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15 Must-Try Trader Joe's Desserts to Kill Your Cravings But Not Your Budget

Save big and get more with these affordable and unique Trader Joe’s desserts.

Corona CA USA Trader Joe's store front
Updated Nov. 20, 2024
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For many of us with a sweet tooth, our budget can’t keep up with our cravings. But FinanceBuzz has got you covered when you’re in need of an affordable dessert option.

Whether you’re looking for a twist on the classic chocolate chip cookie or a nice deal on a pecan pie, Trader Joe’s has some of the best dessert options out there. Here are some dessert shopping hacks for Trader Joe’s that will satisfy that sweet tooth of yours on a dime.

Editor’s note: Prices are subject to change and may vary by location.

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A Dozen Sweet Bites

Trader Joe's/ebay Trader Joe's A Dozen Sweet Bites

Price: $5.99

These cake bites are a great savings hack for holiday parties. Instead of ordering sweet appetizers from a fancy bakery for your party, you can get twelve delectable little cakes for just under $0.50 each.

Trader Joe’s box of twelve cake bites includes three different flavors: chocolate & coffee, raspberry, and caramel & chocolate cake.

Pecan Pie

Trader Joe's/ebay Trader Joe's Pecan Pie

Price: $9.99

This pie has a generous amount of crunchy pecans and is baked just until set, giving it a crispy outer crust and a gooey, caramelized center.

Instead of breaking the bank on a bakery pie for around $25, buy Trader Joe’s pecan pie for less than ten dollars and keep your Thanksgiving feast under budget.

Ice Cream Bon Bons

Trader Joe's/ebay Trader Joe's Ice Cream Bon Bons

Price: $4.79

With a chocolate wafer cookie crust and thick chocolate coating, these Trader Joe’s Ice Cream Bon ons are the way to go.

Smooth and sweet on the inside, with a hard chocolate shell on the outside, they are a premium affordable option under five bucks. A better choice when compared with others retailing for over ten dollars — like the Classic Bonbons Salted Caramel from Brothers Desserts.

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Chocolate Croissants

Trader Joe's/ebay Trader Joe's Chocolate Croissants

Price: $5.49

Everyone enjoys those warm croissants from the local bakery. But those expensive bakery prices — like Williams Sonoma’s baked chocolate croissants over $5 each — will soon catch up to you with every breakfast-run purchase.

That’s why Trader Joe’s double chocolate option at $1.37 each is a sweet deal. Plus, their dough is infused with cocoa. Bake it overnight and enjoy this Trader Joe’s bakery hack!

Maple Flavored Fudge

Trader Joe's/ebay Trader Joe's Maple Flavored Fudge

Price: $2.99

Trader Joe’s maple-flavored fudge is back! For under three bucks you can get their first-rate fudge made with salted butter, sweetened condensed milk, and sugar with a bit of maple syrup.

A TJ’s favorite, one Redditor exclaims: “I’m on my 4th box and I’m not even a fudge person. SO good.”

Yogurt Pretzels

Trader Joe's/ebay Trader Joe's Yogurt Pretzels

Price: $4.29

The price of yogurt-covered pretzels is pretty high — Walmart sells a 40-ounce option for $34.99, which means $0.87 per ounce — when you shop at your average retailer.

But for a sweet and tangy taste on a budget, try these yogurt pretzels from Trader Joe’s at $0.35 per ounce. The 12-ounce bag of crunchy, salted pretzels with a yogurt coating tastes better than the white chocolate version — and you’ll feel just a bit less guilty eating them.

Chocolatey Coated Chocolate Chip Dunkers

Trader Joe's/ebay Trader Joe's Chocolatey Coated Chocolate Chip Dunkers

Price: $6.49

A twist on the classic cookie, these have an extra chocolate layer and the perfect design and shape to dunk into your morning coffee or cup of milk.

For just over six dollars, this 8-ounce box is a fan favorite. Redditer’s agree “they are so addicting!” with one Redditor adding that they’re great to “try them with ice cream too.”

Pumpkin Bread & Muffin Mix

Trader Joe's/ebay Trader Joe's Pumpkin Bread Muffin Mix

Price: $3.49

Just add eggs, oil, and water and you have yourself moist and fluffy pumpkin bread. This Trader Joe’s favorite can also be used as a muffin mix. For less than $4, it’s a deal when compared to $14.75 at Walmart for a slightly smaller box of Krusteaz Pumpkin Spice Quick Bread Mix.

Peanut Butter Cups

Trader Joe's/ebay Trader Joe's Peanut Butter Cups

Price: $4.99

With a smooth filling and natural flavor, these peanut butter cups are a bargain for under five dollars. Instead of overpaying for Reese’s $8.89 peanut butter cups at Target, you can buy these for almost half the price and with natural flavor.

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Dark Chocolate Almonds

Trader Joe's/ebay Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Almonds

Price: $6.99

With a delicious blend of rich dark chocolate, these almonds are a go-to for any shopper. Pick up one pound for under seven dollars. Nuts.com sells their one-pound bag for $13.99, so you could essentially buy two bags of these from Trader Joe’s for the price of one from nuts.com.

Toffee Chips

Trader Joe's/ebay Trader Joe's Toffee Chips

Price: $3.99

A mix of milk and dark chocolate makes these toffee chips affordable and delicious. It’s hard to find a dessert similar to these in stores — especially for this price.

Everyone seems to enjoy these Trader Joe’s treats, with one Redditor writing, ”an old delicious favorite! I like them better than the See's version!” The See’s Candies version also costs $15.25 for a box the same size as Trader Joe’s.

Pecan Pralines

Trader Joe's/ebay Trader Joe's Pecan Pralines

Price: $5.99

this is a versatile, delicious item to keep in your pantry. These can elevate your charcuterie board. They can be a great holiday treat on a sundae or in a bowl. Snack on them to kill your sweet cravings after dinner.

Plus, these pecan pralines are very well-priced. Compare them to Smith’s 9.5-ounce container for $8.99.

Fruity Jellies

Trader Joe's/ebay Trader Joe's Fruity Jellies

Price: $3.99

These fruit jellies are perfect for a quick snack. A one-pound box gets you six assorted flavors for under four bucks. Compare these with Sunkist 14-ounce pack of jelly candy for $12 on Amazon, and you’ll get more while saving more.

Maple Pancake Snaps

Trader Joe's/ebay Trader Joe's Maple Pancake Snaps

Price: $4.49

Dip these crunchy maple snaps in some coffee and milk, and you have the perfect Fall cookie. Nothing quite like these TJ’s cookies, but World Market’s maple cookies will cost you more at $5.99.

Candy Coated Milk Chocolate Dipped Peanuts

Trader Joe's/ebay Candy Coated Milk Chocolate Dipped Peanuts

Price: $2.99

A six-ounce bag of these candy-coated, milk chocolate dipped peanuts will save you money compared to M&M’s 5.3-ounce bag priced at $3.39. Plus, Trader Joe’s option has bigger peanuts.

Bottom line

Drazen/Adobe woman talking to sales woman at supermarket

Comparing the number of treats you’re getting at Trader Joe’s with other stores is a smart way to save money when shopping in the long run — and allows you to treat yourself to more.

Plus, you’re sure to always find new offerings when you shop at Trader Joe’s, as the store loves to release new products monthly and at every new season.

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Author Details

Michal Mitchell

Michal Mitchell is a writer and poet with work featured across several online publications. She writes shopping articles, beauty guides, celebrity features, and poetry for Think It In Ink's "10 Minute Poetry" column. Her passions include fiction, screenplays and delving into a Chopin Étude every now and then. When she's not writing for FinanceBuzz, she seeks solace in the ventures of her mind. You can follow her on Instagram at @jackycoocoo for poetry, celebrity interviews, fiction, shopping articles and more.