12 Holiday Finds to Buy at Trader Joes This Winter

‘Tis the season at Trader Joe’s, and the latest episode of the Inside Trader Joe’s podcast brings us a fun preview of this year’s holiday offerings. Marketing executives Tara Miller and Matt Sloan unwrap 12 festive finds that promise to make your holiday entertaining, gifting and snacking more magical than ever. From sophisticated cocktail accompaniments to whimsical treats for both humans and our four-legged friends, their curated selection hits all the right notes for the season–and at Trader Joe’s signature wallet-friendly prices.

Each of these deliciously holly jolly items can be scooped up for under $8, so keep an eye out for them on your next TJ’s run. You never know when you’ll need a little holiday treat.

Blue Cheese-Stuffed Chalkidiki Olives 

$6.99 per 22.9-ounce jar

Straight from Greece, these meaty Chalkidiki olives are generously stuffed with tangy blue cheese—a combo so irresistible it’ll be the first thing to disappear from your charcuterie board. Sloan describes them as having an incredible crisp texture that makes them perfect for whetting your appetite before a big holiday meal. While Miller has been “known to float one or two of these in a martini.” Cheers to that! 

Lemon-Stuffed Chalkidiki Olives

$2.99 per 12.17-ounce jar

Similarly, these olives offer a Mediterranean twist to brighten any holiday spread. Packed with lemon peel and brined to perfection, these olives bring a surprising burst of flavor and are “one of the most delicious olives” Miller has ever eaten in her life. They’re also great in a cocktail, grain salad, green salad, on a cheese board or simply for snacking on. And at $2.99, they make a budget-friendly addition to any foodie’s gift basket.

Elevated Cracker Assortment 

$7.99 per 12.7-ounce box

Forget boring crackers. This British trio includes mild, tangy buttermilk crackers, bright lemon and black pepper crackers, and plum and date toast–little slices of bread baked into crackers. They’re versatile, delightful, and designed to work with a wide range of spreads, dips, cheeses and meats. They might even be a fun base for a quick app like our Cheddar-Apple Cracker Bites. Sloan even calls them “heavenly”—which sounds like a ringing endorsement to us.

Festive Chaos of Gummy Candy

$5.49 per 20-ounce bag

Who said grown-ups can’t play with their food? You might like to make your own, but it’s hard to resist these cute French gummies that come in wild shapes like sneakers, mustaches and cola bottles—plus festive shapes like ornaments, snowmen and holly. Miller recommends the mustache gummies for impromptu disguises, because there’s always room for some whimsy during the holidays. They’ll delight adults and children alike and can be snacked-on, gifted or added to a spread of sweets at your next holiday shindig.

Jingly Jangly 

$1.49 per 2.95-ounce bag

A portable version of the beloved Jingle Jangle, this dark chocolate cookie pretzel bark is Miller’s definition of “genius.” It has a base of dark chocolate, bits of TJ’s Joe-Joe cookies and some pretzels for a salty crunch.  Small enough to slip into a stocking or share with all the kids in your child’s class, it’s the holiday treat you didn’t know you needed, but now you’ll probably also want for yourself.

Jingle Jangle for Dogs 

$4.49 per 6.8-ounce package

Because furry family members deserve holiday treats, too! These peanut butter and carob-flavored nibbles (because the good stuff is unsafe for canines) are also festively shaped into pretzels, stars, and, of course, bones. Miller and Sloan even tasted them, saying they were “delicious.” So we can all but guarantee that they will have your pups doing their best happy dance.

German Iced Gingerbread

$3.49 per 7.05-ounce package

These aren’t just cookies—they’re edible art. Intricately designed like antique stamped tiles, they combine crunchy icing with a soft gingerbread belly. They’re so beautiful that you might hesitate to eat them, though you definitely should. And while they aren’t exactly the kind of cookies you’d use to build a gingerbread house, they’d make a darn good snack to bring to a Christmas movie night or gift wrapping party.

British Shortbread Cookie Collection

$7.99 per 10.58-ounce package

The cookies come in three bold flavors that will transport you straight to a cozy British tea time—coffee, English toffee and cocoa. They’re buttery, rich and sophisticated enough to impress even your most discerning guests. Here’s a present-wrapping suggestion for you: turn on The Crown or Love Actually, get the kettle going and settle in for a real treat. 

Mini Mushroom Tartelettes 

$5.49 per 9-ounce box

These little pastry shells are filled with a mix of white and shiitake mushrooms, Parmesan, ricotta, garlic and shallots. That’s why Miller calls them “umami in a bite.” Pop them in the oven or air fryer, and you have an elegant appetizer that’ll make you feel like the Barefoot Contessa. They’re an especially good option for folks who love stuffed mushrooms—after all, these tartelettes are twice as cute and half the work.

Cheesy Creamy Greens and Veggies 

$4.49 per 16-ounce package

Brussels sprouts, spinach, kale and onions swimming in a rich cheese sauce? Yes, please! Miller says this dish is best on the stovetop, where it heats up quickly for a low-effort holiday side dish. In the next few weeks, it’ll also be great as a weeknight comfort food side—or maybe even a cheesy base for pasta.

Holiday Vegetable Hash 

$4.99 per 18-ounce container

Head to the produce section for this refrigerated mix of butternut squash, sweet potato, red onion, celery and herbs that aims to simplify holiday cooking. Use it as a side, blend it into soup, fold it into stuffing or crack some eggs onto it for a vegetarian riff on a corned beef hash. Those sweet notes from the potato and butternut squash would add depth of flavor to just about anything, so feel free to get creative.

English Toffee Ice Cream 

$3.79 per pint

Brown butter ice cream with chocolate-covered toffee and almonds—need we say more? It’s the definition of a perfect treat at the end of a long day. Luxe and creamy, with those bits of crunch for texture, it’s nothing short of phenomenal. With Trader Joe’s limited freezer space, this is a must-grab before it’s gone.

Each product combines seasonal fun with convenience and is perfect for holiday entertaining, gifting, or just treating yourself. Which one are you adding to your cart first?