Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese Bites
Alex: 2/5 pumpkins
At first glance, the Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese Bites look very appealing. Fall meets an iconic dish. After baking in the oven the bites are crispy and golden brown. However, biting into the Butternut Squash creates taste bud confusion. I expected a typical mac and cheese flavor, savory and cheesy. The butternut squash creates a sweet flavor and gives the bites a mushy texture. While these bites aren’t terrible, I would not purchase them again.
Stella: 2/5 pumpkins
Although butternut squash isn’t at the top of my “favorite vegetable list”, I still respect the fall gourd. What I did not respect, however, were these mac and cheese bites. While one would expect fried mac and cheese to be salty, the squash, instead of neutralizing the saltiness, overpowers it, making these bites strangely sweet. I did enjoy the crispy outside out of the bite but overall do not recommend it.
Pumpkin Spice Joe-Joe’s
Alex: 4/5 pumpkins
The Pumpkin Spice Joe-Joe’s were surprising. First I misread the package and I thought the cookie underneath the yogurt coating was chocolate. After biting into the cookie, I realized that every portion of this cookie was pumpkin spice, the cookie, the filling and the coating. While the cookie is pretty sweet it has good pumpkin flavor and fits the fall vibe. I would purchase these again.
Stella: 4/5 pumpkins
Not only were these Joe-Joe’s beautiful looking, but they were also delicious tasting. The texture was great, the filling was yummy and overall, the cookie was very very sweet. The cookies are pretty filling and I could only stomach one. I would recommend them for a perfect fall treat!
Pumpkin Cheesecake Croissants
Alex: 5/5 pumpkins
The pumpkin croissants were by far my favorite item we tried. They were sweet but not too sweet, crispy but not crunchy and had a good balance of textures. The pumpkin filling reminded me of pumpkin pie. They were easy to make with minimal prep. I have no critiques, these were perfect. I would definitely buy it again.
Stella: 5/5 pumpkins
These croissants made the top of my list. They were the perfect combination of salty and sweet, crunchy and soft. The pumpkin cheesecake filling wasn’t too sweet but still balanced the buttery croissant flavor perfectly. I would 100% recommend it to anyone looking for a sweet fall breakfast!
Chocolate Mousse Pumpkins
Alex: 3/ 5 pumpkins
These pumpkin cake bites reminded me of the Hostess cakes people brought for birthday snacks. They weren’t super sweet but had good flavor. I thought the chocolate coating left a weird residue in my mouth and the texture was nothing special. While they were good, I probably wouldn’t buy them again.
Stella: 3.5/5 pumpkins
These mini pumpkins won the award for cutest food. They were sweet, moist, and best of all, chocolatey. My only complaint was the outside coating. While it had a fine texture, it had a slightly peculiar flavor to it. Other than that, the chocolate cake inside was lovely and I would recommend it to anybody looking for something chocolatey.
Caramel Apple Mochi
Alex: 3.5/5
The Caramel Apple Mochi was pretty good. The flavor reminded me of the caramel apple suckers every teacher handed out around the holidays. The flavor was more caramel than apple but not in a bad way. They were soft and had a good texture. I would recommend leaving them out of the freezer for a few minutes before eating or you might get a toothache from the cold. I would buy these again.
Stella: 2.5/5 pumpkins
Normally, I’m a huge fan of Trader Joe’s ice cream mochi. However, I felt like the caramel apple mochi fell just a little flat. While they had a nice, chewy texture, the caramel and apple flavors didn’t translate that well in mochi form. I also have to dock a point for the tooth pain I suffered after biting into the ice cream. I’d recommend it to anybody who loves caramel apple-flavored treats but not to anybody with tooth sensitivity!
Pumpkin Ice Cream
Alex: 4.5/5 pumpkins
Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Ice Cream is a fall staple. Similar to their other flavors, the ice cream is soft and not too sweet. Even when pulled straight out of the freezer it is easy to scoop. While the color is very orange, the pumpkin flavor is not too overpowering and even those hesitant to pumpkin flavored items would enjoy it. This ice cream is a go-to fall item that I would 100% buy again.
Stella: 3/5 pumpkins
While I’m a huge fan of anything ice cream, I felt this ice cream wasn’t anything special. Not only was it a radioactive orange color, but it also felt like it was missing something. I did enjoy how creamy and smooth it is, and I also like how it’s not too pumpkin-spicey. Overall, it’s a pretty solid ice cream, but nothing mind-blowing. I’d recommend it to all pumpkin spice fans.
Pumpkin Cheesecake
Alex 3/5 pumpkins
The pumpkin cheesecake was underwhelming for me. The cheesecake came frozen and had to thaw for over an hour. Once it was finally thawed it was pretty bland and had a bit of a weird aftertaste. The crust was good and didn’t taste like a frozen crust. It might have been better if we added a topping or some other flavor but on its own, it was missing something. While the cheesecake wasn’t bad, it wasn’t what I was hoping it would be. I would buy it again if I needed a cheesecake in a hurry but it will not be my go-to.
Stella: 3/5 pumpkins
Being a big fan of cheesecake, I had high hopes for this. Overall, I enjoyed its soft texture and how it wasn’t too sweet. One thing that surprised me was the taste. Somehow, I got notes of something reminiscent of banana pudding? Maybe it’s because it was a pumpkin cheesecake and not a pumpkin spice cheesecake, but all in all, it was pretty decent. I would recommend it if you’re looking for a quick dessert for any fall party.
