, some treats stood out as holiday must-haves. Others, like the overly thick Peppermint Bark and the confusing Teeny Tiny Pecan Pies, left us underwhelmed (and with potential tooth injuries). However, the joy of these snacks lie not just in their taste, but in the seasonal cheer they bring to the table. Whether you’re indulging in sweet or savory, Trader Joe’s continues to deliver a unique snacking experience that keeps shoppers coming back. Stay tuned to The Lance Tries for more taste-test reviews, recommendations, and silly things that will constantly keep you entertained.