I tried it so you don’t have to.

Brutally honest, occasionally dramatic, and always snack-obsessed—this is where I spill the tea on what’s worth your cart space and what’s better left on the shelf. No fluff, no filters, just real-deal reviews with a side of sass.

Trader Joe's, Reviews, Snack Katelyn Kleinheinz Trader Joe's, Reviews, Snack Katelyn Kleinheinz

Crunchy Cinnamon Squares

Believe it or not, this was my first experience with a TJ’s cereal… and I didn't even use it in a traditional manner (aka with milk). I used this product to make 3 ingredient cinnamon crunch treats and it worked out nicely! I enjoyed the price of these and how well they worked in my recipe, but I don’t know if this would be my first choice of cereal. The squares were puffed so I found them to be less crunchy and the cinnamon flavor was pretty muted. Overall, I wouldn’t pick this up for traditional cereal purposes but I would definitely use them again for my recipe!

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Trader Joe's, Reviews, Candy Katelyn Kleinheinz Trader Joe's, Reviews, Candy Katelyn Kleinheinz

Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels

I’ve been eyeing this sweet treat for months and I finally pulled the trigger (the $1.99 trigger). These did not disappoint. The dark chocolate was rich and the caramel was creamy. The caramel is a fudgey consistency, not liquidy. I really enjoyed how thick the dark chocolate was because that gave a luxurious feel. I took off one point because of the salt inconsistency. A couple of chocolates had a huge block of salt on top, whereas others had barely any. Despite the inconsistency, the plethora of sea salt balanced out the chocolate nicely. This product is perfect for satisfying your dark chocolate sweet tooth (on a budget) and would be so cute in a gift basket! What is your favorite dark chocolate dessert?!

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Trader Joe's, Reviews Katelyn Kleinheinz Trader Joe's, Reviews Katelyn Kleinheinz

Tikka Vegetables

This product is a staple in my pantry. I tried this randomly years ago and now I can’t live without it. There was a shortage at my store once and I literally bought 5+ pouches from that point on, just in case it disappeared again. All you have to do it plop this in the micro for 60 seconds. That’s it! I was shocked at how the vegetables remained FIRM in the pouch. The potatoes and peas weren’t mushy at all, which is why I love it so much. I also really appreciate the amount of flavor for being a shelf stable pouch. It has a nice little kick but isn’t overpowering.

In case you weren’t picking up what I was putting down, let me say it directly. I will ALWAYS have this in my pantry. It’s such a great meal option, especially over cauliflower rice (or any grain)! What’s your favorite Indian Fare pouch?!

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Trader Joe's, Reviews, Snack Katelyn Kleinheinz Trader Joe's, Reviews, Snack Katelyn Kleinheinz

Cheddar Rocket Crackers

Consider these to be a TJ’s version of Goldfish. I’m not sure if goldfish use real cheddar but I found these to have a better, bolder flavor. I love the box and the little rocket shape (despite them basically looking like little fishy). I took off one point because I would have loved for the rockets to have some salt on top. There are a few goldfish in each batch that have a plethora of salt on top and I was really hoping for that with these! But hey, it’s probably better this way. Overall, I’d definitely buy these again! I only feed myself so the size of the box works for me. If you’re feeding a family though, you’re probably better off buying in bulk at Costco! Have you tried this snack?!

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Trader Joe's, Reviews, Drink Katelyn Kleinheinz Trader Joe's, Reviews, Drink Katelyn Kleinheinz

Rhubarb and Strawberry Soda

People had recommended this after I reviewed the sparkling watermelon/strawberry drink and it wasn’t my favorite. I’ve had a couple of desserts that contain rhubarb but never a drink, and it did not blow my skirt up. It just tasted off to me, personally. This soda wasn’t very sweet and the rhubarb was definitely the star of the show. It wasn’t bad, but it’s not something I’d pick up again. I’d much rather get one of the other sparkling drinks! Have you tried this?

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Trader Joe's, Reviews, Beauty Katelyn Kleinheinz Trader Joe's, Reviews, Beauty Katelyn Kleinheinz

Watermelon Overnight Face Mask

This face mask has been one of my favorites since it originally came out! I don’t know about every else, but my least favorite part about a facemask is taking it off… which leads me to leaving it on for hours to avoid the inevitable. With this mask, I get to let the gel just soak into my skin as I sleep (aka minimal work for me). This mask is so cooling and doesn’t weigh down my face. The watermelon scent is really subtle which is nice for those who don’t want potent masks. This is a spring/summertime seasonal item so be sure to grab one before the season is over! I just picked up a couple so that I am set until next year! What is your favorite beauty product from TJ’s?!

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Trader Joe's, Reviews, Chips, Snack Katelyn Kleinheinz Trader Joe's, Reviews, Chips, Snack Katelyn Kleinheinz

Ghost Pepper Potato Chips

I tried these once years and and felt it was time for an official review! These were good, but I wasn’t overly obsessed. I enjoyed the smokiness of them yet I feel like it overpowered the heat. The heat was definitely tolerable so don’t be scared by the “ghost pepper”. You’d think that these would pack a punch but unfortunately they didn’t. Hey, that means more people who have a lower heat tolerance can enjoy them as well!

Like I said, these were good… but there are other options that I enjoy more! I was expecting some serious heat but didn’t get that. This wouldn’t be my first (or second) spicy snack option. I get the iconic chili lime rolled chips or the jalapeño puffs before getting these again. What’s your favorite spicy snack?!

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Trader Joe's, Reviews, Snack Katelyn Kleinheinz Trader Joe's, Reviews, Snack Katelyn Kleinheinz

Dark Chocolate Covered Pretzel Slims

We all know how much I love dark chocolate, so it was time that I try out these pretzel slims. The proportion of dark chocolate to pretzel was perfect. The pretzels are quite large as well which is a plus. There could have been a little sprinkle of salt on the pretzels but they were still delicious. I wish there was more in the bag because I literally blinked, and then the bag was empty! This isn’t unusual for a TJ’s bagged product to be half empty, but come on… give me more! I would definitely get these again, but never in a situation where I’d be sharing with others. Hey, I need to take advantage of the single serving size.

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Trader Joe's, Reviews, Pasta Katelyn Kleinheinz Trader Joe's, Reviews, Pasta Katelyn Kleinheinz

Mushroom Risotto

You wouldn’t believe how impressed I was with this product. I never thought a frozen risotto would embody a dish you’d get in a restaurant. The rice was cooked perfectly (al dente) and NEVER got mushy. That was my biggest concern with the rice going into a pan with a sauce. The mushroom flavor was subtle but definitely still the star of the show. I got 2 servings out of this which I find fair! I paired this product with some rainbow carrots that I roasted in the oven (plus chicken thighs but I doused it in peri peri sauce and wanted to enjoy the risotto on its own).

Overall, I will most definitely keep this in my freezer at all times. It took me 8 minutes to prepare and made a perfect side dish. Are there any other frozen risottos at TJ’s?! I am now on a mission to try them all!

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Trader Joe's, Reviews, Wrap Katelyn Kleinheinz Trader Joe's, Reviews, Wrap Katelyn Kleinheinz

Creamy Hummus and Vegetable Wrap

This wrap was so disappointing. There was so much tortilla and it was soggy from all of the hummus. This wrap was filled with a TON of hummus and then some cabbage, bell pepper and spinach sprinkled in. There wasn’t any flavor other than the purple cabbage (aka super bitter). Overall, I wouldn’t get this again. I appreciate the vegan option but I truly believe we can all make a way better homemade version! Who’s with me?!

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Trader Joe's, Reviews, Snack Katelyn Kleinheinz Trader Joe's, Reviews, Snack Katelyn Kleinheinz

Bamba Peanut Snacks

Would you believe me if I told you this was my first time trying this snack? The price of $0.99 was really intriguing, so I decided to pull the trigger today. I ended up really enjoying these! Consider these puffs to be puffed peanut butter. They were super light and airy which I loved because sometimes peanut butter is really heavy. I took a point because I was hoping these would be crunchy and they just melted in my mouth. That’s not necessarily a bad thing but I was wanting that crunch! And lastly, they have this wet texture to them which I didn’t love. It didn’t stop me from eating them but just know that they aren’t 100% dry. Does that even make sense?! Either way, I’d get these again! Peanut butter is something that I normally add to my cart so it was fun to shake it up! Have you tried these?!

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Trader Joe's, Reviews Katelyn Kleinheinz Trader Joe's, Reviews Katelyn Kleinheinz

Cut Beets in Vinaigrette

When I first tried these, I was obsessed. But then as the days went on, I had realized that these weren’t as special as I thought. This could have just been my specific jar of beets, but the vinaigrette had no flavor! I had expected this to be a step up from a plain jarred/canned beet, yet I found them to be so similar. I gave this a 5 because I’m impartial. I’d pick these up again if I had no plans of going to any other grocery store, but these beets in “vinaigrette” are equivalent to the plain canned beets I eat. Maybe the jar I got was lacking? All I know is that I would just grab the beets that are the cheapest and most convenient, and that I wouldn’t go out of my way for this product!

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Trader Joe's, Reviews, Sauce Katelyn Kleinheinz Trader Joe's, Reviews, Sauce Katelyn Kleinheinz

Cold Brew Coffee BBQ Sauce

Let me start by saying that if it weren't for all of the requests to try this product, I probably would have never put this in my cart! I really didn’t know how much I’d enjoy this coffee and bbq combo… yet that is not the reason I’m giving it a 3/10. The amount of tamarind in this sauce is so overpowering, it was all I could taste. I don’t dislike tamarind but there was too much shoved into the bottle. I couldn’t taste anything else! I tried this sauce alone and then dipped a bite of chicken into it, and I came to the consensus that I would not be drenching my chicken thighs in the sauce. I just couldn’t bear to ruin my dinner for one photo.

Despite my review, I have read that other people enjoyed this product! If you enjoy excessive amounts of tamarind, then you may want to give this a try! I’m giving it a 3 because of the creativity and because it wasn’t inedible… it just did not blow my skirt up (at all). Will you be adding this to your cart?

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Trader Joe's, Reviews, Dessert Katelyn Kleinheinz Trader Joe's, Reviews, Dessert Katelyn Kleinheinz

Chocolate Brooklyn Babka

After trying the cinnamon babka, I knew this had to be the next dessert I try! I’ll be honest, I prefer the cinnamon but this was still an amazing product. The chocolate was so rich yet I could easily eat half the loaf and not feel super weighed down (aka danger). This babka was really flaky but it was difficult to cut and actually stuck to the container (last photo). And just like the cinnamon babka, 1/9th of the dessert being a serving is a scam. I ate half of it in one sitting… but I guess that’s my fault for eating right out of the container while watching Housewives. Overall, this was delicious and I’d get it again but I enjoyed the cinnamon babka a tad more! Which do you prefer?!

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Trader Joe's, Reviews, Snack Katelyn Kleinheinz Trader Joe's, Reviews, Snack Katelyn Kleinheinz

Jalapeño Seasoned Corn and Rice Puffs

Why did it take me this long to try this product? I am truly obsessed with these puffs. I might even say they are better than pirates booty. There’s ample seasoning on the puffs so they are packed with flavor. I really enjoyed the amount of spice too! It wasn’t too much, but it builds the more you shovel them into your mouth. My ONLY complaint is that I feel the puffs are too large! TJ’s either needs to make the puffs smaller or make the bag bigger because I nearly plowed through this in one sitting. You’d think I’d be eating less since they are so large… but nope! Have you tried these?!

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Trader Joe's, Reviews, Ice Cream, Dessert Katelyn Kleinheinz Trader Joe's, Reviews, Ice Cream, Dessert Katelyn Kleinheinz

Ube Mochi

Behold, the ube mochi!! I finally got my hands on this product after endlessly searching. My local stores were always out of it… always. I ripped the box open in the car and honey, I’m not mad about it. These are phenomenal. I get vanilla meets cotton candy meets little bits of yam vibes. The rice dough was very sweet and chewy. The ice cream was unbelievably creamy. This is definitely a step up from the traditional vanilla mochi and I thought those were great!! Have you tried these yet? Or am I the last person on the planet to try it?!

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Trader Joe's, Reviews, Dessert Katelyn Kleinheinz Trader Joe's, Reviews, Dessert Katelyn Kleinheinz

Cinnamon Brooklyn Babka

Everyone raves about the TJ’s babka, and now I know why. This flaky dessert is addicting. Just look at all those layers! I loved how subtle the cinnamon was while still being the star of the show. I took off one point because I think 9 servings is a little unrealistic (for my life)! Despite the wishful thinking of this being 9 servings, I will most definitely be getting this again. My family also approved, so that’s a plus. Stay tuned for my review on the chocolate babka!

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Trader Joe's, Reviews Katelyn Kleinheinz Trader Joe's, Reviews Katelyn Kleinheinz

Jicama Wraps

I love a good tortilla alternative, whether that’s lettuce or any other vegetable. These little wraps are made out of jicama, which is a cross between a water chestnut and an apple. I personally love jicama so I wasn’t shocked at how much I enjoyed these wraps. This went perfectly with my little turkey hummus wraps. I found these to be crisp and they held up well. While I heavily enjoyed these, I don’t recommend this if you’re looking for an alternative that still embodies the taste of a tortilla. I took off one point because they are $3.99, which I find to be pricy. I understand, but I can buy lettuce for a much cheaper price and get a lot more use out of it. Have you tried these?!

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Trader Joe's, Reviews, Chips, Snack Katelyn Kleinheinz Trader Joe's, Reviews, Chips, Snack Katelyn Kleinheinz

Baked Cheese Crunchies

This is such an underrated product at Trader Joe’s! I personally think these crunchies are better than Cheetos (I said what I said)! The cheesy flavor is bold and doesn’t taste artificial at all. They are really crunchy without being too hard… if that makes sense. This product is only $1.99 and it doesn’t get much better than that! Overall, I’m obsessed with these and will continue to purchase them.

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Trader Joe's, Reviews, Ice Cream Katelyn Kleinheinz Trader Joe's, Reviews, Ice Cream Katelyn Kleinheinz

Cookie Butter Ice Cream

This was my first time ever trying any sort of cookie butter product! I don’t have an interest in the jarred butter so I thought that this would be the best option for my first experience. I thoroughly enjoyed this ice cream. The cookie butter gave me really subtle gingerbread vibes (equaling Christmas vibes). I liked the little specks of cookie included inside. I normally would like larger sized pieces, but there were so many that the little specks worked great. The cookie butter swirl was very very thick which I appreciated but I had to cut the swirls with my spoon or else it wouldn’t fit in my mouth. That sounds more like a personal issue here but it’s an important factor. I love the quantity of swirl but I wish it wasn’t as hard!

Cookie butter is a Trader Joe’s cult classic and I finally hopped on the bandwagon. I don’t see myself purchasing the jarred butter, but I will definitely get this ice cream again! What’s your favorite cookie butter product?!

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