Be Merry (and Full) With These 11 Can't-Miss Holiday Desserts From Trader Joe's

A Saltine-like cracker might not be the first ingredient that comes to mind when thinking of dessert, but in this case, it's the perfect vehicle for a mouthful of chocolate and toffee. Unearthing the salty cracker from its sweet covering is a treat in itself.

If you're a fan of Trader Joe's Crispy Crunchy Chocolate Chip Cookies, you'll deeply appreciate these, which feature a holiday-appropriate peppermint twist. The large tub makes them ideal for sharing on the couch as you and loved ones sip on cocoa and watch Elf for the thousandth time.

Just about anyone who's had one of these sweet, pepperminty discs of heaven has been tempted to pick up a box, and it's not hard to see why. Their crunchy cookie exterior tastes of rich chocolate and gives way to the creamiest filling, interrupted by the tiniest flecks of cooling peppermint.

Forget tea cookies and biscotti, this is this season's designated dessert for coffee dates. This cake's cinnamon swirl, crumbly streusel topping, and powdered sugar glaze are sweet, but never sickeningly so, and go well, of course, with a cup of coffee.

There's a reason to be skeptical about prefilled ice cream cones — no one likes a soggy cannoli, after all — but these remain crunchy and creamy in all the right places. The peppermint flavor is refreshing, while the chocolate is pleasantly sweet.

A bakery in Nuremberg, Germany, churns out these traditional cookies. They have intense notes of almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, orange, and gingerbread, but equally interesting is their texture: like a flattened glazed doughnut. They also come in a chocolate coated flavor.

How does one take Peppermint Joe Joe's to the next level? One simply enrobes them in a layer of dark chocolate that doubles them in size — and finishes them off with a coating of crispy peppermint chips. These are so generous in size and sweetness, you'll only need one to satiate your holiday dessert needs.

If you're someone who thinks dessert should be at least a little bit nutritious, these wintry wonders are just the treat for you. These chewy bars feature healthy oats with a thin drizzle of icing.

These gingerbread fingers are ideal for dipping in postdinner coffee, milk, or hot chocolate. They're also easy to keep in your purse for a bite of sweet, sweet relief when you're standing in long holiday shopping lines or have had just a bit too much family time.

Animal crackers get a mature holiday twist with star shapes, dark chocolate, and just a kid-friendly hint of mint. Pop a couple of these in your mouth when you're too full for a big dessert but need something a little sweet.

The tried-and-true combination of salty and sweet is at its most impeccable in these pretzel slims. Delectably dangerous, the still-crispy pretzels are covered in a perfect proportion of creamy coating and crunchy bits of peppermint — like the world's most delicious breath mint.