No one wants summer to end, but you can’t deny that fall is one of the best times of the year. The spooky decor, pumpkin-flavored desserts, and color-changing leaves come together to make autumn the coziest of seasons. Here at AllRecipes, we’re especially excited to enjoy some fall-inspired desserts—and, turns out, so are a lot of Trader Joe’s shoppers.
Luckily for them, Trader Joe’s is also ready for autumn. Customers recently spotted one of the season’s most popular treats on store shelves: apple cider doughnuts.
Trader Joe’s Apple Cider Doughnuts Are Back
The $4.49 box includes six full doughnuts that are made by a family-owned bakery based in Western Massachusetts. According to the store’s website, the cake-like treat carries a fluffy yet moist texture with a tangy flavor kick thanks to real apple cider. As it comes out of the fryer, each doughnut is hand-rolled in cinnamon and sugar.
Customers are thrilled about the returning dessert and going beyond the usual doughnut and coffee (or cider) pairing. @traderjoesnew advised followers to enhance the doughnuts with a scoop of Trader Joe’s French vanilla ice cream. “Make this delicious dessert by putting these in the air fryer [for] just a few minutes and adding vanilla [ice] cream or horchata,” the caption said.
Another Instagram user, @trader_joes_treasure_hunt, noted that these doughnuts are the first fall product of the year at the popular grocery store. Despite some feeling like it’s a smidge too early to start carving pumpkins, other commenters wrote, “sooo excited!!” and “I’m tired of waiting [until] mid/end of September for their fall items lol.”
Customers Are Getting Creative With TJ’s Apple Cider Doughnuts
There’s even a Reddit thread circulating about the apple cider doughnuts, which must mean they’re delicious. One user commented that they’ve “been waiting for these,” while another wrote, “Yessss. I love a slightly stale cider doughnut with a mug of hot tea.”
Customers are getting creative with how they serve the pastry. One advised drizzling caramel over the doughnuts, cutting them up, and using them as a garnish for their cocktail, like a delicious caramel apple martini.
“I did heat it up in the microwave for 30 seconds, put a little caramel on the side, grabbed a fork, and dug in!,” another Reddit user added. “I dipped it into the caramel and it was delicious! I highly recommend.”
You can even turn the doughnuts into a bread pudding, which we find to be one of the most dangerously genius ideas yet. This is proof that fall can never come too early, especially when apple cider doughnuts are involved.
