22 Trader Joe's Pumpkin Spice Foods, Ranked From Worst to Best

We've had delicious, inexpensive pumpkin ice cream, and Trader Joe's Pumpkin Ice Cream ($4) is not it. It's way too sweet and all spice but nothing nice. The funny, slippery texture doesn't help either.

We were so very excited by the idea of a new Joe-Joe's flavor (we adore the peppermint version), but Trader Joe's Pumpkin Joe-Joe's ($3) are just not very good. On the pro side, the texture is solid; there's a good contrast between crunchy cookie and creamy center. On the con side, the flavor is artificial-tasting and mild. Womp womp.

If you simply ate with your eyes, Trader Joe's Pumpkin Spice Salted Caramels ($5) would be a winner, through and through. The sprinkling of Hawaiian sea salt helps to balance the sweet caramel and bitter chocolate, but the chocolate-to-caramel ratio is way off. (The chocolate shell is twice as thick as it ought to be, at least.)

Trader Joe's Pumpkin Spice Coffee ($4) is neither good nor bad; the coffee is on the robust side and boasts an authentic nutmeg note. That said, it's not memorable.

Clearly a knockoff of Lesley Stowe's Raincoast Crisps, Trader Joe's Pumpkin Cranberry Crisps ($4) aren't quite the same, as they are smaller and crunchier. However, they are still snackable, and at about half the price, they're quite the deal. All the Fall flavors are represented in the cracker; we can't wait to try them topped with a gooey hunk of brie or blue cheese.

Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Butter ($2) nails the acidity thanks to lots of lemon. It’s just a touch of sweet, which we love, but it’s a little thin compared to other pumpkin butters out there. For the price point, we are fans.

Not surprisingly, the crust on Trader Joe's Pumpkin Pie ($5) doesn't compare to homemade; it's very homogenous in texture, not flaky. Still, it's not bad, and the well-spiced, not-too-sweet filling deserves a thumbs up.

Basically identical to a Quaker Oats Cereal Bar, Trader Joe’s This Pumpkin Walks Into a Bar . . . Cereal Bars ($2) almost fall into the territory of apple pie (apple flakes are the second ingredient), but they are nevertheless good, sweet, and salty too.