The 6 Best Trader Joe’s Products You Can’t Get Anywhere Else

When it comes to Trader Joe’s, we can all agree on two things: you can usually find everything you need, and it’s tough to beat the prices elsewhere. The best thing about Trader Joe’s is that, for the most part, it’s a one stop shop for all of your grocery necessities. It has plentiful produce, freezer, and refrigerator sections. The canned and non-perishable aisle is chock full of everything you need, from beans and rice, to tuna and soups, to pastas and condiments. The meat, fish, and cheese sections have a wide array of fresh and interesting options. The baking section is even reliable, and not to mention much more budget-friendly than other supermarkets. Where else can you buy a generous bottle of vanilla extract for under $10?

Trader Joe’s is reliable because it pretty much has it all. However, what makes the store so special is venturing there to pick up the things we love, and can’t find anywhere else. Here are the best items that you can only find in the aisles of Trader Joe’s.

Hold the Cone Mini Ice Cream Cones 

Sure, you may see some miniature ice cream cone options at other grocery stores, but there’s nothing that compares to Trader Joe’s mini cones. These are a constant in my freezer, and have been a staple in the store for more than a decade. Their popularity never seems to waver. For starters, they’re truly miniature, making them an ideal snack for satisfying ice cream and dessert cravings. They’re also available in a variety of flavors including chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate chip, in addition to seasonal flavors, such as peppermint and pumpkin. Shoppers can’t get enough of this sweet treat from Trader Joe’s, with many shoppers admitting that they have, in fact, finished an entire box in one day. I guess that’s a sign for you to pick up a few extra boxes on your next Trader Joe’s run!

Unexpected Cheddar Cheese Spread

Whenever I’m entertaining, this spread makes the list for my Trader Joe’s run. Yes, you can find endless cheese spreads out there, but few can match up to the rich and savory flavor, and creamy, spreadable texture of this cheese spread, only available in the Trader Joe’s famous cheese section. It’s no surprise this is a winner, since Unexpected Cheddar Cheese has been voted favorite fromage year after year in the store’s Customer Choice Awards. You can add this to a board, spread it over crackers or celery sticks, use it in puff pastries topped with fig spread or apple slices, or even make it the star of a 2-ingredient dinner. This one is a total crowd pleaser.

World’s Puffiest White Cheddar Corn Puffs

While we’ve seen many snacks come and go in Trader Joe’s chip section, it’s no secret that this item has stood the test of time. This snack may be similar to other cheese puffs, but it’s better because it’s richer, cheesier, crunchier, and the bag yields a far more generous quantity. The puffs are made with cornmeal and then baked until light and airy before being coated with a savory powdered white Cheddar that is actually made with real, sharp Cheddar cheese. The balance of puff and crunch when you snack on these makes it hard to stop once you start.

Scandinavian Swimmers

Trader Joe’s crushes the snack and candy game. While there’s a constant rotation of intriguing things to try, this sweet little snack has been on shelves for as long as I can remember. Sure, you can find aisle upon aisle of gummy candies at the supermarket, deli, pharmacy, or gas station, but Trader Joe’s Scandinavian Swimmers are something special you can’t find anywhere else. They’re colorfully made with fruit and vegetable extracts, and the flavors are fresh, but not overpowering. You’re not gnawing on these swimmers for minutes and then trying to get them out of your teeth, because they have a nice balance of melt-in-your mouth, and tender gummy chew. If you’re a sour candy person, you’ll fall in love with Super Sour Scandinavian Swimmers, the same item, but with a major sour kick!

Everything and the Elote Greek Style Yogurt Dip

This unique Greek-style yogurt dip has been a favorite among Trader Joe’s shoppers since its debut. Inspired by the store’s Everything and the Elote Seasoning, this dip brings the seasoning together with Greek yogurt to create a creamy, tart, zesty, and lightly smoky combination of flavors, which pairs perfectly with tortilla chips, crackers, and vegetable sticks—you can even use it as a sandwich spread. You can’t find anything like this in other supermarkets, and it never fails to be a crowd pleaser.

Chantilly Cream Vanilla Bean Mini Sheet Cake

There’s something special that makes this mini sheet cake from Trader Joe’s stand out among other grocery store cake offerings. Fans have even called this their “death row meal.” Shoppers rave about this cake, and it’s so popular that it doesn’t have a seasonal shelf life in the store. It’s available year round. This is the type of treat you buy when you’re craving a quality slice of cake that comes close to one you’d make yourself at home. This cake yields about six servings, and it consists of a single layer of moist and flavorful vanilla cake made with buttermilk, cream, and vanilla beans that’s topped with a generous layer of gorgeous and creamy vanilla bean chantilly cream icing. Enjoy this with a weeknight meal, or on the holiday dessert table.