Trader Joe's shoppers, rejoice! There's a whole list of new April items you'll spot on shelves, and there are plenty you'll want to add to your shopping cart. We've done the work for you and tested each new item, from Cold Brew Latte Dessert Bars to espresso-flavored cheddar cheese (yes, really) so that you know what to pick up and what to pass on. Ahead, see which items get our editors' approval and which ones you'll need to keep your eyes peeled for during your next trip to Trader Joe's.
Pick Up: Joe-Joe's Truffles ($4)
Longtime fans of Trader Joe's are no stranger to the original Joe-Joe's: the chocolate cookies that taste just like Oreos. And because Trader Joe's gives the people what they want, they turned the cookies into truffles that taste just like no-bake Oreo truffles [2]. Each bite-size truffle is made with crumbled cookies and white chocolate and is dipped in dark chocolate and topped with pastel sprinkles. No one would be mad at you for bringing these to a dinner party.
Pick Up: Birthday Cake Bar ($1)
Don't wait until your (or your friend's) birthday to pick this up. The new Trader Joe's Birthday Cake Bar is perfect for any occasion, like, you know, a Monday. The white chocolate bar has cookie crumbs and colorful sprinkles inside, so each bite is bursting with goodness.
Pick Up: Green Jackfruit in Brine ($2)
Have you heard of jackfruit [3]? It's a tropical fruit that's known for its resemblance to pulled pork and other shredded meat when cooked down. On its own, the chewy and slightly savory fruit tastes like hearts of palm. For just $2, this is totally worth a buy if you're curious about trying jackfruit recipes [4].
Pick Up: Lys Kaffe Light City Roast Coffee ($8)
Like many of Trader Joe's affordable whole-bean coffees, this new one is worth adding to your cart. The coffee is a blend of Kenyan AA, Ethiopian Sidamo and Tanzanian Arabica beans, and because it's a light roast it contains more caffeine. Don't forget that you can grind your beans at Trader Joe's near the coffee section if you don't have a grinder at home.
Pick Up: Just a Handful of Rainbow's End Trail Mix ($5)
This is your average, totally solid trail mix that's great for stashing as a snack. The trail mix has a great balance of nuts, raisins, and chocolate candies, and its individual packaging makes it convenient for taking on road trips.
Pick Up: Chocolate Cara Cara Caramels ($4)
If you love the flavor combination of orange and chocolate, you'll go nuts for the new Chocolate Cara Cara Caramels. The dark chocolate squares have an oozy center of caramel infused with cara cara oranges, and they're pure decadence.
Pick Up: Cold Brew Latte Dessert Bars ($2)
Not only does warmer weather mean it's time to switch to iced coffee, but it also means it's time to stock up on popsicles. Trader Joe's Cold Brew Latte Dessert Bars [5] give you the best of both worlds: you can get your caffeine fix while snacking on a frozen treat, too. Not overly sweetened like other coffee pops we've had, these are equal parts sweet and bitter, with a strong espresso-forward flavor.
Pick Up: Cantal Cheese ($10/pound)
Those who prefer a semihard, buttery cheese will love Trader Joe's Cantal Cheese [6], a new cheese that comes from the Auvergne region of central France. You'll feel so very French as you sip on white wine and snack on bites of this just-tangy-enough cheese that would pair well with nuts and grapes. We're definitely adding this to our cheese plate along with some of the other best cheeses from Trader Joe's [7].
Pick Up: Coffee Toffee Shortbread Cookies ($3)
The perfect blend of buttery, coffee-flavored, and chocolaty, these Coffee Toffee Shortbread Cookies are dangerously snackable. Pair with your afternoon coffee for a double dose, and share with your fellow toffee- and coffee-loving friends.
Pick Up: Unsweetened Golden Oolong Tea ($1)
In a sea of new coffee-flavored items this month from Trader Joe's, there's also a new item tea drinkers will love. At just $1, the bottled Golden Oolong Tea is totally worth a buy and will satisfy your craving for a fragrant tea with just a little kick of caffeine. It's best served at room temperature so you can really taste the delicate flavors, but you could also refrigerate it. The added bonus? There are zero grams of sugar.
Pick Up: Espresso Melange Cheddar Cheese ($10/pound)
OK, espresso plus cheddar cheese sounds bizarre, right? It kind of is, but it also completely works. The swirls of espresso throughout the block of cheese create a roasted flavor that enhances the sharpness of the cheese — it's almost like a smoked gouda. Don't knock it till you try it.
Pick Up: Seasoned Buffalo Ghee ($4)
If you've tried and loved regular ghee (clarified butter) [8], it's time to upgrade to Trader Joe's Seasoned Buffalo Ghee. No, it's not flavored with buffalo sauce — it's made with buffalo milk. With black mustard seed, turmeric, fennel seed, cumin, coriander, ginger, cinnamon, and cardamom, it's ideal for Indian cooking. Our only complaint is that the spices settle at the bottom of the jar so they're not exactly incorporated in each scoop.
Pick Up: Coffee Flour ($4)
Ever baked with coffee flour before? Its sole ingredient is coffee cherry pulp flour, meaning it's made entirely of the outer fruit that coffee beans grow inside of. The result is a cocoa-like flour with notes of cherry that can replace all-purpose flour in chocolate baking recipes, like coffee flour brownies [9].
Pick Up: Mocha Crunch Cremes ($3)
Holy chocolate overload! Each of these individually wrapped chocolates is like a chocolate-ganache-filled truffle meets a chocolate-covered espresso bean. Ground coffee beans add a wave of flavor and gritty texture, while the soft chocolate keeps every bite smooth and irresistible.
Pick Up: Organic Frosted Toaster Pastries in Brown Sugar & Cinnamon
Pop-Tart snobs might lift their noses at any other brand than the original, but if your motto is "the more breakfast pastries the merrier," you'll want to pick up Trader Joe's Organic Brown Sugar and Cinnamon Toaster Pastries. Each rectangular pastry is packed with a brown sugar and cinnamon filling, while the maple-like icing coats the top. Pro tip: don't forget to toast each one before serving so it gets nice and warm.
Pick Up: Olive Tapenade ($2)
Olive tapenade is a surefire hit at any gathering, and Trader Joe's Olive Tapenade gives you permission to buy a store version and skip the effort of homemade. With both kalamata and Chalkidiki olives, the jar is equal parts black and green olives to please parties of both preference. Serve it with pita chips, crackers, or toasted baguette.
Pick Up: Coffee Glazed Almonds ($4)
We weren't kidding when we said there are tons of coffee-flavored items from Trader Joe's this month. The next one you'll want to try for yourself is the bag of coffee-glazed almonds. Sweetened with a little bit of cane sugar and flavored with roasted espresso beans and sea salt, these are an exciting upgrade from plain-old almonds. We're partial to grabbing a handful of these while sipping on a postlunch latte to beat the afternoon slump.
Pass: Coffee Syrup ($4)
Even coffee-lovers are slightly confused by Trader Joe's Coffee Syrup, a new item in the pantry section. While the package claims you can simply mix it with milk, add it to smoothies and milkshakes, or bake with it, we feel the flavor is much too strong to consume as is. It's really concentrated and has a lot of added sugar (cane sugar is the first ingredient), so unless you have a coffee-related baking project where this might be a fit, we'd recommend passing on this one.