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The Express Gazette
Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Trader Joe’s fall lineup fuels social buzz as fans crown seasonal favorites

Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese tops early 2025 chatter as TJ’s rollout hits shelves, with gluten-free options and seasonal non-foods drawing attention

Business & Markets 5 months ago
Trader Joe’s fall lineup fuels social buzz as fans crown seasonal favorites

Trader Joe’s has rolled out its fall lineup as stores begin stocking the seasonal items, triggering immediate chatter on social media. The annual assortment spans pumpkin-spice flavors to butternut squash staples, and fans are quick to highlight returning favorites while debating which new arrivals will dominate the season.

Among the most talked-about items is the Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese, a returning crowd-pleaser that many social posts describe as a must-have. Shoppers on Instagram and other platforms have noted anticipation about whether the dish is available in their area this year. Other widely discussed items include the Butternut Squash Lasagna, described as rich and reportedly capable of yielding multiple servings from a single container. The cocoa truffles with maple syrup have also earned praise from fans who call them standout treats, while the Autumn Harvest Pasta Sauce is cited as a versatile fall staple. The Salted Maple Cold Foam Creamer has drawn attention for its potential to recreate a coffeehouse experience at home, with some posts describing experiments turning it into fall-inspired beverages such as “dirty sodas.”

Beyond pantry staples, shoppers are spotlighting seasonal non-food items. A fall-scented candle trio and the Pumpkin Hand Cream have generated favorable reviews for fragrance and texture, while a Cinnamon Roll Lip Mask has drawn interest for scent similarity to pumpkin icing. In the online chatter, some customers note a wide array of gluten-free options, including organic Vermont maple syrup and gluten-free pumpkin bread and muffin baking mixes, as well as gluten-free pumpkin spice donut holes. One post praised the gluten-free pumpkin pancake mix as being notably good despite its GF labeling, and another highlighted GF pumpkin spice donut holes as a nice treat.

Disappointment also appears in the mix for some shoppers: the Maple Oat Beverage was listed by several posts as discontinued, prompting questions and a few disappointed responses from fans who had considered it a balanced autumn coffee addition. Several commenters said they would improvise by adding maple syrup to coffee in lieu of the beverage, while others lamented the loss of a longstanding favorite.

The fall lineup is widely viewed as a milestone for Trader Joe’s, drawing traffic and social engagement as fans compare sightings, share reviews, and swap tips about where to find each item. The conversations span Instagram posts, Reddit threads, and grocery forums, reflecting a mix of nostalgia for returning items and curiosity about new offerings during the rollout across TJ’s stores this season.

Early summaries of the chatter note that items such as Pumpkin-Flavored Joe-Joe’s and Maple & Sea Salt Kettle Corn consistently surface as perennial favorites, even as some elements—like the Maple Oat Beverage—face discontinuation questions. Overall, the season’s early buzz suggests strong shopper interest as stores push through the autumn assortment and compete for shelf space and social attention.


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