According to Mother Nature, fall officially began on September 22. Not to burst her bubble, but we all know there’s only one true indicator of the season’s arrival: the moment Trader Joe’s stocks their shelves with pumpkin, maple, and apple-flavored everything. From then on, it’s goodbye summer, and hello fall. But as much as I love celebrating the return of Trader Joe’s fall items, let me tell you: not all pumpkin is created equal.

It can be difficult to parse through the vast sea of seasonal products and find what’s actually worth tossing in your cart. So, this year, I took on the challenge for you. I taste-tested 15 different Trader Joe’s fall snacks and ranked them from worst to best. Whether you need a last-minute appetizer for a party or want to find your next favorite sweet treat, here’s how they all stacked up.

15. Mini Spicy Pumpkin Samosas

Sadly, something has to take last place, and in this ranking, it was these pumpkin samosas. While I appreciated the distinct pumpkin taste, it still didn’t quite hit the mark. The combination of flavors just didn’t work for me. If they were set out as an appetizer at a friend’s house, I wouldn’t turn them down—but I wouldn’t repurchase them. Some of my fellow testers took it one step further and said they wouldn’t touch them at all.

14. Chocolate Mousse Pumpkins

These chocolate mousse cakes are absolutely adorable, but the taste didn’t live up to the presentation. I found them overly sweet and wished for more contrast between the cake and mousse layers. Plus, they were messier to eat than I expected, which kind of went against the convenience of the small individual cakes. That said, I’d still consider buying them again just for how cute they’d look on a dessert platter.

13. Pumpkin Flavored Joe-Joe’s

Joe-Joe’s are a Trader Joe’s staple, so of course, there’s a seasonal pumpkin version. I love their winter peppermint Joe-Joe’s and was excited to try these, but they unfortunately fell flat. The pumpkin flavor was weak, and an artificial sweetness completely overpowered the cookie. I’d stick to the classic Joe-Joe’s and skip this one.

12. Pumpkin Blondie Brownies

Hot take: I’ll always pick a blondie over a brownie. Since I’m biased toward blondies, I had high expectations for these pumpkin blondies and thought they would definitely be at the very top of the ranking. However, the texture really wasn’t that of a blondie or brownie at all. It was so moist that it was far closer to a slice of cake, which was a tad misleading, given the name. While they weren’t bad, they didn’t live up to their name and were outshined by other Trader Joe’s fall baked goods.

11. Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese Bites

The Trader Joe’s butternut squash mac and cheese is a beloved fall favorite. I’m talking, “if you see it, grab three because it sells out all the time” level of fan-favorite. So, I was thrilled to see a breaded, bite-sized version, but, unfortunately, the flavor didn’t quite translate. The squash wasn’t as prominent as I’d hoped, and the breading overwhelmed the mac and cheese instead of enhancing it. I’d eat them again, but they wouldn’t be my first choice for an appetizer.

10. Petite Pumpkin Spice Cookies

These tiny pumpkin spice cookies are reminiscent of those nostalgic circus animal cookies from my childhood and were a solid treat. The pumpkin flavor was stronger than in other pumpkin products, and my taste-testers and I all agreed they were the superior pumpkin cookie compared to the Joe-Joe’s. I wouldn’t rank them as my all-time favorite, but I’d get them again.

9. Pumpkin Tortilla Chips

I’ll be honest: When I grabbed these pumpkin chips, I 100% expected them to be in the absolute last place. The description seemed to be an odd mix of salty and sweet that I didn’t think would complement each other, but they were surprisingly good. The cinnamon and nutmeg added a nice fall touch without turning them into a dessert chip. They’re not overly flavorful but have just enough fall flair to feel special.

8. Maple & Sea Salt Kettle Popcorn

I’m not the biggest fan of kettle corn, but this maple version won me over. The sweet and salty balance was fantastic, and I loved the strong maple flavor. If it had just been me trying the items, it would have ended up higher, but some members of my taste-testing group didn’t love how intense the maple was.

7. Pumpkin Loaf

You can’t have a fall lineup without a pumpkin loaf. The flavor of this one was great, with a balanced sweetness and spiciness, but it was drier than I’d like, especially when trying it right after the pumpkin blondies. However, it’s still worth a try this season and would be great with a cup of coffee in the morning.

6. Pumpkin Spice Mini Sheet Cake

This mini sheet cake was the star of the pumpkin desserts. It was the “just right” after the loaf was too dry and the blondies were too moist. Plus, it tasted as if you made it from scratch. It’s a perfect grab-and-go item for any get-together—just pop it on a tray, and it can pass as homemade.

5. Fall Harvest Salsa

This salsa was a wild card. With ingredients like apple and pumpkin, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Would it taste like pumpkin spice? Or some sort of apple cider? Thankfully, while it does include apple and pumpkin, it’s more like a slightly sweet and spicy version of a traditional salsa than a bizarre fall concoction. Pair it with the Trader Joe’s pumpkin chips or the fall leaf-shaped tortilla chips for a festive spread.

4. Pumpkin Cranberry Crisps

TBH, I didn’t expect these pumpkin cranberry crisps to leave much of an impression (I mean, let’s be real, a cracker seems kind of boring), but I was pleasantly surprised by how much everyone liked them. The cranberry’s subtle sweetness and the pumpkin’s spiced touch make them a perfect addition to a fall charcuterie board. I recommend pairing them with sharper cheese to balance the sweetness.

3. Carmelized Onion Goat’s Milk Cheese

Speaking of cheese boards, this caramelized onion goat cheese is a must-have for yours this season. The sweet caramelized onion pairs beautifully with the tangy goat cheese. We tried it with the pumpkin cranberry crisps, and since both are sweeter, it wasn’t the best pairing—but you could serve both on the same cheese board and pair them with saltier options for a more balanced spread.

2. Pumpkin Spiced Teeny Tiny Pretzels

These pretzels were unassuming but ended up being a huge hit. The pumpkin spice blends perfectly with the salty pretzel, and the mini size somehow makes them even better. They’re dangerously snackable, and I could easily finish a bag in one sitting—and probably will.

1. Savory Squash Pastry Bites

If you love the caramelized onion and feta pastry bites from Trader Joe’s, these squash bites—found in the freezer aisle—will be your new fall favorite. They require minimal effort and have a perfect nutty, sweet flavor that screams fall. They also get bonus points for a fantastic presentation. I’ll be stocking up on these as long as they’re on the shelves, and they might just be my new go-to girl dinner.

The post I Tried a Cart Full of Trader Joe’s Fall Snacks—Here’s How They Ranked appeared first on The Everygirl.