If you're a snackivore like myself, you know Trader Joe's is where you go to stock your kitchen with munchies. The company has a well-deserved reputation for value and innovation. From Trader Joe's soup dumplings to their pickle corn dogs, the California-based chain develops most of its products in-house.
This gives TJ's the latitude to try out creative snack recipes and cuts out the middleman, passing the savings onto the customer. But not all snacks are created equal. For all the creative (and sometimes outlandish) snacks that line the shelves of your local Trader Joe's, there are bound to be some misses.
I cover the best snacks first, rounding out the list with those that may be better off left on the grocery store shelves. Best: Dark Chocolate Almond Butter Pretzel Nuggets I know, the name is a mouthful, and you won't be able to finish saying it, because you'll be too busy eating these salty, chocolatey morsels. The lightly sweet dark chocolate exterior gives way to the malty, roasted taste of pretzel, which is studded with salt crystals that provide a perfect contrast to sugar.
And inside a core of creamy, gently floral almond butter that rounds out the snack and prevents it from being too dry. Best: Jalapeño Seasoned Corn & Rice Puffs You may not think these puffs are spicy at first, but give it a few minutes. Better yet, these puffs are made with rice, corn, and quinoa flours, so they're vegan and gluten free, not to mention organic.
Put a bowl of these crunchy, puff.