When pumpkin spice comes out of hibernation, I’m one of the first to run to my local grocery store and stock up on all the seasonal essentials. Every fall, Trader Joe’s is everyone’s first stop, but this year, I’m recommending a new grocery store for autumnal treats: Aldi.
Aldi is known for its year-round grocery deals, but I’m here to tell you that they offer one of the best selections of sweet and savory seasonal treats. And I won’t lie to you, some of Aldi’s fall items may even rival our other favorite grocery store. Lucky for you (and honestly for me), I’ve tested some of the best seasonal Aldi products that are sure to sell out quickly this year. Read on for the Aldi fall items you can’t miss out on, featuring the cozy flavors of pumpkin, apple, maple, and cinnamon.
1. White Chocolate Pumpkin Cookies
These cookies have a permanent space in our pantry this fall. The flavor balance of spiced pumpkin and white chocolate is perfection. And the cakey texture of the cookie makes this the most delicious sweet treat for after dinner or a 3 p.m. pick-me-up.
2. Pumpkin & Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce
One of the best Trader Joe’s dupes I’ve found at Aldi is the Pumpkin & Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce. If you like the TJ’s Autumnal Harvest Creamy Pasta Sauce, then you’ll love this one. It’s smooth, creamy, and subtly seasonal. This sauce is great on plain pasta, cheese ravioli, or a pumpkin & veggie ravioli for extra fall flavor.
3. Fall Shaped Pasta
I can’t explain the science behind it, but some pasta shapes taste better than others. The pumpkin and leaf-shaped noodles are infused with veggies to achieve a variety of classic fall colors, but the subtle flavor will still pair perfectly with your favorite red or white sauce. Or, you can grab a jar of Aldi’s Pumpkin & Butternut Squash pasta sauce to add to the autumnal vibes.
4. Pumpkin Quick Bread & Muffin Mix
I bake year-round, but there is something extra special about baking fall treats. This pumpkin quick bread mix is the perfect base to keep in the pantry. It’s simple enough to just make a pumpkin loaf or muffins, but I recommend adding your own twist. Some ways I’ve upgraded the recipe include adding dark or white chocolate chips, drizzling the loaf with white chocolate icing, and creating a cream cheese filling for the muffins. The customizations for this boxed mix are endless!
5. Pumpkin Maple Spread
This sweet, gooey spread tastes like pumpkin pie filling with maple mixed in. It’s a delicious addition to toast or English muffins for a seasonally sweet breakfast. Or you could use it as an added layer of flavor in a baked brie for your next girls’ night. It’s similar to the TJ’s pumpkin butter, but the maple flavor adds a little something extra.
6. Maple Pecan Pie Ground Coffee
I love the shift to seasonal coffee menus, especially when it comes to the ‘ber months. Maple and pecan are fall flavors that I’m personally glad are gaining popularity with coffee. When this coffee is brewing, my whole house smells like warm maple syrup and definitely provides a comforting start to my day.
7. Caramel Apple Chocolate Clusters
Caramel apples are a quintessential fall treat. These caramel apple chocolate clusters are small yet flavorful enough to satisfy your craving for candied apples. These make a great dessert, snack, or addition to a spooky charcuterie board for your seasonal get-togethers.
8. Pumpkin Spice Sandwich Crèmes
If you’re a TJ’s girl, then these pumpkin spice sandwich cookies may remind you of a Trader Joe’s classic. The cookies are traditional vanilla shortbread, and the filling is where all the seasonal spices can be found. With notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cozy pumpkin, these cookies taste like a bite-sized pumpkin spice latte.
9. Cinnamon Bun Granola
This granola is packed with cinnamon and white chocolate chips, giving it the same flavor profile as a cinnamon bun with icing. It’s delicious in plain or vanilla yogurt, but I highly recommend trying it with the apple cinnamon Chobani yogurt for a burst of autumn flavor.
10. Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese
Pumpkin spice and cream cheese are a classic fall dessert combination. Spread this flavorful cream cheese on a plain bagel or try it on a cinnamon swirl one to enhance the pumpkin spice flavors. It can also be used as a baking ingredient, such as a filling or frosting, or even as a dessert dip.
11. Halloween Shaped Pizza
These Halloween-shaped pizzas are so cute (and delicious, too). They’re one of the few Aldi fall items that don’t involve any of the traditional seasonal flavors, which is great if you’re a pizza purist. The ghost pizza is a simple cheese pizza with olives for eyes, and the pumpkin one is a three-cheese masterpiece. These are perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a festive snack to share with friends while watching spooky movies.
12. Cinnamon Apple Chips
If you’re looking for a healthier alternative to potato chips, these cinnamon apple chips are just what you need. Made from real apples, these chips have the crunch of a potato chip with the flavors of apple cinnamon goodness.
13. Cookie Mug Toppers
Adding one of these pumpkin or leaf-shaped toppers to your mug will take your morning coffee to a new level of cozy. The cookies taste similar to Biscoff cookies or Speculoos Cookie Butter, so you know they pair well with a cup of coffee, cocoa, or tea. You can also balance these cookies on the rim of a cocktail glass if you’re looking for a fun way to dress up your festive sips.
14. Maple Vanilla Whipped Dairy Topping
If you love adding cold foam to your homemade iced coffee, then you’ll love this maple vanilla topping. It’s made with real cream to give it a smooth, deliciously creamy consistency. You can add this to your plain iced coffee, but I highly recommend adding it to a pumpkin spice coffee for ultimate fall vibes!
15. Cinnamon Sugar Seasoned Butter
If you love the sweet flavor of cinnamon sugar, then you’ll want to put this seasoned butter on everything. The flavor balance is so perfect that even on a plain slice of toasted bread, it tastes like you’re eating homemade French toast. This butter tastes great on any breakfast pastry, muffin, or even a dessert bread, like a warmed slice of pumpkin loaf.
Emily Wise, Contributing Writer
Emily is a Virginia-based content creator with over five years of experience creating content strategies for SaaS companies. Although she spends her days in the tech world, she has spent many years as a lifestyle writer for her personal site, as well as for several publications across the web.
Feature graphic images credited to: Emily Wise, Aldi, Kaplygula | Adobe Stock, Gecko Studio | Adobe Stock
