Trader Joe's Apple Pie à la Mode Ice Cream

Well, folks, apple season has officially arrived at Trader Joe’s, and this time they’ve taken one of the greatest combinations known to mankind—apple pie and vanilla ice cream—and stuffed the whole thing into a pint. If apple pie a la mode is really just apple pie with ice cream, then wouldn't this technically be Trader Joe's Apple Pie with Ice Cream Flavored Ice Cream..? I mean, it's kinda redundant, no? Meh. Semantics.

This applicious frozen dessert starts with a rich vanilla ice cream base, then adds sweetened spiced apple pieces, pie crust pieces, and an apple cinnamon and nutmeg swirl. Basically somebody took a slice of apple pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on it and said, “Yeah, but what if we just eliminated the plate?”

I’ve seen some people complain that this doesn’t have enough cinnamon and spice and everything nice. I respectfully disagree. I thought the cinnamon level was pretty much perfect. You definitely get the cinnamon-spiced apple flavor, but it doesn’t completely overwhelm the vanilla ice cream. And the overall flavor is outstanding: milky vanilla, brown sugar, cinnamon, and sweet apple all working together very nicely.

The apple pieces are particularly good. They taste like actual sweet apples rather than some weird artificial apple-flavored substance. They also pick up some of that cinnamon-spiced apple flavor, which makes them taste even more like the filling from an actual apple pie.

Our biggest complaint? Sonia and I both wish there were more apple and more pie crust pieces. The pie pieces that are in there have a nice texture: not too soggy, not too hard, and just enough chewiness to remind you that, yes, there is supposed to be pie in this ice cream.

We did encounter a few sections of the pint that seemed a little icy, which was weird. Thankfully, those spots were pretty sparse and didn't ruin the experience. The vanilla ice cream itself is good, sweet, creamy, and basically nothing to complain about. It provides a nice backdrop for all the apple pie goodness without getting in the way.

At $3.99 for the pint, Trader Joe’s Apple Pie a la Mode Ice Cream is a pretty easy recommendation if you’re an apple cinnamon fan. It’s also kosher. The beautiful wifey gives it eight and a half out of ten stars. I’m giving it eight and a half as well. We’re tough graders, especially when it comes to ice cream, so anything above an eight from us means this one is definitely worth checking out. Get some more spiced apple and pie crust pieces in there, and this would be Pantheon material, easily.

Bottom line: 8.5 out of 10.

Trader Joe's Pumpkin Sourdough Bread

Trader Joe’s Sliced Pumpkin Sourdough Bread is one of those products that sounds like it could go horribly wrong. Pumpkin. Sourdough. Together. That could easily become some sort of aggressively spiced autumn monstrosity that tastes like a candle smells. Thankfully, that’s not what we have here.

Trader Joe’s Sliced Pumpkin Sourdough Bread is actually pretty darn pleasant. The bread is nice and soft, with a texture that isn’t too dense or heavy. It has a subtle pumpkin flavor and just enough of that familiar pumpkin spice thing happening to let you know it’s a seasonal product without beating you over the head with cinnamon and nutmeg.

If you're looking for an indulgent pumpkin breakfast or sweet snack bread, we recommend Trader Joe's Pumpkin Brioche Twist. There’s also a faint sweetness here, but this is definitely not dessert bread. You’re not going to bite into a slice and think, “Well, I guess dinner is canceled because I just ate pie.” And that makes it surprisingly versatile.

We really liked it as a sandwich bread. One of our favorite combinations was sliced turkey deli meat, mozzarella cheese, spinach, and mayo. The mild sweetness of the pumpkin sourdough works nicely with the savory turkey and cheese, while the spinach adds a little freshness and the mayo brings everything together. Basically, it turns an ordinary turkey sandwich into a turkey sandwich that has spent the afternoon at the pumpkin patch.

We also tried it as French toast, and yes, it works. The bread soaks up the egg mixture nicely and brings a subtle fall flavor to the finished product. But honestly, when it comes to French toast, I think Sonia and I both prefer Trader Joe’s Apple Cinnamon Sourdough. That one just feels more specifically designed for the job.

Still, this Pumpkin Sourdough is a very solid seasonal bread. It’s soft, flavorful, mildly sweet, reasonably versatile and, most importantly, it doesn’t go completely pumpkin spice bonkers.

Not everything with pumpkin in it needs to taste like a Yankee Candle. Thankfully, this doesn’t. Would buy again. Product of Canada. Five bucks for the pre-sliced loaf. Sonia and I both give Trader Joe’s Sliced Pumpkin Sourdough Bread eight out of ten stars.

Bottom line: 8 out of 10.