The Best Trader Joe's Foods That Taste Homemade

Trader Joe's is known for an incredible assortment of recognizable fan-favorite items that turn heads the moment they are brought into the room. These unique and iconic items are part of what makes Trader Joe's so appealing. However, sometimes a particular setting is best served with food that is less individualistic. Thankfully, Trader Joe's also has a great assortment of items that look and taste as if they are truly homemade.

Whether you are looking to pass off a meal as homemade to your guests or to try something that tastes especially fresh, Trader Joe's has several items that taste like they took hours of manual labor within the kitchen. Based on my personal experience trying all of these items and backed up by the reviews of Trader Joe's fans, here are nine items that taste like they are hand-crafted. After trying these items, you may have some new favorite foods to add to your Trader Joe's shopping rotation.

During the holiday season, many customers are looking for affordable, quality desserts to bring to their celebratory gatherings. One item that is worth checking out is the Teeny Tiny Pecan Pies from Trader Joe's. These mini pies are not only adorable but also incredibly well-made. Each 3-inch pie is filled with a brown sugar and pecan filling that is moist, gooey, and has a satisfying crunch on top. The crust is also impressive and is flaky but soft, just like a homemade crust would be.

Since launching this limited-edition holiday item, the reception from fans has been overwhelmingly positive. One fan wrote on Reddit: "The mini pecan pies are amazing. I went in with low expectations, but liked them so much that I bought two more boxes." Making a pecan pie from scratch is incredibly difficult, but these mini pies can easily be passed off as homemade. While they can be eaten straight out of the box, I recommend reheating them in the oven to make them taste truly fresh.

A few years ago, social media erupted with a new trending recipe: Cowboy Caviar. Also known as Texas caviar, this dish incorporates an iconic state-wide ingredient, black-eyed peas, with other fresh additions to create a delicious hybrid of a salsa and salad. The result is a delicious and hearty dip that is perfect for serving on tacos or as a pairing for chips.

While Cowboy Caviar can be made from scratch, chopping up all the ingredients can be laborious. If you are looking to enjoy this Texas delicacy without all the manual labor, Trader Joe's offers a great jarred version of Cowboy Caviar that tastes impressively fresh. One fan raved: "I've never tried the Cowboy Caviar before, just picked it up at my last visit ... and OMG! It's insanely good! Spicy, savory, and crunchy." Each jar comes filled with a combination of black beans, corn, onions, red bell peppers, chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, and lime juice. The result is a delicious dip that can easily be passed off as homemade.

It isn't just the food items that taste homemade at Trader Joe's; some of the store's drink options can pass as being made from scratch, too. One of my favorite drinks that Trader Joe's offers is its Organic Jalapeño Limeade, which offers a unique twist on the classic summertime drink. Each glass brings a fresh, tangy, and slightly spicy flavor that is incredibly refreshing. This product stands out for its quality, as each bottle is made with organic lime juice instead of a juice concentrate.

Fans have raved about this drink for years, with one Reddit user saying, "I love limeade and jalapeño so I was excited to try this. It's the right amount of sweet and tart." As an added bonus for those who enjoy a craft cocktail, this Jalapeño Limeade tastes great with tequila added in. Another fan on Reddit recommends: "... muddle with a little cucumber and it's amazing." For an organic drink that tastes fresh without the manual labor, this Jalapeño Limeade is a great option, and it only costs $2.79.

As a lover of dips, I know firsthand how much effort it takes to create the perfect baba ganoush, hummus, or labneh. Thankfully, Trader Joe's offers a variety of great dips that taste as if they were freshly whipped up in the kitchen. To me, the dip that tastes the most homemade is the Olive Tapenade Hummus. Each container comes with a heap of creamy hummus base that is brightened by adding extra tahini.

To finish off each package, the chefs at Trader Joe's top the hummus with a few tablespoons of a briny olive tapenade, which is made with black olives, manzanilla olives, capers, and olive oil. Fans can't help but rave about this incredible hummus, with one Reddit fan saying, "I love this stuff! It's so similar in taste to the homemade hummus I get at local restaurants." Another Reddit user agreed, saying: "This is actually one of my favorite hummus from Trader Joe's." If you are a fan of hummus, this item is a must-try, as it truly tastes like the fresh versions you may be paying extra for at a restaurant.

Unfortunately, Trader Joe's has not yet made an apple pie that I have truly loved. As a huge fan of the dessert, this has always been a disappointment to me. While it is not a traditional pie, Trader Joe's has created an exceptional item with its limited-edition Rustic Apple Tarte, an item that has quickly joined my personal "hall of fame" for Trader Joe's products. This open-faced tarte comes packed with a blend of flavorful apples, cream cheese, cinnamon, sugar, and almonds, and once cooked, it is gooey, buttery, and completely decadent.

One of the reasons why this pie tastes homemade is that Trader Joe's goes the extra mile to have people, not machines, hand-fold the edges of each tarte before they get packaged and shipped. While it is a seasonal item at Trader Joe's, fans are raving about it, with one Reddit user saying: "The Rustic Apple Tart is so amazing ... delicious and addictive." Like many homemade creations, the Rustic Apple Tarte may look a little rough around the edges, but the flavors are truly exceptional.

If you haven't already tried the new and limited-edition Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese from Trader Joe's, you are missing out on one of the store's best new items. Despite being a newer introduction to store shelves, this item has quickly become a favorite for me, and it has even made an appearance at several holiday dinners this year. Creamy, decadent, and subtly sweet, this frozen pasta tastes so good, your guests will likely think that you made it from scratch. Best of all, this Trader Joe's frozen food costs less than $5.

The pasta comes with a blend of Gouda, cheddar, Parmesan cheese, sage, nutmeg, thyme, and of course, a delicious butternut squash purée. Fans agree that the results are incredible, with one Reddit user stating, "This was delicious! I cooked it for 6 mins in the microwave and followed the instructions. Super good flavor and the noodles were just right." Another Reddit fan commented on its popularity, saying: "I LOVE this!! I wish they would make it year round. The first week it comes in it sells out immediately!" If you want to try this incredible dish, I recommend heading to your store as soon as possible to stock up before this item takes a hiatus.

For nearly 20 years, Trader Joe's boxed Cornbread Mix has been a favorite of customers, and for good reason. This boxed cornbread mix is my secret weapon when it comes to creating moist but crumbly cornbread that tastes like it was made by an expert at-home cook. The level of sweetness here is perfect, and the addition of corn kernels adds a great texture to the mix and makes it taste even more homemade.

There is a reason why this boxed mix has been one of the store's most iconic for decades: it really is that good. Fans rave about this product, with one Reddit user saying: "It was perfectly delicious and sweet!! Love the actual corn kernels too!!! Easily a 100/10." Fans suggest switching up the mix by substituting buttermilk for regular milk, with one fan suggesting adding a can of drained, diced green chilis and some grated cheese. Whichever way you choose to prepare this dish, it will result in a truly impressive cornbread that doesn't taste like it came from a box.

Speaking of incredible boxed mixes, you aren't a true Trader Joe's fan until you have tried the store's incredible Brownie Truffle Baking Mix. These brownies don't just taste homemade, they taste better than homemade. This mix, which has been on shelves for over 25 years, results in rich, fudgy brownies that are further accentuated with added chocolate chips to make them extra gooey. Preparation is foolproof, and the results taste genuinely professionally made.

This has been a staple for Trader Joe's fans, so much so that I could see it becoming a part of the TJ's product Hall of Fame. Fans rave online, saying these are the best brownies they've ever had. These brownies can also be modified, with one Reddit fan sharing that, "I add a little bit of instant coffee to it that I dissolved in milk and it makes it more chocolatey." My recommendation is to combine this brownie mix with the equally awesome Blondie Bar Baking Mix at Trader Joe's for a truly unique fusion.

There are so many awesome desserts at Trader Joe's, but perhaps no item tastes more homemade than the Frozen Chocolate Croissants. Baking croissants from scratch is difficult and can be intimidating, so if you are looking to pull off a great substitute, these frozen croissants are a great option. Biting into one of the croissants tastes like you are indulging in a professional pastry, and the chocolate filling really adds an extra level of decadence.

Fans rave about these desserts, with one customer on Reddit saying, "My boyfriend and I have always loved chocolate croissants and this is something I grab every time I go to Trader Joe's! They really are elite." Like the other options on this list, this Trader Joe's product really captures the freshness and quality that we expect from a handmade dish. The next time you are at Trader Joe's, consider trying one of these to see whether or not they pass your test of freshness!