LEARN ABOUT EVERY NEW VEGAN FOOD AT TRADER JOE’S FOR WINTER 2020. LIKE DELICIOUS VEGAN GINGERBREAD LOAF AND ALMOND NOG. MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE VIDEO TO SEE OUR TASTE TEST REACTIONS.
If you love gingerbread, eggnog and all the winter flavors then you are going to love learning about the brand new vegan food at Trader Joe’s for winter!
There are so many new options, but like many things at Trader Joe’s they are seasonal, so if you read something here that you like or see it in the video, we highly suggest that you head there soon before it’s gone.
We’ll be honest that the fall and winter stuff seems to go really fast so by the time we post this some of the things may be gone by now.
We recently did a post about all the new vegan food at Trader Joe’s for the fall! While there weren’t a lot of things still available when we went back to grab winter items for this video and post, there were still a few, so make sure that you check that out if you have a chance.
This is our first time checking out all the new vegan items that Trader Joe’s carries for the winter and we found some great wins and some disappointing things too quite honestly.
We bought everything that we could find that was vegan or vegan friendly.
It came out to be 20+ new items. And we tasted them all!
Read on to figure out our thoughts and make sure to watch the video for our taste test reactions.
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How did you find new vegan winter products at Trader Joes?
Our primary source was Trader Joe’s store itself. They have a large in store display with all the new winter items. They also had a lot of end caps with winter items this year (at least at our store). From there, we just looked at the ingredients and made a decision on if we thought the items were suitable or not.
Trader Joe’s own website is also very helpful. They have a section called Dig In that gives the scoop on many of the new products.
Lastly, we looked for new and seasonal item signs when we went into the store. They are usually purple signs that say new item right in front of the item. The seasonal ones are orange.
Vegan Trader Joe’s Taste Test Winter 2020
Watch our vegan Trader Joe’s taste test!
Because we had so many items, we split them up in the video into breakfast, dinner, dessert, and snack times. We also split up the beverages.
Below we will combine the items in the sections as we tried them.
New Vegan Lunch Items at Trader Joe’s
- Red Chili Scalloped Crackers
- Price: $1.49
- Opinion: We really liked these. Same texture and crunch as a normal chip, but the kick of spice was a nice added touch. We’ll get these again!
- Ingredients: UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), HIGH-OLEIC SUNFLOWER OIL, RED CHILI PEPPER SEASONING BLEND (MALTODEXTRIN, RED CHILI PEPPERS, BLACK PEPPER, SUGAR, SALT, DRIED ONIONS, DRIED GARLIC, DRIED PARSLEY, TOMATOES, CITRIC ACID [ACIDULANT], SILICON DIOXIDE, NATURAL FLAVORS), SEA SALT, DEACTIVATED YEAST (YEAST, BARLEY, WHEAT FLOUR), SUGAR, WHITE RICE FLOUR, INVERT SUGAR SYRUP, NATURAL FLAVORS, ENZYME.
- Top 8 Allergens: Wheat. May contain soy.
- Organic Hearty Minestrone Soup
- Price: $3.99
- Opinion: This was bland and didn’t remind us of a traditional minestrone soup at all. Not impressed.
- Ingredients: WATER, ORGANIC FIRE ROASTED DICED TOMATOES (ORGANIC FIRE ROASTED TOMATOES, ORGANIC TOMATO JUICE, CITRIC ACID, CALCIUM CHLORIDE), ORGANIC ONIONS, ORGANIC CARROTS, ORGANIC KIDNEY BEANS, ORGANIC CANNELLINI BEANS, ORGANIC RICE AND QUINOA ORZO PASTA (ORGANIC RICE FLOUR, ORGANIC QUINOA FLOUR), ORGANIC TOMATO PASTE (ORGANIC TOMATOES, CITRIC ACID), ORGANIC VEGETABLE BASE (ORGANIC VEGETABLE STOCK [WATER, ORGANIC CARROT JUICE, ORGANIC ONION POWDER, ORGANIC CARROT POWDER, ORGANIC CELERY POWDER], SEA SALT, ORGANIC CANE SUGAR, ORGANIC CORNSTARCH, ORGANIC VEGETABLE FLAVOR, ORGANIC GUM ARABIC, ORGANIC GARLIC POWDER, CITRIC ACID, ORGANIC TURMERIC POWDER), ORGANIC PEAS, ORGANIC RICE FLOUR, ORGANIC CHOPPED KALE, ORGANIC EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL, ORGANIC GARLIC, SEA SALT, ORGANIC MINESTRONE SPICE BLEND (ORGANIC BASIL, ORGANIC BLACK PEPPER, ORGANIC PARSLEY, ORGANIC ROSEMARY, ORGANIC OREGANO, ORGANIC MARJORAM).
- Top 8 Allergens: None.
- Holiday Vegetable Hash
- Price: $4.99
- Opinion: We didn’t try this during the video because it’s just a vegetable hash. We used it to make some soup and it was a nice addition. Would be great in some stuffing. Personally would just chop our own in the future.
- Ingredients: BUTTERNUT SQUASH, SWEET POTATO, RED ONION, CELERY, PARSLEY, SAGE, ROSEMARY.
- Top 8 Allergens: None.
- Harvest Chili
- Price: $3.99
- Opinion: We liked this one so much better than the minestrone. It was thick and filling and the spices were on point. Would grab this one again.
- Ingredients: WATER, COOKED BLACK BEANS (WATER, BLACK BEANS), ONION, BUTTERNUT SQUASH, DICED TOMATOES IN JUICE (TOMATOES, TOMATOES JUICE, SALT, CITRIC ACID), CAULIFLOWER (CAULIFLOWER FLORETS, CAULIFLOWER STEMS), PUMPKIN, SWEET POTATO, CANOLA OIL, FRENCH GREEN LENTILS, RED QUINOA, TOMATO PASTE (TOMATOES, CITRIC ACID), GUAJILLO PEPPER PUREE (GUAJILLO CHILI PEPPERS, CITRIC ACID), GARLIC, SEA SALT, CILANTRO, LIME JUICE, CUMIN, CHILI POWDER (SPICES, SEA SALT, DEHYDRATED GARLIC), CORIANDER, OREGANO, TURMERIC, CAYENNE PEPPER, SMOKED PAPRIKA (PAPRIKA, NATURAL SMOKE FLAVOR).
- Top 8 Allergens: NONE.
- Italian Style Sofritto
- Price: $3.29
- Opinion: This is just a spice blend that we were happy to see. We didn’t try it in the video and haven’t yet tried it at home.
- Ingredients: DRIED MINCED ONION, TOMATO FLAKES, SEA SALT, DRIED MINCED GARLIC, CRUSHED CHILI PEPPERS, PARSLEY FLAKES, CRUSHED RED PEPPER, DRIED ROSEMARY, SAGE LEAVES.
- Top 8 Allergens: None.
- Spicy Cashew Butter Dressing
- Price: $3.99
- Opinion: YES YES YES! This is our new fav and has already went on our TJ’s shopping list the next time we go back. We used it for salads, on sandwiches, and as a dip. Wish it came in a bigger bottle.
- Ingredients: water, cashew butter, lime juice, ginger puree, organic coconut aminos (organic coconut flower blossom nectar, water, sea salt), cilantro, red chili paste (red chili peppers, salt, distilled vinegar, xanthan gum), maple syrup, sea salt, xanthan gum, crushed red pepper.
- Top 8 Allergens: Cashews. Coconut.
- Almond Butter Turmeric Dressing
- Price: $3.99
- Opinion: Good, not overly turmeric-ky. Personally wouldn’t grab again but will finish the bottle.
- Ingredients: WATER, ALMOND BUTTER (ALMONDS), LEMON JUICE, GINGER PUREE, CANE SUGAR, GARLIC, SEA SALT, LEMON ZEST (LEMON PEEL, WATER, CITRIC ACID), GROUND TURMERIC, BLACK PEPPER.
- Top 8 Allergens: Almonds.
- Winter Wassail Punch
- Price: $3.99
- Opinion: Andrew likes this a lot, and Larisha likes it warm like a cider. There are strong fall spice flavors coming through.
- Ingredients: WATER, CANE SUGAR, APPLE JUICE CONCENTRATE, BLACKCURRANT JUICE CONCENTRATE, CITRIC ACID (ACIDULANT), NATURAL FLAVORS, SPICES (CINNAMON, CLOVES, NUTMEG, CARDAMOM, GINGER), LEMON JUICE CONCENTRATE, ORANGE PEEL.
- Top 8 Allergens: None.
- Apple Fruit Snacks Mango Jalapeno
- Price: $2.99
- Opinion: These are basically spicy gummies. Wouldn’t buy again for us because not everyone in our family would want to eat them but would be great for someone who likes spicy things.
- Ingredients: APPLE PUREE CONCENTRATE (APPLES, ASCORBIC ACID [TO MAINTAIN COLOR]), APPLE JUICE CONCENTRATE, MANGO JUICE CONCENTRATE, NATURAL FLAVORS, LEMON JUICE CONCENTRATE, CITRUS PECTIN, JALAPENO PEPPER POWDER, APPLE FIBER.
- Top 8 Allergens:
- Festive Corn Tortilla Chips
- Price: $2.99
- Opinion: Tortilla chips shaped like stockings, trees, etc. Fun and festive and would grab if we saw them for holiday parties and such.
- Ingredients: WHITE CORN, HIGH-OLEIC SUNFLOWER OIL, BEET POWDER (COLOR), SPINACH POWDER, PAPRIKA (COLOR), KALE POWDER, SEA SALT, TRACE OF LIME.
- Top 8 Allergens: None. May contain milk, soy.
New Vegan Snack and Dinner Items at Trader Joe’s
- Scandinavian Tidings (Gummies)
- Price: $2.99
- Opinion: Trader Joe’s gummies are vegan and this is their winter shaped ones. They are a hit in our home!
- Ingredients: CANE SUGAR, INVERT SUGAR, TAPIOCA SYRUP, MODIFIED CORNSTARCH, CONTAINS 2% OF LESS OF DEXTROSE, CITRIC ACID (ACIDIFIER), NATURAL FLAVORS, FRUIT AND VEGETABLE EXTRACTS FOR COLOR (BLACK CARROT, CARROT, BLACKCURRANT, PUMPKIN), SODIUM CITRATE, SPIRULINA EXTRACT (FOR COLOR), TURMERIC OLEORESIN (FOR COLOR), SUNFLOWER OIL, CARNAUBA WAX.
- Top 8 Allergens: None. May contain traces of peanut, almond, pecan.
- Marzipoanstollen
- Price: $3.99
- Opinion: This one had a jelly filling that we really loved unlike the stollen that we tried from Aldi. We’d get this one again over the Aldi one going forward.
- Ingredients: WHEAT FLOUR, RAISINS, LUXURY MARZIPAN FILLING (SUGAR, ALMONDS, SORBITOL (HUMECTANT), GLUCLOSE, FRUCTOSE), PALM FAT, GLUCOSE, CANDIED ORANGE AND LEMON PEELS (GLUCOSE, ORANGE PEELS, LEMON PEELS, FRUCOSE, SUGAR) SUGAR, CANOLA OIL, SORBITOL (HUMECTANT), FRUCTOSE, WHAT STARCH, YEAST, EMULSIFIERS (MONO- AND DIGLUCERIDES OF FATTY ACIDS, SODIUM STEAROYL-2-LACTULATE), NATURAL FLAVOR, SALT, FULLY HYDROGENATED PALM FAT.
- Top 8 Allergens: Wheat and Almonds. May contain other tree nuts (hazelnuts), eggs, and milk)
- Completely Cacao Chips
- Price: $2.99
- Opinion: Straight up cacao. Very bitter to taste alone (watch the video for the reaction here if you haven’t). Would be great in baking though.
- Ingredients: Organic Unsweetened Chocolate.
- Top 8 Allergens: None. May contain milk, soy, coconut, almond, hazlenuts, pistachio.
- El Campano Sweet Plantain Chocolate Bar
- Price: $1.79
- Opinion: We really liked this bar a lot! Would buy it again.
- Ingredients: DARK CHOCOLATE 78.5% CACAO (COCOA MASS, SUGAR, COCOA BUTTER, EMULSIFIER (SOY LECITHIN), SWEET PLANTAIN PIECES (SWEET PLANTAIN HARTON, VEGETABLE OIL (SUNFLOWER OIL, ANTIOXIDANTS (TOCOPHEROL EXTRACT)), NATURAL SALT), COCOA NIBS.
- Top 8 Allergens: Soy. May contain milk. *Specifically says not suitable for those allergic to milk.
- Sugar Plum Sparkling Beverage
- Price: $2.99
- Opinion: Larisha liked this one more than Andrew but they both agreed that it had tasted a bit watered down to what the are used to drinking with sparkling juices.
- Ingredients: CARBONATED WATER (WATER, CARBON DIOXIDE), PLUM JUICE CONCENTRATE, WHITE GRAPE JUICE CONCENTRATE, NATURAL FLAVORS.
- Top 8 Allergens: None.
- Almond Nog
- Price: $2.99
- Opinion: We liked this one. Not as much as our favorite vegan egg nog or our homemade recipe but would pick it up again if we needed and didn’t have the others around.
- Ingredients: Almond Base (water, almonds), Cane Sugar, Contains 2% or less of Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin E Acetate, Zinc Gluconate, Vitamin A Palmitate, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D2, Natural Flavors, Pumpkin Concentrate (for color), Xanthan Gum, Sea Salt, Gellan Gum, Sunflower Lecithin.
- Top 8 Allergens: Almond.
- Sparkling Cranberry Flavored Juice Blend
- Price: $2.99
- Opinion: Larisha didn’t like this one as much as the Plum but Andrew liked this one more. Again agreed that it tasted watered down.
- Ingredients: FILTERED SPARKLING WATER (SUFFICIENT TO RECONSTITUTE), WHITE GRAPE AND CRANBERRY JUICE CONCENTRATES, CRANBERRY PUREE, LEMON JUICE CONCENTRATE, NATURAL FLAVORS.
- Top 8 Allergens: None
- Chocolate Passport
- Price: $9.99
- Opinion: This is an awesome gift idea, especially for travelers. It’s basically a bunch of chocolates (8 or 9) from around the world all wrapped in a pretty package. A definite win!
- Ingredients: DARK CHOCOLATE (COCOA MASS, SUGAR, COCOA BUTTER, NATURAL VANILLA FLAVOR, SOY LECITHIN [AN EMULSIFIER].
- Top 8 Allergens: Soy. May contain traces of wheat, milk, peanuts, and tree nuts.
- Candy Cane Joe Joe’s
- Price: $2.99
- Opinion: Basically peppermint oreos. Andrew was the only one who tried these because Larisha doesn’t like peppermint and said that it wasn’t as strong of a peppermint taste that he was expecting.
- Ingredients: SUGAR, ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR (FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), PALM OIL, CANDY CANE CRUSH (SUGAR, RICE SYRUP, COCONUT OIL, BEET COLOR, SOY LECITHIN, PEPPERMINT OIL, RICE FLOUR), EXPELLER PRESSED SOYBEAN OIL, COCOA PROCESSED WITH ALKALI, NATURAL FLAVORS, TAPIOCA STARCH, ORGANIC EVAPORATED CANE JUICE SYRUP, BAKING SODA, SALT, SOY LECITHIN (EMULSIFIER).
- Top 8 Allergens: Wheat, Coconut, and Soy. Made on shared equipment with milk, eggs, peanuts, and other tree nuts.
- Hot Chocolate Sticks
- Price: $3.29
- Opinion: We (Larisha) thought these were going to be like chocolate straws that you put into hot chocolate. They aren’t. They are basically a stick of chocolate that you put into hot non-dairy milk and stir around and it makes hot chocolate once you do that. Wouldn’t personally buy again, but it would be a cute gift idea or fun on a hot chocolate dessert board.
- Ingredients: CANE SUGAR, COCOA MASS, COCOA BUTTER, SOY LECITHIN (EMULSIFIER), NATURAL FLAVOR.
- Top 8 Allergens: Soy. May contain milk.
- Vegan Gingerbread Loaf
- Price: $4.29
- Opinion: We liked this a lot. Basically a quick bread, pre-made. We would buy this again.
- Ingredients: UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, MALTED BARLEY FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), PUMPKIN PUREE, BROWN SUGAR, SUGAR, WATER, EXPELLER PRESSED CANOLA OIL, MOLASSES, FAVA BEAN PROTEIN, GROUND GINGER, BAKING SODA, GROUND CINNAMON, GLYCERIN, SEA SALT, BAKING POWDER (DOSIUM ACID PYROPHOSPHATE, SODIUM BICARBONATE, CORNSTARCH, MONOCALCIUM PHOSPHATE), GROUND NUTMEG, GROUND CLOVE.
- Top 8 Allergens: WHEAT.
What didn’t we get?
There were a few things that we didn’t get simply because we couldn’t find them, and another few that we decided that in order to do a taste test we wouldn’t really have an opinion (looking at you olive oil and spice blends).
Here’s the new vegan items at Trader Joe’s that we didn’t purchase, but you can look for:
- Cocoa Chile Spice Pecans
- Non-Dairy Mint Chip Bon-Bons (Frozen)
- White Truffle Popcorn
- Organic Almond Butter
- Organic Sweet and Spicy Mustard Sauce
- Spicy Pozole Verde Soup
TL;DR. What’s your Top 10 Winter Vegan Trader Joe’s Favorites?
We understand the post is long and so is the video and maybe you just what the run down. While it’s hard to just pick a few, we don’t think you could go wrong with these vegan winter favorites from Trader Joe’s :
- Red Chili Scalloped Crackers
- Harvest Chili
- Spicy Cashew Butter Dressing
- Winter Wassail Punch
- Scandinavian Tidings
- Marzipanstollen
- Chocolate Passport
- Almond Nog
- Vegan Gingerbread Loaf
- El Campano Sweet Plantain Chocolate Bar
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